Energy (Transmission) in Iowa

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 23, 2026

HF 2283: A bill for an act relating to grid-enhancing technologies and reconductoring, including study and reporting requirements.

HF 2283 requires Iowa's public utilities and transmission companies to study grid-enhancing technologies (like dynamic line rating systems) and reconductoring (replacing conductors with more efficient ones) by January 1, 2027, with updates every three years. The studies must evaluate how these approaches could increase transmission capacity, reduce congestion, support renewable energy integration, improve reliability, and minimize land impacts. Municipal utilities, cooperatives, and single-customer transmission lines are exempt from this requirement. Utilities must submit these public studies to the Iowa Utilities Commission, which may rely on existing analyses from regional organizations to meet the reporting obligation.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Renewable Energy Transmission

signed · Iowa · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 2214: A bill for an act relating to the installation of transmission lines on highway rights-of-way.

SF 2214 requires Iowa's Department of Transportation (DOT) to coordinate with utility companies upon written request when planning transmission line placements on highway corridors. It mandates the DOT to assign a project coordinator within 30 days and share future highway project plans that might affect transmission lines. The bill allows longitudinal transmission lines on primary roads (including interstates) with DOT approval, unless safety or highway function is threatened, and requires public disclosure of denial reasons within 90 days. This directly affects utility companies seeking to install lines along highways and the DOT's permitting process. The law updates existing rules to create a more structured, timely coordination process for transmission line installations.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Transmission Roads & Highways

introduced · Iowa · House Feb 23, 2026

HF 2682: A bill for an act relating to grid-enhancing technologies and reconductoring, including study and reporting requirements.

This Iowa bill (HF 2682) requires public utilities and transmission companies operating electric lines in the state to study grid-enhancing technologies and reconductoring opportunities. Starting January 1, 2027, and every three years after, these entities must submit public reports to the Iowa Utilities Commission analyzing the feasibility of projects that could increase transmission capacity, reduce congestion, support renewable energy, improve reliability, or lower line losses. The studies must cover costs, implementation timelines, and how projects align with specific grid improvement goals like reducing siting conflicts or serving new customers. Municipal utilities, cooperatives, and single-customer transmission lines are exempt from this requirement.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Renewable Energy Transmission

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 14, 2026

HF 2046: A bill for an act relating to requirements for portable solar generation devices.

This bill defines "portable solar generation devices" as small, moveable solar units (max 1,200 watts) designed to connect to standard household outlets, offset personal electricity use, meet safety codes, and include outage safety features. It prohibits utilities from requiring customer approval for installation, charging fees, or demanding extra equipment beyond the device itself. The bill also exempts these devices from standard interconnection rules and net metering requirements. It directly affects homeowners installing small-scale solar systems under 1.2 kilowatts for personal use.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Energy Resilience Solar Transmission

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SSB 3063: A bill for an act relating to the installation of transmission lines on highway rights-of-way.

This bill (SSB 3063) streamlines the process for utility companies to install power lines along Iowa highways. It requires the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) to coordinate with utilities within 30 days of a written request, share highway project plans that might affect line placement, and cannot deny longitudinal line installations on highways unless safety or highway function is threatened. If denied, the DOT must publicly explain the reason within 90 days. The bill also limits utility right-of-way lease agreements to 20 years and specifies that lines must be installed parallel to roads without unnecessarily interfering with public highway use or land access. It directly affects utility companies, the DOT, and highway users.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Pipeline Infrastructure Transmission

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 11, 2026

HSB 522: A bill for an act relating to electric utility resource planning.

This bill requires rate-regulated electric utilities in Iowa to file a comprehensive resource plan at least every three years. The plan must evaluate all reasonable energy sources - including supply options and conservation programs - to meet future demand over 5- and 20-year timeframes, incorporating approved energy efficiency initiatives. Utilities must include proposed resource additions for each scenario studied but cannot be mandated to specific outcomes. The commission must acknowledge receipt within 90 days and may suggest improvements, while the bill establishes a stakeholder process involving consumers, the commission, and the state load forecasting center for input during planning.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Transmission Utility Regulation Conservation

passed · Iowa · House Mar 19, 2025

HF 548: A bill for an act relating to the recycling of battery electric motor vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicles, and making penalties applicable.

HF 548 requires businesses recycling battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Iowa to complete a DOT-approved safety training program for handling high-voltage batteries, starting January 1, 2027. This applies to all authorized vehicle recyclers who dismantle or process these vehicles, mandating they display a program completion certificate alongside their license. The law establishes penalties for non-compliance, treating violations as a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,560. The bill focuses on safety standards for handling electric vehicle batteries during recycling, without altering existing licensing requirements for general vehicle recycling.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Energy Storage Transmission Recycling

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 13, 2025

HSB 81: A bill for an act relating to solar energy by establishing a community solar facility program.

This bill establishes Iowa's community solar program, allowing residents and businesses to subscribe to shared solar facilities and receive bill credits for the electricity generated. It requires electric utilities to provide subscribers with credits for 25 years (based on their proportional share), facilitate interconnection without treating facilities as public utilities, and maintain a platform for tracking subscriptions. Key rules include capping facility size at 5 megawatts, requiring at least three subscribers, limiting single-subscriber ownership to 40%, and ensuring subscriptions remain portable if a subscriber moves within the same utility's service area. The program aims to expand access to solar energy while standardizing utility processes for community solar projects.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Solar Transmission

died · Iowa · House Mar 9, 2026

HF 736: A bill for an act relating to the installation of transmission lines on highway rights-of-way.

HF 736 requires Iowa's Department of Transportation (DOT) to coordinate with utility companies upon written request to identify highway corridors for transmission line installation, assigning a project coordinator within 30 days. It prohibits the DOT from denying longitudinal transmission lines along highways (including interstates) unless safety or highway function is threatened, and mandates public disclosure of denial reasons within 90 days. The bill also limits utility right-of-way lease agreements to 20 years (replacing prior "extended" terms) and updates construction standards to allow lines within highway rights-of-way alongside roads, railways, and streams, provided they don’t interfere with public use. This directly affects utility companies, the DOT, and highway planning processes.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Pipeline Infrastructure Transmission

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 7, 2025

HSB 123: A bill for an act relating to energy systems by modifying electric power generation, energy storage, and transmission facility ratemaking principles, creating tariffs for public utility innovation programs, implementing land restoration standards, including right of first refusal, modifying the energy infrastructure revolving loan program, and creating regulations for anaerobic digester systems, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

HB 123 modifies how Iowa utilities set prices for new or significantly upgraded electricity generation, storage, and transmission facilities. It establishes new rules for approving large projects (340+ MW or major retrofits like carbon capture) and requires commission approval based on public interest, economic development, and avoiding facility duplication. The bill also creates land restoration standards for utility projects with landowner "right of first refusal," sets new regulations for anaerobic digester systems, and adjusts a revolving loan program for energy infrastructure. It does not change utility rates directly but affects how costs for qualifying projects are included in future rate calculations.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Energy Storage Transmission

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