The Iowa Utilities Board has approved some modified information for Black Hills Energy as the company seeks a tariff to pay for the cost of hooking up rural customers to its natural gas line.
IUB spokesman Don Tormey says the board’s order sets out the parameters moving ahead as the IUB makes a decision on the tariff. “The board also approved an amended customer notice from Black Hills and asked Black Hills to send that to all of its customers, since they may be impacted depending on the final outcome of this particular case,” Tormey says.
Black Hills has nearly 154,000 natural gas customers in Iowa. Tormey says there are some 1,500 farm tap customers who may be directly impacted if the tariff is approved. “Black Hills asked for several things in that proposed tariff — including to establish minimum safety standards for farm taps as a condition of service, creation of a mandatory testing program, etcetera,” Tormey explains.
The IUB will seek comments on on the issue. “The board also decided in its order to schedule six customer meetings to allow potentially affected customers a chance to provide feedback on Black Hills’ proposal,” according to Tormey. He says there are other ways to give your opinion on the tariff.
“The public and customers can provide comments by using the following: an electronic comment form that will be available on the Board’s Web site at iub.iowa.gov, by email to [email protected], by sending postal mail to the Iowa Utilities Board, and say it is for docket number SPU-2015-0039,” Tormey says.
You can also call the IUB’s customer service staff toll-free at 877-565-4450.
Here is the schedule for the meetings, will begin at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted:
Wednesday, August 10, 2016, DMACC Newton Campus, 600 N. 2nd Avenue West, Newton, Iowa
Tuesday, August 23, 2016, Spencer Area Activity Center, 104 E. 4th Street, Spencer, Iowa
Wednesday, August 24, 2016, Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Street, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Monday, August 29, 2016, Boulders Conference Center, 2507 Boulders Drive, Denison, Iowa
Wednesday, September 14, 2016, Manchester Fire Department, 400 E. Main Street, Manchester, Iowa, at 6:30 p.m
Tuesday, September 20, 2016, Webster City Community Theater, 1001 Willson Avenue, Webster City, Iowa.
