General information.

19.1(1) Purpose and application of rules. The rules shall apply to any rate-regulated gas utility operating within the state of Iowa as defined in Iowa Code chapter 476 and shall supersede any tariff on file with this commission that is in conflict with these rules. These rules are intended to promote safe and adequate service to the public, to provide standards for uniform and reasonable practices by utilities, and to establish a basis for determining the reasonableness of such demands as may be made by the public upon the utilities.#

19.1(2) Definitions. The following words and terms shall have the meaning indicated below:#

The abbreviations used, and their meanings, are as follows:#

Btu-British thermal unit#

LP gas-liquefied petroleum gas#

psig-pounds per square inch gauge#

W.C.-water column#

"Appliance" refers to any device that utilizes gas fuel to produce light, heat or power.#

"CFR" means the Code of Federal Regulations in effect as of July 16, 2025, unless a separate effective date is identified in a specific rule.#

"Commission" means the Iowa utilities commission.#

"Complaint" as used in these rules is a statement or question by anyone, whether a utility customer or not, alleging a wrong, grievance, injury, dissatisfaction, illegal action or procedure, dangerous condition or action, or utility failure to fulfill an obligation.#

"Cubic foot" of gas has the following meanings:#

1.Where gas is supplied and metered to customers at the pressure (as defined in subrule 19.7(2)) normally used for domestic customers' appliances, a cubic foot of gas shall be that quantity of gas which, at the temperature and pressure existing in the meter, occupies one cubic foot, except that where a temperature compensated meter is used, the temperature base shall be 60°F.#

2.When gas is supplied to customers at other than the pressure in "1" above, the utility shall specify in its rules the base for measurement of a cubic foot of gas (subparagraph 19.2(4)"c"(6)). Unless otherwise stated by the utility, such cubic foot of gas shall be that quantity of gas which, at a temperature of 60°F and a pressure of 14.73 pounds per square inch absolute, occupies one cubic foot.#

3.The standard cubic foot of gas for testing the gas itself for heating value shall be that quantity of gas, saturated with water vapor, which, at a temperature of 60°F and a pressure of 30 inches of mercury, occupies one cubic foot. (Temperature of mercury = 32°F acceleration due to gravity = 32.17 ft. per second per second density = 13.595 grams per cubic centimeter.)#

"Customer" means any person, firm, association, or corporation; any agency of the federal, state or local government; or any legal entity responsible by law for payment for the gas service or heat from the gas utility.#

"Delinquent" or "delinquency" means an account for which a service bill or service payment agreement has not been paid in full on or before the last day for timely payment.#

"Gas," unless otherwise specifically designated, means manufactured gas, natural gas, other hydrocarbon gases, or any mixture of gases produced, transmitted, distributed or furnished by any gas utility.#

"Gas plant" means all facilities including all real estate, fixtures and property owned, controlled, operated or managed by a gas utility for the production, storage, transmission or distribution of gas and heat.#

"Interruption of service" means any disturbance of the gas supply whereby gas service to a customer cannot be maintained.#

"Main" means a gas pipe, excluding a service line, that is owned, operated, or maintained by a utility and is used for the purpose of transmission or distribution of gas.#

"Master meter" means a single meter used in determining the amount of gas provided to a multi-tenant building or to multiple buildings.#

"Meter," without other qualification, means any device or instrument used by a utility in measuring a quantity of gas.#

"Meter shop" means a shop where meters are inspected, repaired and tested, and may be at a fixed location or may be mobile.#

"Plant addition" means any additional plant, other than a distribution main or service line, required to be constructed to provide service to a customer.#

"Pressure," unless otherwise stated, is expressed in pounds per square inch above atmospheric pressure, i.e., gauge pressure (abbreviation-psig).#

"Rate-regulated utility" means any utility that is subject to rate regulation as provided in Iowa Code chapter 476.#

"Service line" means a gas pipe that transports gas from a main or source of supply to a customer meter or the connection to a customer's piping, whichever is farther downstream, or the connection to a customer's piping if there is not a customer meter. A customer meter is the meter that measures the transfer of gas from a utility to a customer.#

"Tap" or "town border station" means the delivery point or measuring station at which a gas utility receives gas from a natural gas transmission company.#

"Tariff" means the entire body of rates, tolls, rentals, charges, classifications, rules, procedures, policies, etc., adopted and filed with the commission by a gas utility in fulfilling its role of furnishing gas service.#

"Therm" means 100,000 British thermal units.#

"Timely payment" is a payment on a customer's account made on or before the date shown on a current bill for service or on a form that records an agreement between the customer and a utility for a series of partial payments to settle a delinquent account, as the date that determines application of a late payment charge.#

"Utility" means any person, partnership, business association, or corporation, domestic or foreign, owning or operating any gas plant for furnishing gas or heat to the public for compensation.#

Source history[ARC 9351C, IAB 6/11/25, effective 7/16/25]#