IA HF2583

Owners of high-voltage electric transmission lines (200 kilovolts or more) approved for construction on or after July 1, 2022, must develop and submit emergency response plans to the Iowa Utilities Commission by December 31, 2026, with annual updates required thereafter.

Emergency response plans must include 24-hour contact information for at least two authorized personnel, procedures for notifying emergency agencies during outages, staging and mobilization strategies, mutual aid arrangements, and methodology for prioritizing restoration to essential facilities like hospitals and water treatment plants.

Transmission line owners must notify the commission when projected outages exceed six hours, providing information on the cause, geographic area affected, damage assessment, and estimated restoration time.

During proclaimed disaster emergencies, transmission line owners must coordinate with each other and provide information to the commission and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to facilitate state-level emergency response.

Violations are subject to civil penalties of up to $100 per violation or $1,000 per day for continuing violations, and all submitted emergency response plans are treated as confidential records.