Judicial Proceedings

This page details the status of active judicial proceedings involving the Iowa Utilities Commission and provides recent court filings.  

Updated April 13, 2026

Enterprise Products Operating, LLC v. Iowa Utilities Board

Polk County District Court Case No. CVCV065780 / 24-1648
Subject: Judicial review of agency orders in Docket No. SPU-2023-0003 regarding agency's order assessing civil penalties for Enterprise’s failure to have required permits.  
Original Petition: Petition for Judicial Review  (314.75 KB) Archived .PDF filed July 7, 2023. 
Current Status: Appellate Court on October 29, 2025, upheld the District Court ruling on civil penalties issued by the IUC. Petitioner filed an appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court on November 18, 2025. Argument before the Supreme Court scheduled for April 15.
Recent Filings: Appellate Court Decision. (261.33 KB) Archived .pdf

Shelby County et al. v. Iowa Utilities Commission 

Polk County District Court Case No. CVCV067849
Subject: Judicial review of agency order to conditionally grant a permit for a hazardous liquid pipeline in Docket No. HLP-2021-0001  
Original Petition: Petition for Judicial Review (274.25 KB) Archived .PDF  filed September 10, 2024. 
Of note: Proceeding consolidated with five additional Polk County District Court Cases: Petitioners Allan Boeck et al., CVCV067869; Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, CVCV067871; Robert Soat et al., CVCV067873; Greg Kracht et al., CVCV067874; and Kerry Hirth et al., CVCV032240.
Current Status: Final briefs filed August 22, 2025. Oral argument held October 10, 2025. District court denied petitioners’ motions for reconsideration on January 16, 2026, and clarified that the main unforeseen event that entitled Summit to the remand was South Dakota’s passage of the bill blocking the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines. Petitioners Hirth et al filed a Notice of Interlocutory Appeal on February 13, asking the Iowa Supreme Court to revisit the issue of the remand. On March 16, the Supreme Court denied the appeal. Case remains remanded to the IUC for consideration and ruling on Summit Carbon’s motion for amendment.
Recent Filings: Order Setting Oral Arguments (40.37 KB) Archived .pdf

Swan Lake Road Farms v. Iowa Utilities Commission and ITC Midwest LLC

Polk County District Court Case No. CVCV068000
Subject: Judicial review of agency order in Docket No. E-22501 granting electric transmission line franchise
Original Petition: Petition for Judicial Review (601.67 KB) Archived .PDF  filed October 10, 2024. 
Current Status: District court issued a ruling September 30, 2025, affirming IUC’s decision to grant the franchise. Petitioner and ITC Midwest appealed to Iowa Supreme Court. Awaiting Supreme Court decision on whether to keep the case or transfer it to the Court of Appeals and whether to grant oral argument.
Recent Filings: Order for Stay; (141.96 KB) Archived .PDF Petitioner's Notice of Additional Authority. (157.38 KB) Archived .pdf

Hawkeye Land Co. v. Iowa Utilities Commission and Metronet

Linn County District Court Case No. CVCV108100
Subject: Judicial review of agency decision in Docket No. FCU-2025-0001.
Original Petition: Petition for Judicial Review (154.3 KB) Archived .pdf  filed July 3, 2025.
Current Status: Petitioner filed an amended petition on January 21, 2026; both the IUC and Metronet have answered. Petitioner's brief filed April 10, 2026; respondents' briefs due May 15, 2026.
Recent Filings: IUC's Answer. (138.33 KB) Archived .pdf Metronet's Answer. (117.84 KB) Archived .pdf

Note: Court cases that began prior to July 1, 2024, reference the Iowa Utilities Commission's prior name, Iowa Utilities Board, unless changed as part of the proceedings.