How Do I Participate in an IUC Proceeding?

If you wish to participate in a contested case or other proceeding, you must file a pleading requesting to appear. A contested case proceeding is a docket in which your legal rights, duties, or privileges will be determined after a hearing.

The pleading you file is usually a petition to intervene as a party in the proceeding. A sample Petition to Intervene is available on the IUC's Forms and Applications page.

If you are

• an affected landowner or
• filed an objection in an electric franchise or pipeline permit docket

and wish to participate in a hearing, you can either

• file to intervene or
• file in the docket and ask the IUC to allow you to participate, give testimony, or ask questions.

If you have not intervened, the IUC will decide whether to allow you to participate.

Intervention means you are a party to the docket and you have the same rights and obligations as any other party.

As a party you may:

• conduct discovery of other parties; that is, ask written questions of the other parties before the hearing.
• file pleadings that request IUC action or are in response to other parties’ requests for IUC action.
• file the prepared testimony of yourself or other witnesses. Prepared testimony is a document with written questions and answers that address the issues you want to raise with regard to the docket or in response to prepared testimony of other parties.
• appear at the hearing and present testimony, cross-examine witnesses, and raise issues with the IUC about the evidence.
• file post-hearing briefs as allowed by the IUC.

As a party your responsibilities are to:

• conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the standard of conduct for attorneys,
• meet the procedural deadlines adopted by the IUC in a procedural schedule, and 
• respond to other parties’ discovery requests.
   

A hearing before the IUC is similar to a trial in Iowa district court. The parties will:

• appear before the three-member Commission and present witnesses,
• cross-examine other parties’ witnesses, and
• take other action as required.

Under IUC procedures, direct testimony is prepared and filed in advance in the docket, so most examination of witnesses is cross-examination by opposing parties.

A party is allowed to offer additional evidence in the form of hearing exhibits. Admission of hearing exhibits is at the discretion of the IUC. Hearing exhibits are required to be filed in the IUC's electronic filing system (EFS) following the hearing.

Following the hearing and the filing of post-hearing briefs, the IUC will:

• review all the evidence and testimony filed and presented in the evidentiary hearing,
• deliberate, and
• issue an order with its decision, addressing the issues presented.

Once the IUC’s final decision and order is issued, parties can:

• request reconsideration within the time frames set forth by Iowa Code chapter 17A and sections 476.12, 476.13, 478.32, 479.32, and 479B.22, and/or
• seek judicial review in district court following requirements in Iowa Code section 17A.19.

Learn how to Make a Filing with the IUC.

The IUC welcomes comments, objections, or letters of support on proceedings that come before the Commission. File written comments using the IUC's online open docket comment form. These comments will become part of the record in the docket.

Direct questions about IUC procedures or filing in the electronic filing system to ITsupport@iuc.iowa.gov or 515-725-7300.

You may also contact the Office of Consumer Advocate at IowaOCA@oca.iowa.gov or 515-725-7200.

NOTE: Direct communication with Commission members or IUC staff in a contested case proceeding is prohibited by Iowa Code section 17A.17 and IUC administrative rule 7.22.