The IUC's electronic filing system (EFS) is a web‐based application used to receive electronic filings from external users. EFS is the repository of most documents electronically filed with the IUC and orders issued by the IUC in proceedings initiated beginning in 2009.
EFS makes orders and non‐confidential documents available on the IUC website for public searching and download. The IUC’s rules governing electronic filing and identifying exceptions to the electronic filing requirement are found at 199 Iowa Administrative Code chapter 14.
Review the sections and common questions to learn more about EFS. If you have other questions about EFS, contact customer service at 877-565-4450 or ITsupport@iuc.iowa.gov.
Using the System
- How to Search: Instructions on How to Search in EFS
- How to File as a Guest User: File in EFS as a Guest User
- How to File as a Registered User: File in EFS as a Registered User
- Filing Standards: EFS Filing Standards
As of January 10, 2025, this document is being revised due to updates to agency administrative rules.
Learn about the latest changes to EFS by watching this YouTube video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about EFS typically fall into one of three categories:
- General questions
- Filing questions (including rules, types of files accepted, filing maps/GIS, confidentiality)
- Searching questions (finding files, downloading)
List items for EFS FAQ - General
General Questions
IUB 24/7 is a web application that allows companies, utilities, and individuals that interact with the IUC to manage and update their individual and company information with the IUC. Companies file their annual reports in IUB 24/7. Annual reports are available for public inspection in IUB 24/7.
User registration and account information is managed in IUB 24/7. All users will need to sign up in IUB 24/7 to be able to file in EFS. The single account will be used for both IUB 24/7 and EFS. If you are associated with a registered company you may need to contact your company administrator or IUC staff to request that your account is linked to your company account.
EFS organizes documents in dockets and filings.
A docket is a set of one or more filings, each containing one or more documents pertinent to one proceeding. Docket types are intended to reflect the general content of the case and applicable procedural characteristics. A list of docket types is available on the IUC website’s Docket Designations page.
A filing is a set of one or more documents submitted together and related to a particular docket. Documents may be filed in PDF, Excel, or GIF formats. They are classified within EFS by document type reflective of the function of the document – motion, petition, testimony, exhibit, map, memo, etc.
Tariff Books – Use the Tariff search to locate a utility company’s tariff. A company’s tariff book can be located using its company number. To search for a four-digit company number, use the Company Search in EFS. (Example: T-CoNo)
EFS allows you to download up to 10 documents at a time. View this video about disabling your pop-up blocker to allow multiple downloads.
Most orders issued prior to 2009 are not available in EFS. Customer service staff is uploading historical documentation on an ad-hoc basis. Consider searching by docket number.
If you are unable to locate the documents, email Customer Service staff at ITsupport@iuc.iowa.gov to request a copy of orders or documents in EFS.
If the outage is expected to last more than 30 minutes and the IUC website is available, a notice will be posted on the IUC website (iub.iowa.gov) homepage. Scheduled maintenance will also be posted on the IUC website.
The Daily Filing Summary search will return a list of many of the filings made with the IUC as well as all the orders issued by the IUC by date for any day or a time period beginning in 2009.
EFS must be accessed through a web browser. Supported web browsers are:
Microsoft Internet Explorer (5.5 SP2, 6.0 SP2, or 7.0, 8.0, 9.0,10.0, 11.0)
Firefox (1.5 or higher)
Google Chrome
Most documents in EFS are stored as PDF (portable document format) files. Adobe Reader, or similar software, is required to view PDF files.
To download the latest version of Adobe Reader, go to http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Spreadsheets or work papers require the Microsoft Excel Application to view.
Also, make sure pop-up blockers are disabled for the site, as there are many functions that occur within a pop-up window (e.g. docket searches, calendar pop-ups). To turn off the pop-up blocker in Microsoft Internet Explorer, select the Tools menu, then choose Pop-up Blocker. If the Blocker is off, EFS will work fine. If the Blocker is on, select Pop-up Blocker Settings and add efs.iowa.gov/efs to the list of exceptions so pop-ups are enabled for EFS.
The EFS web-based application is best viewed with an 800 x 600 screen resolution or higher.
No. Cover letters are not required but can be useful for staff to assist in understanding what is being filed. Cover letters may be attached to a document or filed within the same filing.
If the IUC has formally consolidated dockets into one, parties will receive notice of the consolidation and will only need to file once in the consolidated docket. Prior to consolidation, parties must file in each affected docket. See the docket summary screen to show any dockets related to that docket.
Filing and document titles may be up to 200 characters. The file name for the actual file you attach has an 80-character limit.
Per 199 IAC 14.13, a handwritten signature will not be accepted. You must either redact, use a digital signature, or replace the signature with an /s/ (Example: /s/ Jon Q. Public) prior to filing.
It is not required to be filed separate and is recommended to be added at the end of the document.
If a filing is rejected, customer service staff will provide the filer a reason for the rejection. The filer will receive the rejection notice if a valid email address was provided at the time of filing. Notification of a rejected filing will not be provided to other parties on the service list or to the OCA or IUC staff. All documents in a rejected filing must be resubmitted once the appropriate corrections have been made.
Only a filing that is accepted for filing on or before the filing deadline will meet the deadline. If a filer is unable to resubmit the filing before the deadline, it should be resubmitted as soon as possible and accompanied by a request to accept a late filing.
Documents are not typically removed from EFS. Once a filing has been accepted, the filer must file a request to withdraw the filing. The filing is not taken down unless it is determined that confidential or sensitive information was provided at the time of the filing.
IUC IT support staff is available to answer your questions by phone or email during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except state holidays.
Phone: 515-725-7300
Email: ITsupport@iuc.iowa.gov
List items for EFS FAQ - Filing
Filing Questions
All documents must be filed in a PDF, Excel (.xls or .xlsx) or GIF format. Whenever possible, PDF files must be full-text searchable, making them consistent with 199 IAC 14.5(7), which states: “Any text-based document which has been scanned for electronic filing must be full-text searchable to the extent that is reasonably possible.” Documents filed in PDF format should be reviewed by the filer before filing to assure that pages are rotated so they are “right-side-up” when viewed on a computer screen.
It is preferred to keep documents under 5 megabytes in size and under 20 documents per filing.
No. EFS will only accept PDF, Excel, and GIS files (.pdf, .xls, .xlsx, .kmz, .kml, .shp, .shx, .dbf, .prj).
Review the EFS Filing Standards
Each document submitted into EFS will be assigned a single document type (Example: testimony, exhibit, correspondence, intervention, motion, etc). For ease of processing and retrieval, it is preferred that requests that fall under multiple document types be filed as separate documents but within the same filing.
Although it is possible to upload a set of linked workbooks into EFS, the links between files will not work once they have been processed in EFS. Links between spreadsheets within a single workbook will work in EFS.
Review 199 IAC chapter 14, the administrative rules regarding Electronic Filing.
Filing a GIS file follows the same process as filing PDF or Excel documents. See our EFS Quick Filing Guide document for how to file in EFS. For more information on filing best practices, see our EFS Filing Standards.
Yes, PDF maps are still required per 199 IAC 14.8(1).
Each filing requires a submitting party. The submitting party is the person or entity that represents the filing and is not necessarily the entity or person who is uploading the filing. A common example is a law firm representing a utility company.
In general, the person filing the document can select “file on behalf of” if they are filing for someone else. The entity should be selected or entered, a person should only be used if entity is not an option (Example: An individual intervening in a case).
A public document indicating that a confidential document has been filed is required to be uploaded, and notice of that public document is sent to all parties.
List items for EFS FAQ - Search
Search Questions
At the top of the EFS home page, select Search. Select “Document Search” on the left column then complete fields as known (e.g., docket number, filing title, or date filed). Review the Instructions on How to Search in EFS document.
Click ‘View’ next to the GIS file you are interested in. This will begin the download of the file. To view the file, you will need to obtain software that is able to view map files. Google Earth is a free application that can be used to view these types of files.
A service list is a list of EFS filers who wish to receive notification that a new file has been added to a docket. Each docket has a service list. Any filer of a document in EFS is automatically added to the service list. EFS sends a notification to all members included in the docket’s service list any time a new file is processed.
The IUC is obligated to provide notification of legal documents filed within EFS.
Review all EFS Common Questions in printable format.