(1)
The following definitions apply to the rules in this chapter:
"Direct assessment" means the charge to a
person bringing a proceeding or matter before the commission or to persons
participating in proceedings or matters before the commission and includes
expenses incurred by the commission attributable to the commission's duties
related to such proceeding or matter.
"Expenses of the commission" includes
expenses of the entire agency.
"Gross operating revenues from intrastate
operations" includes all revenues from Iowa intrastate utility
operations during the last calendar year, except:
1. Uncollectible revenues,
2. Amounts included in the accounts for
interdepartmental sales and rents, and
3. Gross receipts received by a cooperative
corporation or association for wholesale transactions with members of the
cooperative corporation or association, provided that the members are subject
to assessment by the commission based upon the members' gross operating
revenues, or provided that such member is an association whose members are
subject to assessment by the commission based upon the members' gross operating
revenues.
"Individual" means a human being as
distinguished from legal entities.
"Industry direct assessment" means the
charge to the utilities in a specific industry for expenses associated with
regulation of that specific industry that are not directly assessed. An
industry direct assessment includes a direct assessment in a specific industry
for which no person is directly assessed under rule
199-17.4 (476). The industries
assessed are as follows:
1. Electric
utilities are assessed for expenses associated with electric service, including
expenses associated with the commission's participation in or consideration of
regional and federal issues.
2.
Natural gas utilities are assessed for expenses associated with natural gas
service, including expenses associated with the commission's participation in
or consideration of regional and federal issues.
3. Water utilities are assessed for expenses
associated with water service, including expenses associated with the
commission's participation in or consideration of regional and federal
issues.
4. Sanitary sewer utilities
are assessed for expenses associated with sanitary sewer services.
5. Storm water drainage utilities are
assessed for expenses associated with storm water drainage services.
6. Telecommunications companies, including
all companies providing local exchange service and inter exchange service in
Iowa whether by landline or voice over Internet protocol, are assessed for
expenses associated with telecommunications service, including expenses
associated with the commission's participation in or consideration of regional
and federal issues.
"Overhead expenses" means all operating
costs of the commission not directly attributable to a proceeding or matter, or
a specific industry, that are included in direct and industry direct
assessments.
"Person" includes individuals and legal
entities as defined in Iowa Code section
4.1(20), except
the definition does not include the consumer advocate.
"Remainder assessment" means the charge to
all persons providing service over which the commission has jurisdiction for
the total expenses incurred during each fiscal year in the performance of the
commission's duties under law after deducting the direct assessments, industry
direct assessments, and other revenues.
