The Iowa Utilities Board has begun an emergency investigation tostudy the adequacy of payment options available to natural gascustomers following the record-high energy bills this winter. Theboard is holding a workshop today in Des Moines, and has invitedall regulated natural gas utilities serving the state toparticipate.

IUB’s annual winter moratorium, between Nov. 1 and April 1 ofeach year, delays service disconnections for customers who havebeen certified for energy or weatherization assistance. However,”it appears likely that the unprecedented high utility bills fromthis winter could result in a record number of disconnections afterApril 1,” IUB said.

The board wants all natural gas utilities that provide retailservice in Iowa to file responses to several questions pertainingto current billing issues to help determine the “full impact ofunusually high natural gas bills.” Specifically, IUB asked forfinancial information from each natural gas utility on totalcustomer accounts and moratorium-protected customer accounts thatare in arrears, as well as comments about possible changes tocurrent rules for disconnection, payment arrangements or budgetbilling.

In its order, issued March 22 [Docket No. N01-01-1], IUB said”since utility cost revenues affecting natural gas customers during2000-01 heating season are unprecedented (including those stillreceivable by utilities from consumers), it is not clear that theboard’s current rules offer sufficient options for customers. Inorder to evaluate the rules in the current environment, it isnecessary that the board have more information regarding theprecise effect of this winter’s gas bills.”

Among the questions the utilities were requested to answer byMonday were to detail customer account receivables in arrears,compared to the same time period in 2000, and what rule changeswould be appropriate to respond to the circumstances created by thenatural gas prices and usages during this heating season.

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