Senate adopts amendment allowing rate-regulated water utilities to recover investments; SF23-04 passes

Senator Scott Webster opened discussion on Senate File 23-04, describing it as a bill that addresses rate-regulated water utilities and includes a strike-after amendment. Webster said the amendment filed (Senate Amendment 51-24) allows rate-regulated water and sewer utilities to recover certain investments to avoid large rate increases for customers, permitting recovery of up to 80% of covered items and imposing a cap of 10%.

Webster moved adoption of Amendment 51-24. The chair put the question; the ayes prevailed and the amendment was adopted. With the amendment adopted, Webster moved final passage of SF23-04 as amended. The secretary opened the voting system and recorded votes; after the roll call the bill was declared to have passed the Senate and the amended title was read aloud on the floor.

Webster framed the change as giving utilities a tool to update systems while reducing sudden rate shocks for customers, saying it would provide clarity to ratepayers confronting upgrades across cities and towns in Iowa.