Does anyone know the dispute period for estimated bills in Iowa? MidAmerican Energy estimated my client for three months, then did a massive true-up bill. Client wants to dispute but it's been 8 months since the estimates. I can't find clear guidance in the Iowa Utilities Board rules about dispute timeframes for estimated versus actual bills. Is there a difference in the dispute period?
Quick question - dispute period for estimated bills?
Dana, in most states the dispute period runs from the date of the actual bill, not the estimated bills. So if MidAmerican issued estimates in months 1-3, then sent the true-up in month 4, your dispute period typically starts from month 4. Iowa should follow the standard 12-month dispute window from bill date. The estimates are just placeholders until actual usage is determined. File with IUB and argue the dispute period starts from the corrected billing, not the estimates.
Randy's right about the dispute timeline. In Texas, we see this all the time with Oncor estimates followed by true-up bills. The dispute period always runs from the final corrected bill, not the estimates. Dana, you should be fine at 8 months if the true-up was recent. Just make sure you have documentation showing the estimates were unreasonable and the true-up calculation was wrong. IUB typically gives customers a full year to dispute billing errors regardless of whether they originated from estimates.