Iowa Utilities Board gets new name as part of Gov. Kim Reynolds' reorganization plan

After 38 years as the Iowa Utilities Board, the regulatory oversight agency said Monday it's been renamed the Iowa Utilities Commission.

The name change was part of legislation Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law in May that eliminated, merged and or reduced the membership of dozens of state boards and commissions.

The move continued Reynolds' 2023 plan to reorganize and shrink state government. That included moving the utilities oversight agency from under the commerce department and making it freestanding.

The agency said the name change doesn't impact the office of consumer advocate, located within the Iowa attorney general's office. The consumer advocate works to maintain "safe, reliable, reasonably-priced and nondiscriminatory utility services for all consumers," according to the attorney general's website.

The commission moved its website to iuc.iowa.gov and it said all staff and business email addresses are in the process of being updated. Signage outside and inside the agency's building also is being updated.

The commission said it will continue to "roll out physical and digital name changes including updates to the agency’s electronic filing system."

Along with the agency name change, board members will now be referred to as commissioners.