Iowa Legislature Considers Standards for Stray Voltage, Dairy Farmers Say It Limits Legal Recourse

Plan to set science-based standards for addressing the issue drawing criticism from groups who contend that the proposed definition of stray voltage in the bill would essentially eliminate any chance that a farmer could seek legal recourse

March 15, 2012

Recently, the Iowa State Senate started but then abruptly halted debate on a bill to set science-based standards for stray voltage. The break in the discussion of Senate File 2286 was so lawmakers could regroup to find an amicable solution for all parties. "You’ve got the dairy guys and the Farm Bureau and the trial lawyers against the electric cooperatives," said Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, who is leading discussion on the bill. I don't want to take away people's adjudication process, but at the same time I think the RECs [rural electric cooperatives] need an operational level of comfort that they have to work within to make sure they're meeting a set standard."

For more on this debate going on in Iowa, visit the Des Moines Register's website.