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Des Moines franchise fee ordered refunded

June 04, 2009

Des Moines residents will get their "franchise fee" surcharge on their utility bills refunded:

A Polk County judge on Wednesday ordered Des Moines city officials to refund millions of dollars in franchise fees to residents who have paid gas and electric bills over the past decade.
Critics of the fees said the amount could approach $50 million when interest and court fees are added.

The 5 percent surcharge, tacked on to customers' bills, has been at the center of a five-year legal battle that city leaders vowed to continue in the wake of Judge Joel Novak's ruling.

The state legislature this year passed legislation allowing the fee going forward, but that didn't affect the old years.

Tags: Des Moines.