Judicial review

1. Notwithstanding the Iowa administrative procedure Act, chapter 17A, the district court for Polk county or for the county in which a public utility maintains its principal place of business has exclusive venue for the judicial review under chapter 17A of actions of the commission pursuant to rate-regulatory powers over that public utility. 2. Upon the filing of a petition for judicial review in an action referred to in subsection 1, the clerk of the district court shall notify the chief justice of the supreme court for purposes of assignment of a district judge under section 602.1212. The judicial review proceeding shall be heard by the district judge appointed by the supreme court under section 602.1212, but in the county of venue under subsection 1. 3. Notwithstanding the Iowa administrative procedure Act, chapter 17A, if a public utility seeks judicial review of an order approving rates for the public utility, the level of rates that may be collected, under bond and subject to refund, while the appeal is pending shall be limited to the level of the temporary rates set by the commission, or the level of the final rates set by the commission, whichever is greater. During the period the judicial review proceeding is pending, the commission shall retain jurisdiction to determine the rate of interest to be paid on any refunds eventually required on rates collected during judicial review.