Iowa law requires Iowa's larger rate-regulated utilities to offer an energy efficiency plan that offers a suite of energy efficiency measures to all of their customers.
After five years, the utilities have to propose a new plan and explain what measures they intend to retain and what, if any, new measures they want to offer. These plans are reviewed by the Iowa Utilities Board, which invites interested parties to participate.
CEDI successfully petitioned to intervene in the dockets that are devoted to the 2024-2028 Energy Efficiency Plans proposed by Interstate Power and Light (Alliant Energy), Mid-American Energy, and Black Hills Energy. In various rounds of testimony, CEDI has emphasized:
- That the energy efficiency plans should complement and maximize the incentives provided via the Inflation Reduction Act.
- The improved efficiency of cold climate heat pumps and their ability to hasten beneficial electrification and decarbonization.
- The provision of in-person technical assistance for all customer classes via local qualified energy planners.
- The importance of maximizing the full potential of energy and energy cost savings within state-mandated maximum spending caps.