Relating to energy efficiency plan filing requirements for certain public utilities, and including effective date provisions

6(15) requires rate-regulated electric utilities to file five-year energy efficiency plans and demand response plans with the board, and rate-regulated gas utilities to file five-year energy efficiency plans with the board. Current law allows electric utility customers to request exemptions from participation in energy efficiency plans and gas and electric utilities to request plan modifications. A gas utility is not required to adopt a plan that results in projected cumulative average annual costs that exceed one and one-half percent of its expected annual Iowa retail rate revenue, whereas an electric utility is not required to adopt a plan that results in projected cumulative average annual costs that exceed percent of its expected annual Iowa retail rate revenue.6(15), thereby requiring rate-regulated gas and electric utilities to file energy efficiency plans with the board, as described in the bill. The bill removes provisions allowing electric utility customers to request exemptions from participation in energy efficiency plans and gas and electric utilities to request plan modifications. The bill also removes provisions which limit a gas or electric utility’s plan to no more than one and one-half percent or percent of the utility’s expected annual Iowa retail rate revenue, as applicable. The bill allows the board to modify any energy efficiency plan or budget approved prior to the effective date of the bill, or require a gas or electric utility to file a new energy efficiency plan or budget on or after such date, to ensure that gas and electric utilities implement energy efficiency plans and budgets which meet the requirements of the bill. The bill also allows the office of consumer advocate to request to modify an approved energy efficiency plan or budget, as well as a rate-regulated gas or electric utility. The bill allows the board to require each rate-regulated gas or electric utility to offer energy efficiency program financing to qualified customers, as described in the bill. The bill takes effect upon enactment.