Senate File 2167 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY BOLKCOM Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act requiring an energy efficiency review to be conducted by a 2 gas or electric utility prior to the issuance of a 3 construction permit. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 6046XS 82 6 rn/nh/14 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 103A.19, Code Supplement 2007, is 1 2 amended by adding the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 4. A governmental subdivision shall 1 4 forward a copy of an application for a building permit, 1 5 license, or certificate for residential, commercial, or 1 6 industrial purposes, other than a building subject to 1 7 subsection 3, to the gas or electric public utility operating 1 8 in the governmental subdivision pursuant to the energy 1 9 efficiency review provisions of section 476.6, subsection 14, 1 10 paragraph "b". A permit shall not be issued until a copy of 1 11 the review required has been received from the gas or electric 1 12 public utility. 1 13 Sec. 2. Section 476.6, subsection 14, Code Supplement 1 14 2007, is amended to read as follows: 1 15 14. ENERGY EFFICIENCY PLANS AND REVIEWS. 1 16 a. Electric and gas public utilities shall offer energy 1 17 efficiency programs to their customers through energy 1 18 efficiency plans. An energy efficiency plan as a whole shall 1 19 be cost=effective. In determining the cost=effectiveness of 1 20 an energy efficiency plan, the board shall apply the societal 1 21 test, utility cost test, rate=payer impact test, and 1 22 participant test. Energy efficiency programs for qualified 1 23 low=income persons and for tree planting programs, educational 1 24 programs, and assessments of consumers' needs for information 1 25 to make effective choices regarding energy use and energy 1 26 efficiency need not be cost=effective and shall not be 1 27 considered in determining cost=effectiveness of plans as a 1 28 whole. The energy efficiency programs in the plans may be 1 29 provided by the utility or by a contractor or agent of the 1 30 utility. Programs offered pursuant to this subsection by gas 1 31 and electric utilities that are required to be rate=regulated 1 32 shall require board approval. 1 33 b. Electric and gas public utilities shall perform energy 1 34 efficiency reviews upon notification by a governmental 1 35 subdivision of the submission of an application for a permit, 2 1 license, or certificate for the construction of a residential, 2 2 commercial, or industrial building. The review shall contain 2 3 recommendations regarding the extent to which project design 2 4 specifications reflect or incorporate energy efficient 2 5 construction techniques and appliance selections, the extent 2 6 to which the requirements of section 103A.8A are being met, 2 7 and the extent to which the proposed construction complies 2 8 with energy efficiency requirements or code in effect within 2 9 the governmental subdivision. In the event that separate gas 2 10 and electric public utilities are operating in the 2 11 governmental subdivision, the review required by this 2 12 paragraph shall be conducted by the gas public utility. A 2 13 copy of the review containing any recommendations shall be 2 14 forwarded to the governmental subdivision to which the 2 15 application was submitted. This paragraph shall not apply to 2 16 a building which is subject to an energy efficiency review by 2 17 a registered architect or licensed engineer pursuant to 2 18 section 103A.19, subsection 3. The board shall by rule 2 19 establish procedures and determine applicable timeframes 2 20 within which the review required pursuant to this paragraph 2 21 shall be conducted. 2 22 EXPLANATION 2 23 This bill requires a gas or electric public utility 2 24 operating within a governmental subdivision, upon receipt of 2 25 notification of an application for a construction permit for 2 26 residential, commercial, or industrial construction by the 2 27 governmental subdivision, to conduct an energy efficiency 2 28 review and make related recommendations. The bill specifies 2 29 that if separate gas and electric public utilities are 2 30 operating in the governmental subdivision, the review shall be 2 31 conducted by the gas public utility, and requires a copy of 2 32 the review containing any recommendations to be forwarded to 2 33 the governmental subdivision to which the application was 2 34 submitted. The bill prohibits issuance of a permit until a 2 35 copy of the review has been received. The bill provides an 3 1 exception for a building already subject to energy efficiency 3 2 reviews by a licensed engineer or registered architect as 3 3 provided in Code section 103A.19, subsection 3, and provides 3 4 that the Iowa utilities board shall by rule establish 3 5 procedures and determine applicable timeframes within which 3 6 reviews shall be conducted. 3 7 LSB 6046XS 82 3 8 rn/nh/14