Senate File 2152 - 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 electric and gas public utilities offering
  2    energy efficiency rebate programs to customers to incorporate
  3    specified small=scale renewable energy systems.
  4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  5 TLSB 6139XS 82
  6 rn/nh/5

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 476.6, subsection 14, Code Supplement
  1  2 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  1  3    14.  ENERGY EFFICIENCY PLANS AND PROGRAMS.
  1  4    a.  Electric and gas public utilities shall offer energy
  1  5 efficiency programs to their customers through energy
  1  6 efficiency plans.  An energy efficiency plan as a whole shall
  1  7 be cost=effective.  In determining the cost=effectiveness of
  1  8 an energy efficiency plan, the board shall apply the societal
  1  9 test, utility cost test, rate=payer impact test, and
  1 10 participant test.  Energy efficiency programs for qualified
  1 11 low=income persons and for tree planting programs, educational
  1 12 programs, and assessments of consumers' needs for information
  1 13 to make effective choices regarding energy use and energy
  1 14 efficiency need not be cost=effective and shall not be
  1 15 considered in determining cost=effectiveness of plans as a
  1 16 whole.  The energy efficiency programs in the plans may be
  1 17 provided by the utility or by a contractor or agent of the
  1 18 utility.  Programs offered pursuant to this subsection by gas
  1 19 and electric utilities that are required to be rate=regulated
  1 20 shall require board approval.
  1 21    b.  Electric and gas public utilities offering energy
  1 22 efficiency rebates to customers as a component of their energy
  1 23 efficiency programs shall allocate a portion of the rebate
  1 24 funds specifically for the installation of small=scale
  1 25 renewable energy systems, including solar hot water, solar
  1 26 thermal, and photovoltaic systems.  For purposes of this
  1 27 paragraph, "photovoltaic" means utilization of solar cells,
  1 28 panels, or arrays to convert light from the sun into
  1 29 electricity.  The board shall establish by rule system
  1 30 specification and customer qualification requirements.
  1 31                           EXPLANATION
  1 32    This bill requires electric and gas public utilities
  1 33 offering energy efficiency rebates to customers as a component
  1 34 of an energy efficiency program to allocate a portion of their
  1 35 rebate funds for the installation of small=scale renewable
  2  1 energy systems, including solar hot water, solar thermal, and
  2  2 photovoltaic systems.  The bill defines "photovoltaic" to
  2  3 refer to utilization of solar cells, panels, or arrays to
  2  4 convert light from the sun into electricity.  The Iowa
  2  5 utilities board is directed to establish system specification
  2  6 and customer qualification requirements pursuant to
  2  7 administrative rule.
  2  8 LSB 6139XS 82
  2  9 rn/nh/5.1