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