Senate File 515 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE (SUCCESSOR TO SF 303) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act permitting rate=regulated gas and electric utilities to 2 aggregate energy efficiency program funding, administration, 3 and delivery, and to utilize a third party for such 4 administration and delivery secured through a competitive 5 bidding process. 6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 7 TLSB 2661SV 82 8 rn/gg/14 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 476.6, subsection 16, paragraph a, Code 1 2 2007, is amended to read as follows: 1 3 a. (1) Gas and electric utilities required to be 1 4 rate=regulated under this chapter shall file energy efficiency 1 5 plans with the board. An energy efficiency plan and budget 1 6 shall include a range of programs, tailored to the needs of 1 7 all customer classes, including residential, commercial, and 1 8 industrial customers, for energy efficiency opportunities. 1 9 The plans shall include programs for qualified low=income 1 10 persons including a cooperative program with any community 1 11 action agency within the utility's service area to implement 1 12 countywide or communitywide energy efficiency programs for 1 13 qualified low=income persons. Rate=regulated gas and electric 1 14 utilities shall utilize Iowa agencies and Iowa contractors to 1 15 the maximum extent cost=effective in their energy efficiency 1 16 plans filed with the board. 1 17 (2) Gas and electric utilities required to be 1 18 rate=regulated under this chapter may combine or aggregate the 1 19 energy efficiency program administration, delivery, and 1 20 budgets contained in energy efficiency plans submitted to and 1 21 approved by the board for each respective utility, and may 1 22 contract for administration and delivery of the combined or 1 23 aggregated energy efficiency programs through a third=party 1 24 provider. The third=party provider shall be selected pursuant 1 25 to a competitive bidding process under rules adopted by the 1 26 board. The board shall require each utility contracting with 1 27 a third=party provider for combined or aggregated energy 1 28 efficiency program administration and delivery to file a 1 29 report with the board at least annually summarizing results 1 30 achieved and savings realized through the combined or 1 31 aggregated administration and delivery, and the board shall by 1 32 rule develop a mechanism for monitoring and supervising such 1 33 third=party providers. 1 34 EXPLANATION 1 35 This bill provides gas and electric utilities 2 1 rate=regulated pursuant to Code chapter 476 to aggregate 2 2 energy efficiency program funding, administration, and 2 3 delivery and utilize a third party for such administration and 2 4 delivery secured through a competitive bidding process. 2 5 Code section 476.6, subsections 14 and 16, require 2 6 rate=regulated gas and electric utilities to develop energy 2 7 efficiency plans for the delivery of energy efficiency 2 8 programs to all customer classes for energy efficiency 2 9 opportunities. The bill provides for combination or 2 10 aggregation of plans submitted to the utilities board by each 2 11 utility and approved by the board. The bill provides that a 2 12 third=party provider shall be selected pursuant to a 2 13 competitive bidding process under rules adopted by the board, 2 14 and that the board shall require each utility contracting with 2 15 a third=party provider for combined or aggregated energy 2 16 efficiency program administration and delivery to file a 2 17 report with the board at least annually summarizing results 2 18 achieved and savings realized. The bill requires the board by 2 19 rule to develop a mechanism for monitoring and supervising 2 20 such third=party providers. 2 21 LSB 2661SV 82 2 22 rn:rj/gg/14