Restoring Iowa’s energy efficiency programs - Ask your legislators to restore Iowa’s energy efficiency programs that were gutted by SF2311.
Prior to 2018, Iowa had a long history of leading on energy efficiency. However, in 2018, SF2311 gutted the energy efficiency programs in the state. By capping the amount of money that a utility can invest in energy efficiency, the programs were cut by two-thirds.
In the case of electricity, energy efficiency programs reduce the use of electricity which reduces the need to build new power plants. New power plants are expensive, which increases the costs of everyone’s bills.
By allowing customers to opt-out, the incentives to reduce the use of electricity disappear, which will lead to more energy use, and the construction of more power plants, and increased costs for electricity.
Even if a customer does not take advantage of energy efficiency programs, the customer wins with lower utility costs.
Furthermore, customers cannot opt out of paying for new power plants, even if they participate in energy efficiency programs.
At a time when the effects of climate change are staring us in the face, it makes sense to have strong energy efficiency programs, that encourage consumers to use less fossil fuels, which reduces the greenhouse gas emissions.
Furthermore, energy efficiency has created good jobs across Iowa. These include furnace installers, insulation installers, window installers, home energy auditors, and manufacturing jobs that create energy efficient products.
The net effect of Iowa’s gutted energy efficiency programs is that Iowa consumers and businesses will be paying more for electricity.
That is why the Iowa legislature should restore Iowan’s energy efficiency law to what is was before the 2018 legislature enacted SF2311.
