Iowa

Description: Alliant Energy provides standby service for pre-scheduled, contracted amounts with a rate that is primarily demand-based, with variable energy charges. There is a high penalty for exceeding contract demand. Billing demand is based on the maximum demand of the month. There is a 12-month ratchet in place. This service is viewed as unfavorable toward CHP.

MidAmerican provides standby service to customers only if they contract for a specific amount of standby capacity. Actual energy use is charged under the customer’s regular rate, were they not self-generating power. Billing demand is based on the maximum monthly demand or 75% of the maximum established during the previous June-September time period, whichever is greater. This service is viewed as unfavorable toward CHP.

Links:

• Alliant Energy’s rates and tariffs for Iowa customers can be found here
• MidAmerican Energy’s Iowa rates can be found here
• More information about best practices in utility rate design can be found on the EPA’s CHP Partnership website

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Description: As proposed in their energy efficiency plans, the combined megawatt hours saved by Iowa's investor-owned utilities (IOUs) would be the equivalent of about 1.4% of the retail megawatt-hour sales projected for 2013. In March 2009, MidAmerican Energy Company received approval for its energy efficiency plan, under which it will achieve savings of 1.5% of retail electric sales by 2010 (and 0.85% of natural gas therms by 2013). According to MidAmerican's settlement agreement, “cost-effective distributed renewable energy and combined heat and power solutions are resources that will be fully and fairly considered.”  In June 2009, Iowa Power and Light Company (IPL) received approval for a modified energy efficiency plan. IPL plans to achieve 1.3% electricity and 1.2% natural gas savings by 2013. The Board declined to approve inclusion of CHP in IPL's plan.

Links:

• Authority 1: Docket No. EEP-08-2
• See the Iowa Utilities Board’s summary of the statuses of the IOUs’ energy efficiency plans here.

Contact:
Gordon Dunn
Iowa Utilities Board
350 Maple Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-7051
E-Mail: Gordon.Dunn@Iowa.gov
Web Site: http://www.state.ia.us/government/com/util/index.html

Last Updated 09/01/2009

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