Flip the Switch on Utility Transparency

Despite major transformations in the electricity sector, Iowa hasn't reformed laws and regulations governing the sector in more than 20 years. In 2023, the Iowa legislature adopted HF 617, requiring the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) to undertake a review of utility ratemaking laws and recommend changes by the start of the 2024 legislative session.

The law calls for the IUB's analysis to focus on “ensuring safe, adequate, reliable, and affordable utility services provided at rates that are nondiscriminatory, just, reasonable, and based on the utility’s cost of providing service to its customers within Iowa.” 

IEC and our coalition partners participated in this process to ensure the public's voice and interests are considered. By signing up for updates, we will alert you to  ways to get involved to hold utilities accountable and to keep energy rates affordable. 

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Our Key Priorities Advocated during the Utility Ratemaking Study 

1. Integrated Resource Planning  
   Iowa is one of few states that doesn't require utilities to conduct integrated resource planning (IRP), a common practice for other large utilities around the country. Without this kind of planning, the utilities are incentivized to build and generate more energy than needed (including with old, costly, polluting coal plants), and pass 100% of the costs on to you.
2. Renewing Energy Efficiency 

   Legislative action in 2018 decimated Iowa's high-ranking, well-respected energy efficiency laws. According to ACEEE, Iowa dropped from 19th in nation for efficiency in 2017 to 35th in 2022. Today we're spending more money generating energy that goes to waste. 

   Energy efficiency is the least-cost energy source. We'll advocate for innovative approaches to revive energy efficiency as a key part of keeping rates low in Iowa and benefiting customers.

3. Let cost drive the renewable transition
   In 2023, 99% of all coal plants in the U.S. were more expensive just to operate compared to building new wind and solar. Even MidAmerican Energy's own analysis revealed that this is true of their coal plans here in Iowa. Simple economics show it’s time for renewables to rule and coal to go.   

4. Address (un)reliability 
   Our current system of burning fossil fuels to create electricity has the ironic compounding effect of making our electricity increasingly less reliable. Record-breaking destructive storms, droughts, and unprecedented freezes and heat waves have revealed the inability of these traditional fossil resources to keep pace and keep us safe. We can escape this downward spiral thanks to careful planning that can help keep our energy reliable.

Resources

• Informational Videos - IEC released videos to shed light on how Iowa's energy sector works and what you can do to advocate for a fairer, more transparent system.

In our first video, we discuss the two private monopolies which dominate the Iowa energy system: MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy. How do they generate the power we use every day in our homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals?

In our second video, we explain what factors into determining the amount you are charged in your power bill - it's more than just the electricity you use. A lot more.

• Webinar - IEC hosted Flip the Switch: How the Utilities Leave Us All in the Dark (and What You Can Do About It), a webinar featuring a live discussion and overview of the ratemaking study process, why IRPs are key to transparency, and how you can take action. Watch a recording of the webinar here.
• Press Release - Iowa Utilities Board's study to examine power company regulations for cost-effectiveness, reliability (8.30.2023)
• Blog Post - What the State's Ratemaking Study Can Deliver for Iowa Ratepayers (8.15.2023)
• Fact Sheet - Integrated Resource Plans: Criteria for an Effective Planning Tool (MEEA)

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