Iowa

Legislative activities

While the Iowa Legislature has not yet approved any laws specific with smart grid it has looked into energy efficiency standards which would require smart grid development. The Legislature has passed a solar access easement provision allowing access to sunlight to operate a solar energy system. [4, 5, 6]

Regulatory activities

The Iowa Utilities Board had established Time-of-Use for business prior to 1995 and residential customers by 1999. Hourly pricing for business customers was addressed prior to 2006. By 2010, there was also standby service provided capacity for business customers that had distributed generation on site. Demand side management had been addressed for business customers through load reduction programs and interruptible accounts prior to 1995 and with utility controlled appliances for residential customers by 1992. The Board also addressed distributed generators prior to 2003. [2, 3]

“In March 2007, the Iowa Utilities Board decided not to adopt PURPA Standard 14 (“Time-Based Metering and Communications”) as enacted in EPACT 2005. The Board determined that mandating deployment of smart meters was not cost-beneficial. Furthermore, the Board decided that it is difficult to regulate a single standard for advanced metering, writing: “One size apparently does not fit all.” The Board, however, directed its Staff to discuss the possibilities of smart meter pilot programs with the utilities that were party to this proceeding. It plans to review, in each utility’s rate case, whether current rates send accurate price signals to customers.” [1]

Time-of-Use or Time-of-Day rates break the cost for electricity into periods on a seasonal basis and on-peak, or off-peak energy pricing.

The hourly pricing and day-ahead pricing is based on the wholesale market price for energy at the company’s delivery point 12 hours prior to when the energy would flow.

Demand side management includes direct controlled appliances and interruptible service accounts. Direct controlled appliances are controlled by the company for up to 12 hours in any 24 hour time period. Interruptible accounts provides at power for load that has the option of de-energizing at the request of the company.

Distributed generators include standby service to supplement the customer’s own on-site generation, qualifying cogeneration and small power production facilities.

Utilities and Rate Schedules

Alliant Energy
- Alliant Energy Rates

MidAmerican Energy
- MidAmerican Energy Rates

See the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) for information on consumer-owned Cooperatives: http://www.nreca.org/members/MemberDirectory/Pages/default.aspx

State-Level Incentives

Iowa has several tax incentives on renewable energy generation including corporate and personal tax credits, a corporate tax exemption, property tax exemptions for renewable energy, and sales tax equipment exemption on wind and solar energy. Iowa also offers a state alternate energy revolving loan program.

More information can be found in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE): http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?re=1&ee=1&spv=0&st=0&srp=1&state=IA

Additional Resources

State Energy Office:
- Iowa Office of Energy Independence

State Authority Dealing with Energy Regulation:
- Iowa Utilities Board
- Docket Search: https://efs.iowa.gov/efs/ShowDocketSearch.do

Iowa Code

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE): http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?re=1&ee=1&spv=0&st=0&srp=1&state=IA

References

[1] Demand Response and Smart Metering Policy Actions Since the Energy Policy Act of 2005: A Summary for State Officials, Prepared by the U.S. Demand Response Coordinating Committee for The National Council on Electricity Policy, Fall 2008. URL: http://www.oe.energy.gov/DocumentsandMedia/NCEP_Demand_Response_1208.pdf
[2] Iowa Electric Tariffs, MidAmerican Energy. URL: http://www.midamericanenergy.com/include/pdf/rates/elecrates/iaelectric/ia-elec.pdf
[3] Alliant Energy, Utility Rates & Tariffs Iowa: Interstate Power and Light Company Electric. URL: http://www.alliantenergy.com/UtilityServices/UtilityRatesFacts/019474
[4] Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, Iowa – Net metering, 12/03/2009. URL: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=IA02R&re=1&ee=1
[5] Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, Iowa Interconnection Standards, 06/03/2010. URL: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=IA05R&re=1&ee=1
[6] Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, Iowa Solar Easements, 06/15/2010. URL: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=IA04R&re=1&ee=1