MidAmerican Energy proposes new customer energy savings options in latest efficiency, demand response plan

Through a recently proposed plan for 2024-2028, MidAmerican Energy notably offered both residential and nonresidential customers in Iowa new cost-managing energy efficiency program options to lower gas and electric usage, coupled with a demand response incentive program to shift usage times.

The five-year proposal was filed with the Iowa Utilities board earlier this week.

“MidAmerican is excited about this plan because it’s something we developed with lots of input from multiple stakeholders and energy efficiency experts,” said Erin Rasmussen, MidAmerican director of energy efficiency. “Today, we offer a robust energy efficiency portfolio of programs. If this five-year plan is approved, these cost-effective programs will be improved and enhanced with our customers in mind, making it easier to participate and providing more opportunities to save. And we’ve added innovative programs for income-qualified customers to make it easier for them to take advantage of our energy efficiency programs that will help lower energy usage and future monthly bills.”

According to MidAmerican, if approved, the plan would also help it to achieve its larger net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal for 2050.

In terms of residential programs, the new plan would set up up-front discounts for buying energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment rather than rebates, launch an online marketplace for discounts on smart technology and other energy-saving products, provide energy efficiency and weatherization offers for income-qualified customers, and increase participation incentives for participants in the smart thermostat SummerSaver program.

For nonresidential programs, discount enhancements would be granted up-front for energy-efficient equipment and extensive facility assessments provided, increased incentives for annual load reduction would be offered, and new incentives would become available for LED lighting, commercial kitchen equipment, and construction projects.

MidAmerican seeks to invest more than $355 million in energy efficiency measures by the end of 2028 and provide annual energy savings of more than 207 GW hours. However, regulators will have until Jan. 1, 2024, to review the proposed plan and render their decision.