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Electric Cooperatives Lead Industry With Many Energy Efficiency Programs and Services
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Des Moines, Iowa, October 18, 2007 — In testimony Thursday, before the Iowa Legislature’s Interim Study
Committee on Energy Efficiency, the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives cited areas where the
cooperatives are leaders among energy providers in the state.
In 2006, Iowa’s electric cooperatives invested $11.7 million in energy efficiency programs and services
and saved member-consumers more than $18 million. The kilowatt-hour savings through the electric
cooperatives programs and services was enough to power nearly 12,000 rural homes for one year. That is the
equivalent of powering all of the homes in a community the size of Mason City, Clinton or Marshalltown.
Iowa’s electric cooperatives are leaders in the installation of geothermal energy systems using energy
from the earth to heat and cool homes and businesses, air source heat pumps, high-efficient electric water
heaters and offer the first web-based do-it-yourself energy audit tool -
https://touchstoneenergy.cooperative.com/public/programs/energyefficiency/lblfiles/launch.htm. Recently, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conducted a first-of-its-kind assessment of demand response
and advanced metering and found that electric cooperatives lead the electric utility industry in deploying
advanced, energy-saving automatic meter reading technology. Iowa’s electric cooperatives also offer extensive
energy-saving information through a monthly publication and Web site – www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com
The Legislature’s Interim Study Committee on Energy Efficiency includes members of the Senate and
House including Senators Rob Hogg (D, District 19) – committee co-chair, Joe Bolkcom (D, District 39), Hubert
Houser (R, District 49), Mary Lundby (R, District 18) and Rich Olive (D, District 5); Representatives Nathan
Reichert (D, District 80) – committee co-chair, Bob Kressig (D, District 19), Brian Quirk (D, District 15), Chuck
Soderberg (R, District 3) and Ralph Watts (R, District 47).
- more -
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In addition to the electric cooperatives, the Study Committee also heard testimony from Iowa’s investorowned
and municipal utilities, the Iowa Utilities Board, Office of Consumer Advocate, the Iowa Energy Center,
as well as leaders from groups including business and industry, energy-efficient buildings/construction
concepts and technology, energy efficiency financing and investment and the Office of Energy Independence.
The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, formed in 1942, is the Des Moines-based statewide
association representing 37 distribution cooperatives in Iowa and six generation and transmission cooperatives
serving more than 210,000 rural homes, farms and industries in all 99 counties. The IAEC provides legislative,
regulatory, safety, communications and education and training programs and services to its members. The
IAEC is also a Touchstone Energy partner – a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric
cooperatives. More than 600 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 45 states are delivering energy and energy
solutions to more than 22 million customers every day.
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Des Moines, Iowa, October 18, 2007 — In testimony Thursday, before the Iowa Legislature’s Interim Study
Committee on Energy Efficiency, the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives cited areas where the
cooperatives are leaders among energy providers in the state.
In 2006, Iowa’s electric cooperatives invested $11.7 million in energy efficiency programs and services
and saved member-consumers more than $18 million. The kilowatt-hour savings through the electric
cooperatives programs and services was enough to power nearly 12,000 rural homes for one year. That is the
equivalent of powering all of the homes in a community the size of Mason City, Clinton or Marshalltown.
Iowa’s electric cooperatives are leaders in the installation of geothermal energy systems using energy
from the earth to heat and cool homes and businesses, air source heat pumps, high-efficient electric water
heaters and offer the first web-based do-it-yourself energy audit tool -
https://touchstoneenergy.cooperative.com/public/programs/energyefficiency/lblfiles/launch.htm. Recently, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conducted a first-of-its-kind assessment of demand response
and advanced metering and found that electric cooperatives lead the electric utility industry in deploying
advanced, energy-saving automatic meter reading technology. Iowa’s electric cooperatives also offer extensive
energy-saving information through a monthly publication and Web site – www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com
The Legislature’s Interim Study Committee on Energy Efficiency includes members of the Senate and
House including Senators Rob Hogg (D, District 19) – committee co-chair, Joe Bolkcom (D, District 39), Hubert
Houser (R, District 49), Mary Lundby (R, District 18) and Rich Olive (D, District 5); Representatives Nathan
Reichert (D, District 80) – committee co-chair, Bob Kressig (D, District 19), Brian Quirk (D, District 15), Chuck
Soderberg (R, District 3) and Ralph Watts (R, District 47).
- more -
Page 2
In addition to the electric cooperatives, the Study Committee also heard testimony from Iowa’s investorowned
and municipal utilities, the Iowa Utilities Board, Office of Consumer Advocate, the Iowa Energy Center,
as well as leaders from groups including business and industry, energy-efficient buildings/construction
concepts and technology, energy efficiency financing and investment and the Office of Energy Independence.
The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, formed in 1942, is the Des Moines-based statewide
association representing 37 distribution cooperatives in Iowa and six generation and transmission cooperatives
serving more than 210,000 rural homes, farms and industries in all 99 counties. The IAEC provides legislative,
regulatory, safety, communications and education and training programs and services to its members. The
IAEC is also a Touchstone Energy partner – a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric
cooperatives. More than 600 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 45 states are delivering energy and energy
solutions to more than 22 million customers every day.
-30-
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