What's New
Electric Cooperatives Invest Millions in Energy Efficiency Programs
For more information contact:
Ann Foster
Director of Communications
515-727-8945 or 515-229-6977
Des Moines, Iowa (July 17, 2006) - In a two-year period, Iowa's electric cooperatives invested approximately $15.5 million in energy efficiency programs and saved their member-consumers approximately $30.6 million during 2004 and 2005, according to a joint energy efficiency report filed on July 1, 2006 with the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB). Further, the RECs project that in 2006 and 2007 they will invest an additional $17 million and achieve nearly $43 million in savings for their member-consumers.
For nearly two decades, the RECs have reported the energy efficiency information under the title of "Energy Matters," which exemplifies the cooperatives� goal of making Iowa a more sustainable energy state.
"Cooperatives are continuously striving for the most efficient use of electricity while improving Iowa's air quality and promoting the use of new energy efficient technologies," says Gerald Klemme, president of the IAEC board of directors. "In order to accomplish these goals the cooperatives have developed a partnership with our members. Through the partnership electric cooperatives educate, encourage and assist their members on energy efficiency - what it means and how to incorporate it into our homes and businesses."
"Because of the governance structure and not-for-profit configuration of an electric cooperative, the cooperatives automatically pass the savings from energy efficiency programs to their member-consumers," says Regi Goodale, IAEC director of regulatory affairs, who compiled the report based on information gathered from each participating cooperative.
In addition, this year's filing shows an average savings of more than 136 million kilowatt-hours per year by member-consumers, enough electricity to power about 9,080 average-sized homes for one year.
As a group, the electric cooperatives' energy efficiency programs* are divided into four key categories:
The informational report, filed every other year by the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC), on behalf of its member cooperatives, provides extensive information on 30 different energy efficiency programs offered by Iowa's electric cooperatives during the reporting period. The filing outlines actual expenditures and savings for 2004 and 2005, and estimates these same categories for 2006 and 2007.
The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, formed in 1942, is the statewide association representing 37 distribution cooperatives in Iowa and six generation and transmission cooperatives serving more than 200,000 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.
# # #
Energy_Efficiency_Release
Ann Foster
Director of Communications
515-727-8945 or 515-229-6977
Des Moines, Iowa (July 17, 2006) - In a two-year period, Iowa's electric cooperatives invested approximately $15.5 million in energy efficiency programs and saved their member-consumers approximately $30.6 million during 2004 and 2005, according to a joint energy efficiency report filed on July 1, 2006 with the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB). Further, the RECs project that in 2006 and 2007 they will invest an additional $17 million and achieve nearly $43 million in savings for their member-consumers.
For nearly two decades, the RECs have reported the energy efficiency information under the title of "Energy Matters," which exemplifies the cooperatives� goal of making Iowa a more sustainable energy state.
"Cooperatives are continuously striving for the most efficient use of electricity while improving Iowa's air quality and promoting the use of new energy efficient technologies," says Gerald Klemme, president of the IAEC board of directors. "In order to accomplish these goals the cooperatives have developed a partnership with our members. Through the partnership electric cooperatives educate, encourage and assist their members on energy efficiency - what it means and how to incorporate it into our homes and businesses."
"Because of the governance structure and not-for-profit configuration of an electric cooperative, the cooperatives automatically pass the savings from energy efficiency programs to their member-consumers," says Regi Goodale, IAEC director of regulatory affairs, who compiled the report based on information gathered from each participating cooperative.
In addition, this year's filing shows an average savings of more than 136 million kilowatt-hours per year by member-consumers, enough electricity to power about 9,080 average-sized homes for one year.
As a group, the electric cooperatives' energy efficiency programs* are divided into four key categories:
- Incentives for Energy Efficient Technologies: includes 13 programs with incentives for high-efficient appliances (air conditioners, water heaters, dishwashers, etc.), geothermal, heat pumps, high-efficient electric motors, pre-coolers in dairy operations and high-efficient interior and exterior lighting.
- Demand Response Programs: includes nine programs such as time-of-day pricing, time-of-use, dual-fuel and control space heating, interruptible pricing, crop drying, irrigation load control and others.
- Energy Audit and Technical Support Programs: includes measures related to expert energy services and energy audit services.
- Educational and Research Programs: includes measures related to model housing education, domestic water heater enhancement, member information and education, peak alert program, Iowa REC News magazine information and support for the Iowa Energy Center and Center for Regional Environmental Research.
The informational report, filed every other year by the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC), on behalf of its member cooperatives, provides extensive information on 30 different energy efficiency programs offered by Iowa's electric cooperatives during the reporting period. The filing outlines actual expenditures and savings for 2004 and 2005, and estimates these same categories for 2006 and 2007.
The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, formed in 1942, is the statewide association representing 37 distribution cooperatives in Iowa and six generation and transmission cooperatives serving more than 200,000 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.
# # #
Energy_Efficiency_Release
See all of "What's New"