The IUC approves energy efficiency plans of Iowa investor-owned utilities (IOUs). Energy efficiency plans in Iowa address both electric and natural gas usage through a variety of programs that attempt to give all customers opportunities to participate. The IOUs' plans must:
be cost-effective, with five benefit-cost tests used to determine cost-effectiveness from the perspectives of the participating customers, the utility, the combination of the utility and customers, and the impact on utility rates.
include programs for all types of customers.
include an analysis of potential for energy efficiency, and must include performance standards in terms of energy and capacity savings.
IOUs recover costs through an automatic rate pass-through, reconciled annually to prevent over-recovery or under-recovery.
Authority
The IUC is authorized to conduct prudence reviews of IOU energy efficiency, with authority to disallow imprudent costs.
IOUs offer many energy efficiency programs. The plans include programs based on proven strategies and pilot programs that test new methods of helping customers reduce energy consumption.
Programs typically target customer classes or subgroups of customers, and often provide rebates or loans for energy efficient equipment or building components.
To find out which programs are underway for various types of customers, and what customer incentives may be available, visit these utility company websites:
Current and recently approved Energy Efficiency Plans may be found by searching EFS at the docket links shown in the table.
Earlier documents are available in EFS; however, filings prior to 2009 are unavailable electronically and may be requested through IUC Customer Service. Call 515-725-7300 or email [email protected].
Note: Beginning with 2024-2028 plans, the docket numbers reflect the company's filing number rather than the order in which dockets were opened.
Technical Reference Manuals
The IUC approved the use of the Iowa Technical Reference Manual (TRM) in an order dated March 22, 2017; however, the IUC is not responsible for the content of the TRM. The development and continued maintenance of the TRM is directed by the TRM Oversight Committee with project coordination support by the Iowa Utility Association.
For more information or to submit questions about the TRM, contact the TRM administrator at [email protected].
The revised version (V.11) of the Iowa TRM was filed on August 31, 2026. Below are the contents of that filing.
Iowa TRM Data File for Nonresidential High Impact Measures and Revised TRM Data Files for Residential and Nonresidential Low Impact and Residential High Impact Measures (Download Excel spreadsheets from EFS)
The first version of the Iowa TRM was filed on September 30, 2016. The following items were included in the filing:
