The Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA) cycle 4 regulatory processes for the two largest electric investor-owned utilities (IOUs) in the state have finally reached their conclusions. These dockets have played out slowly over the past two years. Ameren Missouri originally submitted their intent to file MEEIA Cycle 4 programs with the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) in October 2022, with Evergy filing in April 2023. After the proceedings, the approved programs for both utilities went into effect on January 1, 2025.

It has been four years since electric utilities in Ohio have been allowed to run portfolios of energy efficiency programs for their customers. Since the state’s mandated energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) portfolios were wrapped up in 2020, utilities and advocates have supported bringing back EE through proposed voluntary portfolios in docketed proceedings with the Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO). None of the attempts have been approved as proposed, and a few limited programs that have been negotiated through settlement agreements are a tiny drop in an empty bucket.  

*Note: This Blog was published on November 13, 2024 and relies on unofficial election results. Official certification of state election results will take several weeks. MEEA will update this blog if there are any significant changes as results are certified.

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program

In July 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced 25 awardees of nearly $5 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CPRG) implementation awards. In early September, the EPA announced another $300 million in grants to 33 tribes and one territory in the final phase of planned CPRG funding. CPRG is one of several funding streams from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and advance environmental justice.

We all know that the cheapest kilowatt is the one not used, but how is energy efficiency actually valued? The organizations that operate electricity markets, the Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs) have a large hand in customer rates and therefore, the price of energy efficiency. With that in mind, we thought it would be a great time to discuss RTOs, ISOs and the structure of our energy markets.

5-months remain for local governments to apply for EECBG formula awards  

Nearly three years ago, President Biden signed the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL), into law enacting an unprecedented level of investment in our nation’s energy systems.  

Origins of the Iowa Utility Policy Charrettes 

During the 2023 legislative session, Republican Iowa State Representative Lundgren raised concerns regarding Iowa’s ratemaking procedures, which had not been reviewed since 2004 despite significant changes made by the state legislature to utilities’ processes and regulations. In response, HF 617 was passed and signed into law by Governor Reynolds, mandating the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) conduct an independent review. The IUB then organized three policy charrettes, or collaborative planning processes, where all interested parties contribute to the development of a master plan.

After many months of legislative negotiations, Governor Whitmer signed SB271, SB273 and SB502 into law on November 28. Collectively these three bills transform Michigan’s energy policy by establishing a 100% clean energy standard by 2040, increasing the state’s energy waste reduction (EWR) standard and expanding the purview of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).  

See below for more details of these three new laws: 

On October 19, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce celebrated clean energy as they came together to co-host the second annual Illinois Clean Energy Champion Awards (CECA).

With this October edition, MEEA is proud to have reached the 100th issue of the Policy Insider. The Midwest energy efficiency industry has experienced both meaningful policy advancements and unfortunate rollbacks over the last 100 months. Many of these advancements have taken place over the last few years, hopefully signaling that lawmakers and regulators better understand energy efficiency’s role in decarbonization. Take a look at this list of the region’s biggest stories over the last eight-plus years.