2009-03-27

KCP&L's Bill Downey journeyed to Jefferson City this week to support energy efficiency legislation spearheaded by his company. The bill, SB 376, was before the Senate Commerce, Energy, and Environment Committee Tuesday afternoon. Senator Brad Lager presented the language which creates the Missouri Residential and Small Business Energy Efficiency Investment Act.

According to this act, the Public Service Commission must allow electric and natural gas companies to implement and recover costs related to PSC-approved energy efficiency programs aimed at customers. The primary goal of this legislation is to provide an avenue for the PSC to develop cost recovery methods that provide incentives for the companies to further increase their investment in energy efficiency programs. The PSC may reduce or exempt energy efficiency costs for low-income customers, and no customer of any rate class shall pay more than $5,000 per month for energy efficiency-related costs.

The hearing went extremely well, and several committee members agree that energy efficiency is good public policy. Several entities attended the hearing to support the language including KCPL, The Chamber, and numerous energy-related associations. Like the House version of this language, the bill was opposed by the Office of Public Council and the AARP.

For more information, go to  Missouri Residential and Small Business Energy Efficiency Investment Act

Source: Kansas City Chamber of Commerce