Senate Passes Grid Equity Legislation

March 21, 2019

On Monday, the Iowa Senate passed SF 583 with a bipartisan vote of 28-19. The legislation, which is supported by ABI, establishes options for individuals and businesses that choose to have private generation in the future pay for their cost of using the grid. The need for the legislation, and why ABI supports it, is to ensure “long-term benefits to all Iowans” when it comes to energy usage and address that all customers should pay for the grid. The legislation does grandfather those businesses and individuals that have solar, or those companies that are currently in the process of installing solar panels at their business or residential property. The bill was amended in the Senate to address cogeneration facilities to make clear the legislation does not impact their business. Read an editorial from ABI member company MidAmerican about why this legislation is needed.