Energy Conservation and Optimization Act of 2020 (SF4409)

• Establishes statewide energy-savings goal of 2.5 percent of annual retail energy sales (increased from 1.5 percent) to be achieved through energy conservation, efficiency improvements, load management, and other measures.

• Creates new authority for public utilities to petition the Public Utilities Commission to invest up to $5,000,000 annually in innovative clean technologies that are environmentally superior, offer economic benefits, and are not widely deployed.

• Increases energy-savings goals for public utilities providing electric service from 1.5 percent to 1.75 percent of gross annual retail energy sales annually.

• Requires consumer-owned utilities (cooperatives and municipalities over specified size thresholds) to file energy conservation and optimization plans by June 1, 2022, with annual energy-savings goals of 1.5 percent, with minimum of 1 percent from conservation improvements.

• Authorizes development of fuel-switching improvement programs and load management initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and source energy consumption, with technical criteria to be established by the commissioner.