H.F. 4574 Summary

• Allows public utilities providing electric service to propose goals for efficient fuel-switching improvements and authorizes the commission to approve financial incentives for implementing these improvements.

• Modifies energy savings goals for consumer-owned and public utilities by adjusting minimum energy conservation improvement thresholds and allowing efficient fuel-switching improvements to contribute up to 0.55-0.60 percent toward annual energy savings goals.

• Permits utilities to recover advertising expenses for efficient fuel-switching programs approved under the bill and increases utility research allowance to account for fuel-switching and load management investments.

• Establishes spending caps on efficient fuel-switching improvements until July 1, 2026: 0.55 percent per year for consumer-owned utilities and 0.35 percent per year for public utilities, both averaged over three-year periods.

• Defines "data mining facility" and excludes such facilities from gross annual retail energy sales calculations if they meet specified criteria, including imposing peak electrical demand equal to or greater than 40 percent of system peak demand.