Bill > HF4502

This bill establishes the Energy Conservation and Optimization Act of 2020, which sets new energy-savings goals for public utilities and consumer-owned utilities in Minnesota. The key provisions include: - Establishing an annual energy-savings goal of 2.5% of retail energy sales that can be met through various measures, including energy conservation improvements, efficient fuel-switching, and load management. Consumer-owned utilities have a 1.5% annual goal. - Requiring public utilities and consumer-owned utilities to file periodic energy conservation and optimization plans detailing their programs to meet the energy-savings goals. - Allowing utilities to recover costs and receive financial incentives for implementing approved energy conservation, fuel-switching, and load management programs. - Mandating minimum spending requirements for low-income energy conservation programs and establishing a new account to fund these programs. - Providing technical assistance and guidance from the Department of Commerce on calculating energy savings and determining cost-effectiveness of programs.