Committee advances HB 549 to require annual reporting on utility rebate programs
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Summary
The committee adopted Sub 1 and Amendment 1 and forwarded HB 549, directing utilities to report annual energy-rebate program metrics to the Office of Energy Development so the state can better include demand-side measures in energy planning. The sponsor and utilities said reporting will be provided within existing processes and reduced the bill's fiscal note.
The House Public Utilities and Energy Committee favorably advanced HB 549 after adopting Sub 1 and a subsequent amendment, sending the transparency-focused energy-efficiency bill to the House floor.
Representative Shellenberger said the bill asks investor-owned utilities that administer rebate programs to provide OED with annual reporting on customer classes (residential, commercial, industrial, irrigation), amounts paid, energy saved and program rollout. Sponsors described the measure as a modest transparency improvement to help OED create a comprehensive state energy plan.
Rocky Mountain Power told the committee it already supplies robust reporting to the Public Service Commission and will cooperate with OED to provide enhanced data. Utah Clean Energy and implementers urged reporting that complements PSC filings and warned OED staffing should be considered; sponsor and staff said substitute language clarified the reporting flow so utilities report to OED, reducing the fiscal note from an earlier larger estimate to $50,000.
Representative Dominguez moved to adopt Sub 1; the committee later adopted Amendment 1 and then voted to advance HB 549 Sub 1 as amended with a favorable recommendation. The bill sponsor also asked the committee to place the bill on the consent calendar; Representative Peck expressed reservations about consent placement given outstanding questions.
The bill now moves to the full House.