{"id":585,"date":"2018-03-07T09:46:18","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T14:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/?p=585"},"modified":"2018-03-11T09:50:30","modified_gmt":"2018-03-11T13:50:30","slug":"senate-gop-works-to-protect-iowans-from-saving-billions-in-energy-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/?p=585","title":{"rendered":"Senate GOP works to ‘protect’ Iowans from saving billions in energy costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kathie Obradovich<\/a>, kobradov@dmreg.com<\/span>\u00a0March 9, 2018<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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It\u2019s fitting that Senate Republicans waited until after dark before they\u00a0voted to curtail\u00a0<\/a>utility companies\u2019 energy-efficiency programs and effectively raise Iowans\u2019 electric and gas bills in the future.\u00a0 It was an exceptionally dim move.<\/p>\n

The bill, Senate File\u00a02311<\/a>, allows utility consumers to opt out of programs that pay rebates when homeowners buy energy-efficient appliances, furnaces, water heaters and the like. \u00a0It also caps the amount consumers can be charged for these programs and requires the fee be disclosed on their bills.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Customers, of course, pay for these popular rebate programs as part of their utility rates.<\/p>\n

Sen. Michael Breitbach apparently doesn\u2019t think Iowans are smart enough to figure out this isn\u2019t free money. He called it a \u201chidden tax\u201d on utility bills.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese people don\u2019t come out and give you this money for nothing,\u201d said Breitbach, a Republican from Strawberry Point. \u201cThey\u2019ve charged you for it. You\u2019ve paid for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Supporters also argue that low-income people who live in rental housing are paying into these programs without getting any benefit.<\/p>\n

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