Wisconsin
Clean and Efficient Energy Policies and Commitments
State Policy
| Utility Spending: Energy Efficiency | $51 million in 2007 by all utilities in the state (EIA) |
| Legislation Affecting Utilities |
The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin administers the statewide public benefits program called "Focus on Energy." Customers of participating electric and natural gas investor-owned utilities are eligible to receive technical assistance and incentives for energy efficiency and renewable projects. Some of Wisconsin's investor-owned utilities still offer energy efficiency and renewable programs to varying degrees. These program plans have to be approved by the Public Service Commission and complement existing Focus on Energy program offerings. On March 17, 2006, the governor signed SB 459 (Act 141). This law required the PSC to review energy efficiency and renewable resource programs periodically. As part of this process, the PSC recommended new energy efficiency goals in November 2010 (see Docket 5-GF-191), and these goals were approved by the legislature's Joint Committee on Finance in December 2010. The goals call for annual reductions in peak load and electric sales of .75% in 2011 and increasing to 1.5% in 2014 and thereafter. Additionally, the act established a state goal of 10 percent of all electric energy consumed in the state coming from renewable energy. The act also requires all utilities (including municipals) to increase their renewable supply over a baseline amount: by 2% in 2010 and by 6% in 2015. Qualifying renewables include tidal and wave action, fuel cells using renewable fuels, solar thermal electric and photovoltaics (PV), wind power, geothermal, hydropower less than 60 megawatts, and biomass (including landfill gas). Relevance to Public Power: Wisconsin's municipal electric utilities are required either to opt into Focus on Energy, or offer parallel programs called "Commitment to Community" programs. Act 141 of 2006 does require cooperatives and municipal utilities to submit annual program audit reports to the PSC. Public Power must also participate in the state’s renewable resource standard set forth in Act 141. |
| Building Codes | Current Status |
| Standards for Appliances | Adhere to minimum levels set by the Federal government. |
| Climate Change Action |
As of March 2010, climate change legislation has not been signed into law at the state-level. |
| Regional Coordination | As of November 2007, the state has been an participant of the Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord. |
Commitments by Public Power Communities
| U.S. Conference of Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement | Evansville, River Falls |
| EPA's Green Communities | River Falls, Stoughton |
Public Power Utility Initiatives
| APPA Energy Efficiency Partners |
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| Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors | |
| ENERGY STAR Product Partners |
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Last Update: March 2011.
Statistics
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