Alliant Energy's energy efficiency rebates will be reduced or eliminated in 2019

Changes are in store for Alliant Energy's energy efficiency programs. The investor-owned utility company has filed plans for their 2019 energy efficiency programs, completely removing rebates for some measures, and dramatically lowering others. The cuts come in response to a new Iowa law that limits the amount of funding dedicated to the state's investor-owned utility energy efficiency funds. Overall program spending will likely be cut by half or more.

Alliant Energy's cuts will affect its electric customers in northeast Iowa. Rebates for building insulation and high-efficiency boilers will be removed, and rebate amounts for equipment like furnaces and air conditioners will be dramatically lowered. The changes will affect both home and business owners. Anyone thinking about upgrading their insulation, heating or cooling systems should act now before rebates lower, or disappear altogether.

Alliant is proposing to eliminate its small business energy assessments and to lower some of the rebate amounts, notably air conditioner and geothermal rebates. Alliant Energy's rebates for commercial Energy Star rated cooking and refrigeration equipment will also be lowered in the proposed 2019 rebates.

Casper Heating and Plumbing's Dale Elsbernd says he's sorry to see the proposed changes. "The rebate program has helped our clients upgrade their heating or cooling systems to higher efficiency models, as it helps offset the additional cost, which is good for everybody. The rebate amounts that the utility companies are proposing are a fraction of what they used to be. They are not a big enough incentive to get people to upgrade to high efficiency. They really need to be higher."

It's important to note that there will still be rebates in 2019, and some, like Alliant Energy's lighting rebates, will be at similar levels to those existing now. Customers are able to file rebate claims for the 2018 rebate levels through March 2019 so there's still time to get a project done with the existing rebate levels.

Elsbernd suggests,"Call your local heating-cooling contractor now and get on the list for a replacement or upgrade. This program will change soon enough. Take advantage of the additional money available now. If your system is older than 16 years, it may pay to replace it."