Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) is an organization representing 540 municipal electric, gas, water, stormwater, and broadband utilities in Iowa. The organization is a member of the American Public Power Association, the American Public Gas Association, and a working group advising the state of Iowa on energy policy. The organization runs a blog called the IAMU Informer that provides information of interest to member utilities. IAMU is a sponsor of the Iowa Association for Energy Efficiency along with representatives from Iowa’s two largest utility companies, Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy Company.
Political activities
The organization lobbies for community utilities before the Iowa General Assembly. The organization supports organizations with similar political goals like Common Ground Iowa and the Iowa Association for Energy Efficiency.
In 2016, IAMU, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and the Iowa League of Cities sought changes to Iowa’s anti-degradation standards due to claims that current language is “ambiguous”. The organizations have petitioned for a direct cost comparison rather than the current standard. A court ruling in March prompted the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Environmental Protection Commission to consider changes to the state’s water regulations related to the Clean Water Act.
Advocacy of renewable energy
IAMU provides consulting services to members supporting their transition to renewable energy. A partnership with member utilities in Eastern Iowa enabled Cedar Falls Utilities to provide renewable energy to its customers. The organization, with cooperation from city utilities and the Department of Energy, has invested in methods to store wind energy below ground. These utilities have adopted wind energy as early as 1991, when Waverly Light and Power began to search for sources of wind energy.
The organization has advocated for solar energy adoption and favorable legislation before the state legislature. The organization has supported studies like the “Home Series: Solar PV Energy Guide” and has promoted member utilities that have invested in solar energy developments.
In 2015, eight IAMU member utilities implemented the Smart Grid Demand Response Project funding “smart” technologies including communications infrastructure, metering infrastructure, direct load control devices, and electricity service options.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu