Utility Data Access Act Passes House Committee with BOMA/Chicago Support
Legislation ensuring building owners have access to whole-building utility data for benchmarking purposes (House Bill 3312) has passed the Illinois House Public Utilities Committee. The bill requires utilities to provide aggregated energy data while safeguarding tenant privacy.
Sponsored by State Representative Mary Beth Canty, the measure aims to help building owners track and improve energy efficiency. Director of Government and External Affairs, Amy Masters testified in support of the bill in collaboration with the Illinois Green Alliance. The bill recently passed the Illinois House and is now being considered by the Senate, where Senator Mike Simmons is serving as the sponsor.
The bill would:
- Ensure building owners can easily benchmark energy use, comply with local policies, and access financial incentives for energy efficiency upgrades.
- Reduce burdens on owners, who must currently request utility data from multiple tenants, a cumbersome and error-prone process.
- Help utilities better understand energy demand, supporting efficiency programs and grid management.
Due to opposition from Ameren and the Illinois Energy Association, the bill will be subject to legislative negotiations in which BOMA/Chicago will participate.
On a national level, BOMA International views this legislation as a model policy to help building owners across the country access energy data through similar state laws.