Proposed changes to the Clean Energy Transformation Act would update the law’s requirements for utilities to provide energy assistance to low-income households.

HB 2234, from Rep. Alex Ybarra (R–Quincy), requires electric utilities that serve more than 25,000 customers in Washington to offer two or more programs and funding available for energy assistance to low-income households. All other utilities must make one or more programs and funding available. Currently, the law does not specify the number of programs required and does not differentiate the requirement per the size of a utility’s customer base.

The bill also changes the existing requirement that priority be given to low-income households with a higher energy burden. Instead, utilities “may focus and prioritize assistance programs to maximize aid to a subset of low-income households…”

The proposal defines the type of assistance as direct bill assistance, support for energy efficiency and space conditioning measures, support for on-sight generation or energy storage systems or both, or implementation of other mechanisms that reduce the amount low-income households expend on energy services.

Finally, HB 2234 updates utilities’ biennial reporting requirements, requiring that utilities submit an assessment of the energy assistance funding levels needed to meet 60% and 90% of the current energy assistance need, and the average amount energy bills of non-low-income households would have to increase each month for the utility to provide assistance at those 60% and 90% levels.

Date to remember

HB 2234 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Environment & Energy Committee on Thursday, January 18, at 8 am.