Proposed changes to public water system planning timelines would drastically increase city water utility workloads if adopted.

HB 1906, sponsored by Rep. Steve Tharinger (D–Port Townsend), aims to increase transparency and consumer protection in water system rates by updating regulations under the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC).

The bill directs the UTC to adopt a specific set of rules for determining the rates charged by private water companies. The bill also prohibits the UTC from approving transactions that change the controlling interest in a water company unless the transaction provides net benefits to customers of the company. The company must notify its customers of its plans and provide them with a right of first refusal to purchase the water system.

Of interest to cities, HB 1906 also requires that public water systems submit a current system plan to the Dept. of Health every three years and that those plans include all capital improvement projects necessary for the system for at least the next 10 years.

Currently, most systems submit plans every 10 years. Bulletin readers know that the process for updating city and town water system plans is labor-intensive and can take from one to two years to complete at a substantial cost to the city. A three-year reporting requirement would create undue burden and a drastic increase in utility staff workloads.

AWC testified on the bill, expressing our concerns with the new requirement for public water systems. An amendment to remove the three-year requirement from the bill has been submitted to the Committee for consideration. AWC supports the amendment.

HB 1906 was heard in the House Environment & Energy Committee on Thursday, February 13 and now awaits a vote in the same Committee.