Accessibility prioritized in this year’s utility and energy legislation

Affordable and accessible utility service for vulnerable Washingtonians was a top priority for legislators in the 2023 legislative session. AWC worked collaboratively with the sponsors of two key bills that passed this year: HB 1329, sponsored by Rep. Sharlett Mena, and Hb 1326, sponsored by Rep. Julio Cortes.

As written in HB 1329, beginning on July 23, 2023, water and electric utilities will be prohibited from shutoffs when the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a heat-related alert such as an excessive heat warning, heat advisory, or similar alters. A residential user whose service had previously been disconnected for lack of payment may request that service be reconnected on any day for which the NWS has issued a heat related alert for the area of the residence. Additionally, when a utility disconnects residences from power, they must inform all customers of the ability to seek reconnection and provide clear information on how to make that request. Upon receiving such a request, utilities must make a prompt and reasonable attempt to reconnect. Both the bill sponsor and the Attorney General’s Office have committed to addressing implementation challenges identified this year, if needed, in the upcoming session.

HB 1326 permits municipal utilities to waive connection charges for a nonprofit organization, public development authority, housing authority, or local agency that provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or affordable housing. To ensure that costs are not passed back to ratepayers, waived connection charges must be funded through general funds, grant dollars, or another identified revenue stream.

AWC supported both pieces of legislation, recognizing that accessible, affordable utilities are imperative to sustaining healthy, vibrant communities.

Finally, while AWC did not actively engage on HB 1216, a Governor request bill that establishes an interagency clean energy siting coordinating council, we closely tracked the legislation throughout the session. The bill requires and facilitates better coordinated, faster environmental review and permitting decisions on energy projects within the state. The coordinating council will be co-chaired by the Departments of Commerce and Ecology, with representation from the Governor’s office and various state agencies. The proposal also creates a designation for clean energy projects of statewide significance, tasking Commerce and Ecology with designing an application and application process to achieve the designation.

Cities and counties with clean energy projects that are determined to be eligible for the fully coordinated permit process must enter into an agreement with the Dept. of Ecology or with the project proponents for expediting the completion of projects.