Energy Assistance
RCW 19.405.120 (Sec. 120) states that it is the intent of the Washington State Legislature to demonstrate progress toward making energy assistance funds available to low-income households. It requires utilities to make programs and funding available for energy assistance to low-income households. Each utility must demonstrate progress in providing energy assistance pursuant to assessments and plans developed under the statute.

Commerce is required under Sec. 120 to submit a biennial report to the Legislature that includes:
- A statewide summary of energy assistance programs, energy burden, and energy assistance need
- An identification and quantification of current expenditures on low-income energy assistance
- An evaluation the effectiveness of additional optimal mechanisms for energy assistance including, customer rates, a low-income specific discount, system benefits charges, and public and private funds
- An assessment of mechanisms to prioritize energy assistance towards low-income households with a higher energy burden
Commerce published its first biennial energy assistance report in 2023. The report and supporting materials are available below:
Sec. 120 Reporting Template
Commerce has published its final Sec. 120 reporting template for 2022 and 2023 program years. The report must be completed in its entirety by April 1, 2024. Consistent with past process, the reporting template was developed with input from an advisory group of utility program staff and low-income advocates. Commerce held a workshop with small utilities and a public workshop and comment period on the reporting template.
A policy memo with a comment summary, reporting template guidance, and the reporting template are available at the link below:
Statewide Program Design Study
The Washington 2023 Operating Budget requires Commerce submit a report to the Legislature with recommendations on a design for a statewide energy assistance program to address the energy burden and provide access to energy assistance for low-income households. The agency must consider the following, when making recommendations:
- Data collection on energy burden and assistance need
- Universal intake coordination and data sharing across statewide programs for low-income households
- Program eligibility, enrollment, and administration
- Outreach and community engagement
- Multicultural services
- Funding and reporting
Commerce will be convening regular public workshops and comment deadlines into early September to discuss program design elements of a statewide energy assistance program. Meeting information and materials will be updated on this webpage.
Upcoming events
Commerce held four workshops and comment deadlines and one informational webinar in 2024 for its Statewide Low-Income currently does not have any workshops geared to utility and statewide low-income advocacy organization workshops scheduled.
More workshops and comment deadlines to come
Past events
Informational webinar
Wed, June 28
This one-hour informational webinar is provided to share the requirements of Commerce’s statewide energy assistance program design study, and Commerce’s tentative public process for the study. Meeting materials will be posted ahead of the webinar.
Meeting materials and recording
- Program design informational webinar agenda (pdf)
- Program design informational webinar presentation (pdf)
- Recording (link)
Key considerations and questions for program design workshop
Mon, July 10
This discussion-based workshop will focus on identifying key questions and considerations about the design of a statewide energy assistance program. Commerce provided a few key questions to begin a discussion on each consideration required by the Legislature.
Meeting materials
- Agenda (pdf)
- Key questions and considerations presentation (pdf)
- Some questions and considerations (pdf)
- Workshop notes with chat comments (pdf)
- Recording (link)
Key considerations and questions for program design comment deadline
Fri, July 21
Please know the public is not being asked to answer questions raised in the July 10 webinar or evaluate potential program design choices as part of this comment period. Commerce is asking for questions and things for the agency to consider over the course of its study. Future comment periods will focus on responding to particular questions and evaluating potential program design choices.
- 23.7.21 public comments (link)
- 23.7.10 workshop notes (pdf)
Elements of program accessibility
Tuesday, July 25
Meeting materials
- Agenda (pdf)
- Presentation (pdf)
- Workshop notes with chat comments (pdf)
- Recording (link)
Elements of program accessibility comment deadline and low-income organization contacts survey
Friday, August 11
Commerce is requesting comments on elements of program accessibility discussed at its July 25 workshop. A recording of that workshop is posted on this webpage. A comment form with specific questions is posted below. Please complete the survey by Friday, August 11.
In addition, Commerce is surveying the public to ensure it has as comprehensive of a list of low-income community organizations as possible for community engagement and outreach efforts for Commerce’s study. Please complete the survey by Friday, August 11.
- Public comments (link)
Elements of program deliverability
Monday, August 21
Commerce hosted its third public workshop on design elements of a statewide low-income energy assistance program on Monday, August 21. The discussion focused on the type of monthly bill assistance mechanism to be used to assist households, and how funding choices may impact a program’s ability to deliver assistance to households and program design.
Meeting details and materials will be posted ahead of the workshop.
Meeting materials
- Agenda (pdf)
- Presentation (pdf)
- Workshop notes and chat comments (pdf)
- Recording (link)
Elements of program deliverability comment deadline
Friday, Sept. 15
Commerce is requesting comments following its Aug. 21 workshop on elements of program deliverability. A comment form with specific questions is posted below. Please complete the survey by Friday, Sept 15.
- Comment form (link)
- Comments (link)
Elements of program administration and data
Monday, Sept. 25, 1-4 pm
Join us for our fourth public workshop on design elements of a statewide low-income energy assistance program. The discussion will focus on elements of program administration and data on energy burden and assistance need.
Meeting details and materials will be posted ahead of the workshop.
Meeting details
- Agenda (link)
- Presentation (link)
- Discussion draft working document (link)
- Workshop notes and chat comments (link)
- Recording (link)
Elements of program administration, data collection, and reporting comment deadline
Friday, October 13
Commerce is requesting comments following its Sept. 25 workshop on elements of program administration, data collection, and reporting. A comment form with specific questions is posted below. Please complete the survey by Friday, October 13.
- Comment form (link)
- Sept. 25 presentation (link)
- Sept. 25 workshop and chat comments (link)
- Recording (link)
Utility Heat Shutoff Moratorium Reporting Template
In 2023, the Washington Legislature passed HB 1329. The law prevents utility shutoffs for nonpayment during extreme heat. Consumer-owned electric utilities over 25,000 residential customers and water utilities over 2,500 residential customers must annually report to Commerce on whether they disconnected any customers due to non-payment. Subject to availability, these utilities must provide any other information related to utility disconnections that is requested by the Commerce. Consumer-owned electric utilities with fewer than 25,000 electric retail electric customers and water utilities with fewer than 2,500 water customers in Washington must provide similar information upon request by the Department. The information requested must be submitted in a form, timeline, and manner as prescribed by Commerce.
Commerce held a workshops on a draft reporting form for water and electric utilities reporting to Commerce. Commerce is working to finalize the reporting form. The final reporting form will be posted on this webpage and notifications will be sent out through the CETA bulletin and to water and electric utility associations by mid-December.
CETA Links
Laws and Regulations
Contact
Austin Scharff
Energy Policy Specialist
Email: CETA@Commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-764-9632