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.

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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

Commerce will be scheduling more workshops and comment deadlines. Please subscribe to our CETA bulletin for announcements about upcoming workshops and comment deadlines.

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

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

Key considerations and questions for program design comment deadline

Fri, July 21
Commerce requested questions and considerations for program design elements of a statewide energy assistance program. Key questions and considerations will be first discussed at a July 10 workshop. A recording of that workshop is posted on this webpage.
 

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.

Elements of program accessibility

Tuesday, July 25
Commerce hosted its second discussion workshop on Tuesday, July 25, from 1-4 p.m. The workshop focused on aspects of program accessibility. 
Meeting materials

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.

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

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. 

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

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. 

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

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