Utility connection charges

AN ACT Relating to allowing local governments to encourage 1
sustainable technology and resiliency by waiving utility connection 2
charges for organizations utilizing industrial symbiosis; amending 3
RCW 35.92.385 and 35.92.380; and creating a new section.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that climate change 6
and environmental degradation poses a significant and increasing 7
threat to human health in Washington. This threat cannot be combatted 8
through reductions in greenhouse gas and other harmful emissions 9
alone. Instead, reductions must be combined with technological 10
innovations in clean energy, resource efficiency, and other 11
environmentally friendly practices.12
The legislature finds that industrial symbiosis is one such 13
innovation and practice. Industrial symbiosis is characterized by the 14
beneficial utilization of waste products that may otherwise have 15
deleterious environmental effects. Industrial symbiosis reduces 16
waste, increases efficiency, promotes resiliency, and creates the 17
conditions for further innovation. 18
The legislature believes that by allowing local governments that 19
operate their own utilities to waive connection charges for 20
organizations practicing industrial symbiosis, Washington can 21
H-0442.3
HOUSE BILL 1302
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Cortes, Barnard, Simmons, Reed, Springer, and
Timmons
Read first time 01/15/25. Referred to Committee on Environment &
Energy.
p. 1 HB 1302
encourage the development and utilization of this sustainable 1
technology, and that such utilization is important both 2
environmentally and economically. 3
Sec. 2. RCW 35.92.385 and 2023 c 249 s 1 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1)(a) Municipal utilities formed under this chapter may waive 6
connection charges for properties owned or developed by, or on the 7
behalf of, a nonprofit organization, public development authority, 8
housing authority, or local agency that provides emergency shelter, 9
transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or affordable 10
housing, including a limited partnership as described in RCW 11
84.36.560(7)(f)(ii) and a limited liability company as described in 12
RCW 84.36.560(7)(f)(iii). 13
(b) Municipal utilities formed under this chapter may waive 14
connection charges for properties owned or developed by public or 15
private organizations that utilize the property for industrial 16
symbiosis.17
(2) Connection charges waived under this chapter shall be funded 18
using general funds, grant dollars, or other identified revenue 19
stream. 20
(3) At such time as a property receiving a waiver under 21
subsection (1) of this section is no longer operating under the 22
eligibility requirements under subsection (1) of this section:23
(a) The waiver of connection charges required under subsection 24
(1) of this section is no longer required; and 25
(b) Any connection charges waived under subsection (1) of this 26
section are immediately due and payable to the utility as a condition 27
of continued service. 28
(4) For the purposes of this section: 29
(a) "Affordable housing" has the same meaning as in RCW 30
36.70A.030. 31
(b) "Connection charges" means the one-time capital and 32
administrative charges, as authorized in RCW 35.92.025, that are 33
imposed by a utility on a building or facility owner for a new 34
utility service and costs borne or assessed by a utility for the 35
labor, materials, and services necessary to physically connect a 36
designated facility to the respective utility service.37
(c) "Emergency shelter" means any facility that has, as its sole 38
purpose, the provision of a temporary shelter for the homeless and 39
p. 2 HB 1302
that does not require occupants to sign a lease or occupancy 1
agreement. 2
(d) "Industrial symbiosis" means the utilization of industrial 3
waste or other waste products for productive use in an 4
environmentally sustainable manner. For such a use to be 5
environmentally sustainable, it must both reduce the amount of 6
resources that would otherwise have been consumed and the amount of 7
greenhouse gases that would otherwise have been emitted to accomplish 8
the same purpose.9
(e) "Permanent supportive housing" has the same meaning as in RCW 10
36.70A.030. 11
(((e))) (f) "Transitional housing" has the same meaning as in RCW 12
84.36.043. 13
Sec. 3. RCW 35.92.380 and 2023 c 249 s 2 are each amended to 14
read as follows: 15
Whenever a city or town waives or delays collection of tap-in 16
charges, connection fees, or hookup fees for low-income persons, a 17
class of low-income persons, or a nonprofit organization, public 18
development authority, housing authority, or local agency that 19
provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent 20
supportive housing, or affordable housing as defined in RCW 21
35.92.385, or an organization utilizing the property for industrial 22
symbiosis as defined in RCW 35.92.385 to connect to lines or pipes 23
used by the city or town to provide utility service, the waiver or 24
delay shall be pursuant to a program established by ordinance. As 25
used in this section, the provision of "utility service" includes, 26
but is not limited to, water, sanitary or storm sewer service, 27
electricity, gas, other means of power, and heat. 28
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p. 3 HB 1302