Environmental reporting

AN ACT Relating to reducing certain reporting obligations under 1
environmental or energy laws; amending RCW 19.285.070, 43.21F.045, 2
23.86.405, 24.06.605, 35.21.302, 54.16.285, 57.08.081, 80.28.010, and 3
87.03.015; and repealing RCW 19.280.060. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
Sec. 1. RCW 19.285.070 and 2007 c 1 s 7 are each amended to read 6
as follows: 7
(1)(a) On or before June 1, 2012, and ((annually)) biennially 8
thereafter, each qualifying utility shall report to the department on 9
its ((progress in the preceding year )) compliance in meeting the 10
targets established in RCW 19.285.040, including ((expected)):11
(i) Expected electricity savings from the biennial conservation 12
target((, expenditures));13
(ii) Expenditures that were made on conservation((, actual));14
(iii) Actual electricity savings results((, the));15
(iv) The utility's annual load for the prior two years((, the));16
(v) The amount of megawatt -hours that were needed to meet the 17
annual renewable energy target((, the));18
(vi) The amount of megawatt -hours of each type of eligible 19
renewable resource that were acquired((, the));20
H-2921.2
HOUSE BILL 2575
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Hall, Doglio, Parshley, Stearns, and Duerr
Read first time 01/19/26. Referred to Committee on Environment &
Energy.
p. 1 HB 2575
(vii) The type and amount of renewable energy credits 1
((acquired,)) that were retired; and ((the))2
(viii) The percent of its total annual retail revenue requirement 3
that was invested in the incremental cost of eligible renewable 4
resources and the cost of renewable energy credits.5
(b) For each year that a qualifying utility elects to demonstrate 6
alternative compliance under RCW 19.285.040(2) (d) or (i) or 7
19.285.050(1), it must include in its annual report relevant data to 8
demonstrate that it met the criteria in that section. A qualifying 9
utility may submit its report to the department in conjunction with 10
its annual obligations in chapter 19.29A RCW. 11
(2) A qualifying utility that is an investor -owned utility shall 12
also report all information required in subsection (1) of this 13
section to the commission, and all other qualifying utilities shall 14
also make all information required in subsection (1) of this section 15
available to the auditor. 16
(3) A qualifying utility shall also make reports required in this 17
section available to its customers. 18
Sec. 2. RCW 43.21F.045 and 2023 c 124 s 5 are each amended to 19
read as follows: 20
(1) The department shall supervise and administer energy-related 21
activities as specified in RCW 43.330.904 and shall advise the 22
governor and the legislature with respect to energy matters affecting 23
the state. 24
(2) In addition to other powers and duties granted to the 25
department, the department shall have the following powers and 26
duties: 27
(a) Prepare and update contingency plans for securing energy 28
infrastructure against all physical and cybersecurity threats, and 29
for implementation in the event of energy shortages or emergencies. 30
The plans shall conform to chapter 43.21G RCW and shall include 31
procedures for determining when these shortages or emergencies exist, 32
the state officers and agencies to participate in the determination, 33
and actions to be taken by various agencies and officers of state 34
government in order to reduce hardship and maintain the general 35
welfare during these emergencies. The department shall coordinate the 36
activities undertaken pursuant to this subsection with other persons. 37
The components of plans that require legislation for their 38
implementation shall be presented to the legislature in the form of 39
p. 2 HB 2575
proposed legislation at the earliest practicable date. The department 1
shall report to the governor and the legislature on probable, 2
imminent, and existing energy shortages, and shall administer energy 3
allocation and curtailment programs in accordance with chapter 43.21G 4
RCW. 5
(b) Establish and maintain a central repository in state 6
government for collection of existing data on energy resources, 7
including: 8
(i) Supply, demand, costs, utilization technology, projections, 9
and forecasts; 10
(ii) Comparative costs of alternative energy sources, uses, and 11
applications; and 12
(iii) Inventory data on energy research projects in the state 13
conducted under public and/or private auspices, and the results 14
thereof. 15
(c) Coordinate federal energy programs appropriate for state-16
level implementation, carry out such energy programs as are assigned 17
to it by the governor or the legislature, and monitor federally 18
funded local energy programs as required by federal or state 19
regulations. 20
(d) Develop energy policy recommendations for consideration by 21
the governor and the legislature. 22
(e) Provide assistance, space, and other support as may be 23
necessary for the activities of the state's two representatives to 24
the Pacific northwest electric power and conservation planning 25
council. To the extent consistent with federal law, the director 26
shall request that Washington's councilmembers request the 27
administrator of the Bonneville power administration to reimburse the 28
state for the expenses associated with the support as provided in the 29
Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act (P.L. 30
96-501). 31
(f) Cooperate with state agencies, other governmental units, and 32
private interests in the prioritization and implementation of the 33
state energy strategy elements and on other energy matters.34
(g) Serve as the official state agency responsible for 35
coordinating implementation of the state energy strategy.36
(h) No later than December 1, ((1982, and by December 1st of each 37
even-numbered year thereafter )) 2024, and no later than four years 38
after the completion of a review of the state energy strategy under 39
RCW 43.21F.090(1), prepare and transmit to the governor and the 40
p. 3 HB 2575
appropriate committees of the legislature a report on the 1
implementation of the state energy strategy and other important 2
energy issues, as appropriate. 3
(i) Provide support for increasing cost-effective energy 4
conservation, including assisting in the removal of impediments to 5
timely implementation. 6
(j) Provide support for the development of cost-effective energy 7
resources including assisting in the removal of impediments to timely 8
construction. 9
(k) Adopt rules, under chapter 34.05 RCW, necessary to carry out 10
the powers and duties enumerated in this chapter. 11
(l) Provide administrative assistance, space, and other support 12
as may be necessary for the activities of the energy facility site 13
evaluation council, as provided for in RCW 80.50.030.14
(m) Appoint staff as may be needed to administer energy policy 15
functions and manage energy facility site evaluation council 16
activities. These employees are exempt from the provisions of chapter 17
41.06 RCW. 18
(3) To the extent the powers and duties set out under this 19
section relate to energy education, applied research, and technology 20
transfer programs they are transferred to Washington State 21
University. 22
(4) To the extent the powers and duties set out under this 23
section relate to energy efficiency in public buildings they are 24
transferred to the department of enterprise services.25
Sec. 3. RCW 23.86.405 and 2023 c 105 s 1 are each amended to 26
read as follows: 27
(1) As used in this section, any locally regulated utility as 28
defined in RCW 23.86.400 may not effect, due to lack of payment, an 29
involuntary termination of electric utility service to any 30
residential user, including tenants of metered apartment buildings 31
and residents of mobile homes, on any day for which the national 32
weather service has issued or has announced that it intends to issue 33
a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat warning, a heat 34
advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area 35
in which the residential user's address is located.36
(2)(a) A residential user at whose dwelling electric utility 37
service has been disconnected for lack of payment may request that 38
the locally regulated utility reconnect service on any day for which 39
p. 4 HB 2575
the national weather service has issued or has announced that it 1
intends to issue a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat 2
warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar 3
alert, for the area in which the residential user's address is 4
located. The locally regulated utility shall inform all customers in 5
the notice of disconnection of the ability to seek reconnection and 6
provide clear and specific information on how to make that request, 7
including how to contact the utility. 8
(b) Upon receipt of a request made pursuant to (a) of this 9
subsection, the locally regulated utility shall promptly make a 10
reasonable attempt to reconnect service to the dwelling. The locally 11
regulated utility, in connection with a request made pursuant to (a) 12
of this subsection, may require the residential user to enter into a 13
payment plan prior to reconnecting service to the dwelling. If the 14
locally regulated utility requires the residential user to enter into 15
a repayment plan, the repayment plan must comply with subsection (3) 16
of this section. 17
(3) A repayment plan required by a locally regulated utility 18
pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section will be designed both 19
to pay the past due bill by the following May 15th, or as soon as 20
possible after May 15th if needed to maintain monthly payments that 21
are no greater than six percent of the customer's monthly income, and 22
to pay for continued utility service. The plan may not require 23
monthly payments in excess of six percent of the customer's monthly 24
income. A customer may agree to pay a higher percentage during this 25
period, but will not be in default unless payment during this period 26
is less than six percent of the customer's monthly income. If 27
assistance payments are received by the customer subsequent to 28
implementation of the plan, the customer shall contact the locally 29
regulated utility to reformulate the plan. 30
(((4) On an annual basis, each locally regulated utility with 31
more than 25,000 retail electric customers in Washington must submit 32
a report to the department of commerce that includes the total number 33
of disconnections that occurred on each day for which the national 34
weather service issued, or announced that it intended to issue, a 35
heat-related alert. Locally regulated utilities with fewer than 36
25,000 retail electric customers in Washington must provide similar 37
information upon request by the department.38
p. 5 HB 2575
(a) Subject to availability, each locally regulated utility must 1
provide any other information related to utility disconnections that 2
is requested by the department.3
(b) The information required in this subsection must be submitted 4
in a form, timeline, and manner as prescribed by the department.))5
Sec. 4. RCW 24.06.605 and 2023 c 105 s 2 are each amended to 6
read as follows: 7
(1) As used in this section, any locally regulated utility as 8
defined in RCW 24.06.600 may not effect, due to lack of payment, an 9
involuntary termination of electric utility service to any 10
residential user, including tenants of metered apartment buildings 11
and residents of mobile homes, on any day for which the national 12
weather service has issued or has announced that it intends to issue 13
a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat warning, a heat 14
advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area 15
in which the residential user's address is located.16
(2)(a) A residential user at whose dwelling electric utility 17
service has been disconnected for lack of payment may request that 18
the locally regulated utility reconnect service on any day for which 19
the national weather service has issued or has announced that it 20
intends to issue a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat 21
warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar 22
alert, for the area in which the residential user's address is 23
located. The locally regulated utility shall inform all customers in 24
the notice of disconnection of the ability to seek reconnection and 25
provide clear and specific information on how to make that request, 26
including how to contact the utility. 27
(b) Upon receipt of a request made pursuant to (a) of this 28
subsection, the locally regulated utility shall promptly make a 29
reasonable attempt to reconnect service to the dwelling. The locally 30
regulated utility, in connection with a request made pursuant to (a) 31
of this subsection, may require the residential user to enter into a 32
payment plan prior to reconnecting service to the dwelling. If the 33
locally regulated utility requires the residential user to enter into 34
a repayment plan, the repayment plan must comply with subsection (3) 35
of this section. 36
(3) A repayment plan required by a locally regulated utility 37
pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section will be designed both 38
to pay the past due bill by the following May 15th, or as soon as 39
p. 6 HB 2575
possible after May 15th if needed to maintain monthly payments that 1
are no greater than six percent of the customer's monthly income, and 2
to pay for continued utility service. The plan must not require 3
monthly payments in excess of six percent of the customer's monthly 4
income. A customer may agree to pay a higher percentage during this 5
period, but will not be in default unless payment during this period 6
is less than six percent of the customer's monthly income. If 7
assistance payments are received by the customer subsequent to 8
implementation of the plan, the customer shall contact the locally 9
regulated utility to reformulate the plan. 10
(((4) On an annual basis, each locally regulated utility with 11
more than 25,000 retail electric customers in Washington must submit 12
a report to the department of commerce that includes the total number 13
of disconnections that occurred on each day for which the national 14
weather service issued, or announced that it intended to issue, a 15
heat-related alert. Locally regulated utilities with fewer than 16
25,000 retail electric customers in Washington must provide similar 17
information upon request by the department.18
(a) Subject to availability, each locally regulated utility must 19
provide any other information related to utility disconnections that 20
is requested by the department.21
(b) The information required in this subsection must be submitted 22
in a form, timeline, and manner as prescribed by the department.))23
Sec. 5. RCW 35.21.302 and 2023 c 105 s 3 are each amended to 24
read as follows: 25
(1) A city or town, including a code city, that owns or operates 26
an electric or water utility may not effect, due to lack of payment, 27
an involuntary termination of utility service to any residential 28
user, including tenants of metered apartment buildings and residents 29
of mobile homes, on any day for which the national weather service 30
has issued or has announced that it intends to issue a heat-related 31
alert, such as an excessive heat warning, a heat advisory, an 32
excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area in which the 33
residential user's address is located. 34
(2)(a) A residential user at whose dwelling utility service has 35
been disconnected for lack of payment may request that the utility 36
reconnect service on any day for which the national weather service 37
has issued or has announced that it intends to issue a heat-related 38
alert, such as an excessive heat warning, a heat advisory, an 39
p. 7 HB 2575
excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area in which the 1
residential user's address is located. The utility shall inform all 2
customers in the notice of disconnection of the ability to seek 3
reconnection and provide clear and specific information on how to 4
make that request, including how to contact the utility.5
(b) Upon receipt of a request made pursuant to (a) of this 6
subsection, the utility shall promptly make a reasonable attempt to 7
reconnect service to the dwelling. The utility, in connection with a 8
request made pursuant to (a) of this subsection, may require the 9
residential user to enter into a payment plan prior to reconnecting 10
service to the dwelling. If the utility requires the residential user 11
to enter into a repayment plan, the repayment plan must comply with 12
subsection (3) of this section. 13
(3) A repayment plan required by a utility pursuant to subsection 14
(2)(b) of this section will be designed both to pay the past due bill 15
by the following May 15th, or as soon as possible after May 15th if 16
needed to maintain monthly payments that are no greater than six 17
percent of the customer's monthly income, and to pay for continued 18
utility service. The plan may not require monthly payments in excess 19
of six percent of the customer's monthly income. A customer may agree 20
to pay a higher percentage during this period, but will not be in 21
default unless payment during this period is less than six percent of 22
the customer's monthly income. If assistance payments are received by 23
the customer subsequent to implementation of the plan, the customer 24
shall contact the utility to reformulate the plan.25
(((4) On an annual basis, each city or town, including a code 26
city, that owns or operates an electric or water utility with more 27
than 25,000 retail electric customers or 2,500 water customers in 28
Washington must submit a report to the department of commerce that 29
includes the total number of disconnections that occurred on each day 30
for which the national weather service issued, or announced that it 31
intended to issue, a heat-related alert. Utilities with fewer than 32
25,000 retail electric customers or 2,500 water customers in 33
Washington must provide similar information upon request by the 34
department.35
(a) Subject to availability, each utility must provide any other 36
information related to utility disconnections that is requested by 37
the department.38
(b) The information required in this subsection must be submitted 39
in a form, timeline, and manner as prescribed by the department.))40
p. 8 HB 2575
Sec. 6. RCW 54.16.285 and 2023 c 105 s 4 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
(1) A district providing utility service for residential space 3
heating shall not terminate such utility service between November 15 4
through March 15 if the customer: 5
(a) Notifies the utility of the inability to pay the bill. This 6
notice should be provided within five business days of receiving a 7
payment overdue notice unless there are extenuating circumstances. If 8
the customer fails to notify the utility within five business days 9
and service is terminated, the customer can, by fulfilling the 10
requirements of this section, receive the protections of this 11
chapter; 12
(b) Provides self-certification of household income for the prior 13
12 months to a grantee of the department of commerce which 14
administers federally funded energy assistance programs. The grantee 15
shall determine that the household income does not exceed the maximum 16
allowed for eligibility under the state's plan for low-income energy 17
assistance under 42 U.S.C. 8624 and shall provide a dollar figure 18
that is seven percent of household income. The grantee may verify 19
information provided in the self-certification; 20
(c) Has applied for home heating assistance from applicable 21
government and private sector organizations and certifies that any 22
assistance received will be applied to the current bill and future 23
utility bills; 24
(d) Has applied for low-income weatherization assistance to the 25
utility or other appropriate agency if such assistance is available 26
for the dwelling; 27
(e) Agrees to a payment plan and agrees to maintain the payment 28
plan. The plan will be designed both to pay the past due bill by the 29
following October 15 and to pay for continued utility service. If the 30
past due bill is not paid by the following October 15, the customer 31
shall not be eligible for protections under this chapter until the 32
past due bill is paid. The plan shall not require monthly payments in 33
excess of seven percent of the customer's monthly income plus one-34
twelfth of any arrearage accrued from the date application is made 35
and thereafter during November 15 through March 15. A customer may 36
agree to pay a higher percentage during this period, but shall not be 37
in default unless payment during this period is less than seven 38
percent of monthly income plus one-twelfth of any arrearage accrued 39
from the date application is made and thereafter. If assistance 40
p. 9 HB 2575
payments are received by the customer subsequent to implementation of 1
the plan, the customer shall contact the utility to reformulate the 2
plan; and 3
(f) Agrees to pay the moneys owed even if the customer moves.4
(2) The utility shall: 5
(a) Include in any notice that an account is delinquent and that 6
service may be subject to termination, a description of the 7
customer's duties in this section; 8
(b) Assist the customer in fulfilling the requirements under this 9
section; 10
(c) Be authorized to transfer an account to a new residence when 11
a customer who has established a plan under this section moves from 12
one residence to another within the same utility service area;13
(d) Be permitted to disconnect service if the customer fails to 14
honor the payment program except on the days indicated in subsection 15
(5) of this section. Utilities may continue to disconnect service for 16
those practices authorized by law other than for nonpayment as 17
provided for in this section. Customers who qualify for payment plans 18
under this section who default on their payment plans and are 19
disconnected can be reconnected and maintain the protections afforded 20
under this chapter by paying all amounts that would have been due and 21
owing under the terms of the applicable payment plan, absent default, 22
on the date on which service is reconnected; and 23
(e) Advise the customer in writing at the time it disconnects 24
service that it will restore service if the customer contacts the 25
utility and fulfills the other requirements of this section.26
(3) All districts providing utility service for residential space 27
heating shall offer residential customers the option of a budget 28
billing or equal payment plan. The budget billing or equal payment 29
plan shall be offered low-income customers eligible under the state's 30
plan for low-income energy assistance prepared in accordance with 42 31
U.S.C. 8624(C)(1) without limiting availability to certain months of 32
the year, without regard to the length of time the customer has 33
occupied the premises, and without regard to whether the customer is 34
the tenant or owner of the premises occupied. 35
(4) An agreement between the customer and the utility, whether 36
oral or written, shall not waive the protections afforded under this 37
chapter. 38
(5) A district providing electric or water utility service to 39
residential customers may not effect, due to lack of payment, an 40
p. 10 HB 2575
involuntary termination of utility service to any residential user, 1
including tenants of metered apartment buildings and residents of 2
mobile homes, on any day for which the national weather service has 3
issued or has announced that it intends to issue a heat-related 4
alert, such as an excessive heat warning, a heat advisory, an 5
excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area in which the 6
residential user's address is located. 7
(6)(a) A residential user at whose dwelling utility service has 8
been disconnected for lack of payment may request that the district 9
reconnect service on any day for which the national weather service 10
has issued or has announced that it intends to issue a heat-related 11
alert, such as an excessive heat warning, a heat advisory, an 12
excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area in which the 13
residential user's address is located. The district shall inform all 14
customers in the notice of disconnection of the ability to seek 15
reconnection and provide clear and specific information on how to 16
make that request, including how to contact the district.17
(b) Upon receipt of a request made pursuant to (a) of this 18
subsection, the district shall promptly make a reasonable attempt to 19
reconnect service to the dwelling. The district, in connection with a 20
request made pursuant to (a) of this subsection, may require the 21
residential user to enter into a payment plan prior to reconnecting 22
service to the dwelling. If the district requires the residential 23
user to enter into a repayment plan, the repayment plan must comply 24
with subsection (7) of this section. 25
(7) A repayment plan required by a district pursuant to 26
subsection (6)(b) of this section will be designed both to pay the 27
past due bill by the following May 15th, or as soon as possible after 28
May 15th if needed to maintain monthly payments that are no greater 29
than six percent of the customer's monthly income, and to pay for 30
continued utility service. The plan may not require monthly payments 31
in excess of six percent of the customer's monthly income. A customer 32
may agree to pay a higher percentage during this period, but will not 33
be in default unless payment during this period is less than six 34
percent of the customer's monthly income. If assistance payments are 35
received by the customer subsequent to implementation of the plan, 36
the customer shall contact the district to reformulate the plan.37
(((8) On an annual basis, each district with more than 25,000 38
retail electric customers or 2,500 water customers in Washington must 39
submit a report to the department of commerce that includes the total 40
p. 11 HB 2575
number of disconnections that occurred on each day for which the 1
national weather service issued, or announced that it intended to 2
issue, a heat-related alert. Districts with fewer than 25,000 retail 3
electric customers or 2,500 water customers in Washington must 4
provide similar information upon request by the department.5
(a) Subject to availability, each district must provide any other 6
information related to utility disconnections that is requested by 7
the department.8
(b) The information required in this subsection must be submitted 9
in a form, timeline, and manner as prescribed by the department.))10
Sec. 7. RCW 57.08.081 and 2023 c 105 s 5 are each amended to 11
read as follows: 12
(1) Subject to RCW 57.08.005(7), the commissioners of any 13
district shall provide for revenues by fixing rates and charges for 14
furnishing sewer and drainage service and facilities to those to whom 15
service is available or for providing water, such rates and charges 16
to be fixed as deemed necessary by the commissioners, so that uniform 17
charges will be made for the same class of customer or service and 18
facility. Rates and charges may be combined for the furnishing of 19
more than one type of sewer or drainage service and facilities.20
(2) In classifying customers of such water, sewer, or drainage 21
system, the board of commissioners may in its discretion consider any 22
or all of the following factors: The difference in cost to various 23
customers; the location of the various customers within and without 24
the district; the difference in cost of maintenance, operation, 25
repair, and replacement of the various parts of the system; the 26
different character of the service furnished various customers; the 27
quantity and quality of the service and facility furnished; the time 28
of its use; the achievement of water conservation goals and the 29
discouragement of wasteful practices; capital contributions made to 30
the system including but not limited to assessments; and any other 31
matters which present a reasonable difference as a ground for 32
distinction. Rates shall be established as deemed proper by the 33
commissioners and as fixed by resolution and shall produce revenues 34
sufficient to take care of the costs of maintenance and operation, 35
revenue bond and warrant interest and principal amortization 36
requirements, and all other charges necessary for efficient and 37
proper operation of the system. Prior to furnishing services, a 38
district may require a deposit to guarantee payment for services. 39
p. 12 HB 2575
However, failure to require a deposit does not affect the validity of 1
any lien authorized by this section. 2
(3) The commissioners shall enforce collection of connection 3
charges, and rates and charges for water supplied against property 4
owners connecting with the system or receiving such water, and for 5
sewer and drainage services charged against property to which and its 6
owners to whom the service is available, such charges being deemed 7
charges against the property served, by addition of penalties of not 8
more than ten percent thereof in case of failure to pay the charges 9
at times fixed by resolution. The commissioners may provide by 10
resolution that where either connection charges or rates and charges 11
for services supplied are delinquent for any specified period of 12
time, the district shall certify the delinquencies to the auditor of 13
the county in which the real property is located, and the charges and 14
any penalties added thereto and interest thereon at the rate of not 15
more than the prime lending rate of the district's bank plus four 16
percentage points per year shall be a lien against the property upon 17
which the service was received, subject only to the lien for general 18
taxes. 19
(4) The district may, at any time after the connection charges or 20
rates and charges for services supplied or available and penalties 21
are delinquent for a period of 60 days, bring suit in foreclosure by 22
civil action in the superior court of the county in which the real 23
property is located. The court may allow, in addition to the costs 24
and disbursements provided by statute, attorneys' fees, title search 25
and report costs, and expenses as it adjudges reasonable. The action 26
shall be in rem, and may be brought in the name of the district 27
against an individual or against all of those who are delinquent in 28
one action. The laws and rules of the court shall control as in other 29
civil actions. 30
(5) In addition to the right to foreclose provided in this 31
section, the district may also cut off all or part of the service 32
after charges for water or sewer service supplied or available are 33
delinquent for a period of 30 days, except on the days indicated in 34
subsection (8) of this section. 35
(6) A district may determine how to apply partial payments on 36
past due accounts. 37
(7) A district may provide a real property owner or the owner's 38
designee with duplicate bills for service to tenants, or may notify 39
an owner or the owner's designee that a tenant's service account is 40
p. 13 HB 2575
delinquent. However, if an owner or the owner's designee notifies the 1
district in writing that a property served by the district is a 2
rental property, asks to be notified of a tenant's delinquency, and 3
has provided, in writing, a complete and accurate mailing address, 4
the district shall notify the owner or the owner's designee of a 5
tenant's delinquency at the same time and in the same manner the 6
district notifies the tenant of the tenant's delinquency or by mail. 7
When a district provides a real property owner or the owner's 8
designee with duplicates of tenant utility service bills or notice 9
that a tenant's utility account is delinquent, the district shall 10
notify the tenant that it is providing the duplicate bills or 11
delinquency notice to the owner or the owner's designee. After 12
January 1, 1999, if a district fails to notify the owner of a 13
tenant's delinquency after receiving a written request to do so and 14
after receiving the other information required by this subsection 15
(7), the district shall have no lien against the premises for the 16
tenant's delinquent and unpaid charges. 17
(8) A district providing water utility service to residential 18
customers may not effect, due to lack of payment, an involuntary 19
termination of utility service to any residential user, including 20
tenants of metered apartment buildings and residents of mobile homes, 21
on any day for which the national weather service has issued or has 22
announced that it intends to issue a heat-related alert, such as an 23
excessive heat warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or 24
a similar alert, for the area in which the residential user's address 25
is located. 26
(9)(a) A residential user at whose dwelling utility service has 27
been disconnected for lack of payment may request that the district 28
reconnect service on any day for which the national weather service 29
has issued or has announced that it intends to issue a heat-related 30
alert, such as an excessive heat warning, a heat advisory, an 31
excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area in which the 32
residential user's address is located. The district shall inform all 33
customers in the notice of disconnection of the ability to seek 34
reconnection and provide clear and specific information on how to 35
make that request, including how to contact the district.36
(b) Upon receipt of a request made pursuant to (a) of this 37
subsection, the district shall promptly make a reasonable attempt to 38
reconnect service to the dwelling. The district, in connection with a 39
request made pursuant to (a) of this subsection, may require the 40
p. 14 HB 2575
residential user to enter into a payment plan prior to reconnecting 1
service to the dwelling. If the district requires the residential 2
user to enter into a repayment plan, the repayment plan must comply 3
with subsection (10) of this section. 4
(10) A repayment plan required by a district pursuant to 5
subsection (9)(b) of this section will be designed both to pay the 6
past due bill by the following May 15th, or as soon as possible after 7
May 15th if needed to maintain monthly payments that are no greater 8
than six percent of the customer's monthly income, and to pay for 9
continued utility service. The plan may not require monthly payments 10
in excess of six percent of the customer's monthly income. A customer 11
may agree to pay a higher percentage during this period, but will not 12
be in default unless payment during this period is less than six 13
percent of the customer's monthly income. If assistance payments are 14
received by the customer subsequent to implementation of the plan, 15
the customer shall contact the district to reformulate the plan.16
(((11) On an annual basis, each district with more than 2,500 17
water customers in Washington must submit a report to the department 18
of commerce that includes the total number of disconnections that 19
occurred on each day for which the national weather service issued, 20
or announced that it intended to issue, a heat-related alert. 21
Districts with fewer than 2,500 water customers in Washington must 22
provide similar information upon request by the department.23
(a) Subject to availability, each district must provide any other 24
information related to utility disconnections that is requested by 25
the department.26
(b) The information required in this subsection must be submitted 27
in a form, timeline, and manner as prescribed by the department.))28
Sec. 8. RCW 80.28.010 and 2025 c 263 s 4 are each amended to 29
read as follows: 30
(1) All charges made, demanded or received by any gas company, 31
electrical company, wastewater company, water company, or thermal 32
energy company for gas, electricity, water, or thermal energy, or for 33
any service rendered or to be rendered in connection therewith, shall 34
be just, fair, reasonable and sufficient. Reasonable charges 35
necessary to cover the cost of administering the collection of 36
voluntary donations for the purposes of supporting the development 37
and implementation of evergreen community management plans and 38
p. 15 HB 2575
ordinances under RCW 80.28.300 must be deemed as prudent and 1
necessary for the operation of a utility. 2
(2) Every gas company, electrical company, wastewater company, 3
water company, and thermal energy company shall furnish and supply 4
such service, instrumentalities and facilities as shall be safe, 5
adequate and efficient, and in all respects just and reasonable.6
(3) All rules and regulations issued by any gas company, 7
electrical company, wastewater company, water company, or thermal 8
energy company, affecting or pertaining to the sale or distribution 9
of its product or service, must be just and reasonable.10
(4) Utility service for residential space heating shall not be 11
terminated between November 15 through March 15 if the customer:12
(a) Notifies the utility of the inability to pay the bill. This 13
notice should be provided within five business days of receiving a 14
payment overdue notice unless there are extenuating circumstances. If 15
the customer fails to notify the utility within five business days 16
and service is terminated, the customer can, by fulfilling the 17
requirements of this section, receive the protections of this 18
chapter; 19
(b) Provides self-certification of household income for the prior 20
twelve months to a grantee of the department of commerce, which 21
administers federally funded energy assistance programs. The grantee 22
shall determine that the household income does not exceed the maximum 23
allowed for eligibility under the state's plan for low-income energy 24
assistance under 42 U.S.C. 8624 and shall provide a dollar figure 25
that is seven percent of household income. The grantee may verify 26
information provided in the self-certification; 27
(c) Has applied for home heating assistance from applicable 28
government and private sector organizations and certifies that any 29
assistance received will be applied to the current bill and future 30
utility bills; 31
(d) Has applied for low-income weatherization assistance to the 32
utility or other appropriate agency if such assistance is available 33
for the dwelling; 34
(e) Agrees to a payment plan and agrees to maintain the payment 35
plan. The plan will be designed both to pay the past due bill by the 36
following October 15th and to pay for continued utility service. If 37
the past due bill is not paid by the following October 15, the 38
customer is not eligible for protections under this chapter until the 39
past due bill is paid. The plan may not require monthly payments in 40
p. 16 HB 2575
excess of seven percent of the customer's monthly income plus one-1
twelfth of any arrearage accrued from the date application is made 2
and thereafter during November 15 through March 15. A customer may 3
agree to pay a higher percentage during this period, but shall not be 4
in default unless payment during this period is less than seven 5
percent of monthly income plus one-twelfth of any arrearage accrued 6
from the date application is made and thereafter. If assistance 7
payments are received by the customer subsequent to implementation of 8
the plan, the customer shall contact the utility to reformulate the 9
plan; and 10
(f) Agrees to pay the moneys owed even if the customer moves.11
(5) The utility shall: 12
(a) Include in any notice that an account is delinquent and that 13
service may be subject to termination, a description of the 14
customer's duties in this section; 15
(b) Assist the customer in fulfilling the requirements under this 16
section; 17
(c) Be authorized to transfer an account to a new residence when 18
a customer who has established a plan under this section moves from 19
one residence to another within the same utility service area;20
(d) Be permitted to disconnect service if the customer fails to 21
honor the payment program except on the days indicated in subsection 22
(8) of this section. Utilities may continue to disconnect service for 23
those practices authorized by law other than for nonpayment as 24
provided for in this subsection. Customers who qualify for payment 25
plans under this section who default on their payment plans and are 26
disconnected can be reconnected and maintain the protections afforded 27
under this chapter by paying all amounts that would have been due and 28
owing under the terms of the applicable payment plan, absent default, 29
on the date on which service is reconnected; and 30
(e) Advise the customer in writing at the time it disconnects 31
service that it will restore service if the customer contacts the 32
utility and fulfills the other requirements of this section.33
(6) A payment plan implemented under this section is consistent 34
with RCW 80.28.080. 35
(7) Every gas company, electrical company, and thermal energy 36
company shall offer residential customers the option of a budget 37
billing or equal payment plan. The budget billing or equal payment 38
plan shall be offered low-income customers eligible under the state's 39
plan for low-income energy assistance prepared in accordance with 42 40
p. 17 HB 2575
U.S.C. 8624(C)(1) without limiting availability to certain months of 1
the year, without regard to the length of time the customer has 2
occupied the premises, and without regard to whether the customer is 3
the tenant or owner of the premises occupied. 4
(8)(a) Every electrical company, water company, and thermal 5
energy company must have and must abide by the terms of a tariff 6
approved by the commission that prohibits the electrical company, 7
water company, or thermal energy company from effecting, due to lack 8
of payment, an involuntary termination of electric, water, or thermal 9
energy utility service to any residential user, including tenants of 10
metered apartment buildings and residents of mobile homes, on any day 11
for which the national weather service has issued or has announced 12
that it intends to issue a heat-related alert, such as an excessive 13
heat warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar 14
alert, for the area in which the residential user's address is 15
located. 16
(b) Nothing in this subsection (8) limits the authority of the 17
commission to prohibit an electrical company, water company, or 18
thermal energy company from terminating electric, water, or thermal 19
energy utility service in accordance with an approved tariff, rule, 20
or order, in circumstances independent of the weather.21
(9)(a) A residential user at whose dwelling electric, water, or 22
thermal energy utility service has been disconnected for lack of 23
payment may request that the utility reconnect service on any day for 24
which the national weather service has issued or has announced that 25
it intends to issue a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat 26
warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar 27
alert, for the area in which the residential user's address is 28
located. The utility shall, through a process approved by the 29
commission, inform all customers in the notice of disconnection of 30
the ability to seek reconnection and provide clear and specific 31
information on how to make that request, including how to contact the 32
utility. 33
(b) Upon receipt of a request made pursuant to (a) of this 34
subsection, the utility shall promptly make a reasonable attempt to 35
reconnect service to the dwelling. The utility, in connection with a 36
request made pursuant to (a) of this subsection, may require the 37
residential user to enter into a payment plan prior to reconnecting 38
service to the dwelling. If the utility requires the residential user 39
p. 18 HB 2575
to enter into a repayment plan, the repayment plan must comply with 1
subsection (10) of this section. 2
(10) A repayment plan required by a utility pursuant to 3
subsection (9)(b) of this section will be designed both to pay the 4
past due bill by the following May 15th, or as soon as possible after 5
May 15th if needed to maintain monthly payments that are no greater 6
than six percent of the customer's monthly income, and to pay for 7
continued utility service. The plan may not require monthly payments 8
in excess of six percent of the customer's monthly income. A customer 9
may agree to pay a higher percentage during this period, but will not 10
be in default unless payment during this period is less than six 11
percent of the customer's monthly income. If assistance payments are 12
received by the customer subsequent to implementation of the plan, 13
the customer shall contact the utility to reformulate the plan.14
(11) Every gas company, electrical company, wastewater company, 15
water company, and thermal energy company shall construct and 16
maintain such facilities in connection with the manufacture and 17
distribution of its product, or provision of its services, as will be 18
efficient and safe to its employees and the public.19
(12) An agreement between the customer and the utility, whether 20
oral or written, does not waive the protections afforded under this 21
chapter. 22
(13) In establishing rates or charges for water service, water 23
companies as defined in RCW 80.04.010 may consider the achievement of 24
water conservation goals and the discouragement of wasteful water use 25
practices. 26
(((14) On an annual basis, each utility must submit a report to 27
the commission that includes the total number of electric, water, or 28
thermal energy disconnections that occurred on each day for which the 29
national weather service issued, or announced that it intended to 30
issue, a heat-related alert.))31
Sec. 9. RCW 87.03.015 and 2023 c 105 s 7 are each amended to 32
read as follows: 33
(1) Any irrigation district, operating and maintaining an 34
irrigation system, in addition to other powers conferred by law, 35
shall have authority: 36
(a) To purchase and sell electric power to the inhabitants of the 37
irrigation district for the purposes of irrigation and domestic use; 38
to finance, acquire, construct, own, and lease dams, canals, plants, 39
p. 19 HB 2575
transmission lines, and other power equipment and the necessary 1
property and rights therefor and to operate, improve, repair, and 2
maintain the same, for the generation and transmission of electrical 3
energy for use in the operation of pumping plants and irrigation 4
systems of the district and for sale to the inhabitants of the 5
irrigation district for the purposes of irrigation and domestic use; 6
and, as a further and separate grant of authority and in furtherance 7
of a state purpose and policy of developing hydroelectric capability 8
in connection with irrigation facilities, to construct, finance, 9
acquire, own, lease, operate, improve, repair, and maintain, alone or 10
jointly with other irrigation districts, boards of control, municipal 11
or quasi-municipal corporations or cooperatives authorized to engage 12
in the business of distributing electricity, electrical companies 13
subject to the jurisdiction of the utilities and transportation 14
commission, private commercial or industrial entities that construct 15
or operate electric power generation or transmission facilities, or 16
private commercial or industrial entities that acquire electric power 17
for their own use or resale, hydroelectric facilities including but 18
not limited to dams, canals, plants, transmission lines, other power 19
equipment, and the necessary property and rights therefor, located 20
within or outside the district, for the purpose of utilizing for the 21
generation of electricity, water power made available by and as a 22
part of the irrigation water storage, conveyance, and distribution 23
facilities, waste ways, and drainage water facilities which serve 24
irrigation districts, and to sell any and all the electric energy 25
generated at any such hydroelectric facilities or the irrigation 26
district's share of such energy, to municipal or quasi-municipal 27
corporations or cooperatives authorized to engage in the business of 28
distributing electricity, electrical companies subject to the 29
jurisdiction of the utilities and transportation commission, private 30
commercial or industrial entities that acquire electric power for 31
their own use or resale, or other irrigation districts, and on such 32
terms and conditions as the board of directors shall determine. No 33
contract entered into under this subsection (1)(a) by the board of 34
directors of any irrigation district for the sale of electrical 35
energy from such hydroelectric facility for a period longer than 36
forty years from the date of commercial operation of such 37
hydroelectric facility shall be binding on the district until 38
ratified by a majority vote of the electors of the district at an 39
p. 20 HB 2575
election therein, called, held, and canvassed for that purpose in the 1
same manner as that provided by law for district bond elections.2
(b) To construct, repair, purchase, maintain, or lease a system 3
for the sale or lease of water to the owners of irrigated lands 4
within the district for domestic purposes. 5
(c) To construct, repair, purchase, lease, acquire, operate and 6
maintain a system of drains, sanitary sewers, and sewage disposal or 7
treatment plants as herein provided. 8
(d) To assume, as principal or guarantor, any indebtedness to the 9
United States under the federal reclamation laws, on account of 10
district lands. 11
(e) To maintain, repair, construct, and reconstruct ditches, 12
laterals, pipe lines, and other water conduits used or to be used in 13
carrying water for irrigation of lands located within the boundaries 14
of a city or town, or for the domestic use of the residents of a city 15
or town where the owners of land within such city or town shall use 16
such works to carry water to the boundaries of such city or town for 17
irrigation, domestic, or other purposes within such city or town, and 18
to charge to such city or town the pro rata proportion of the cost of 19
such maintenance, repair, construction, and reconstruction work in 20
proportion to the benefits received by the lands served and located 21
within the boundaries of such city or town, and if such cost is not 22
paid, then and in that event said irrigation district shall have the 23
right to prevent further water deliveries through such works to the 24
lands located within the boundaries of such city or town until such 25
charges have been paid. 26
(f) To acquire, install, and maintain as a part of the irrigation 27
district's water system the necessary water mains and fire hydrants 28
to make water available for firefighting purposes; and in addition 29
any such irrigation district shall have the authority to repair, 30
operate, and maintain such hydrants and mains. 31
(g) To enter into contracts with other irrigation districts, 32
boards of control, municipal or quasi-municipal corporations or 33
cooperatives authorized to engage in the business of distributing 34
electricity, electrical companies subject to the jurisdiction of the 35
utilities and transportation commission, private commercial or 36
industrial entities that construct or operate electric power 37
generation or transmission facilities, or private commercial or 38
industrial entities that acquire electric power for their own use or 39
resale, to jointly finance, acquire, lease, construct, own, operate, 40
p. 21 HB 2575
improve, repair, and maintain irrigation water, domestic water, 1
drainage and sewerage works, and electrical power works to the same 2
extent as authorized by (a) of this subsection, or portions of such 3
works. If an irrigation district enters into a contract or agreement 4
under this subsection (1)(g) to create a legal entity or undertaking 5
with an investor-owned utility or a private commercial or industrial 6
entity, that contract or agreement must provide that the irrigation 7
district be severally liable only for its own acts and not jointly or 8
severally liable for the acts, omissions, or obligations of an 9
investor-owned utility or a private commercial or industrial entity. 10
No money or property supplied by any irrigation district for the 11
planning, financing, acquisition, construction, operation, or 12
maintenance of any common facility may be credited or otherwise 13
applied to the account of any investor-owned utility or private 14
commercial or industrial entity therein, nor may the undivided share 15
of any irrigation district in any common facility be charged, 16
directly or indirectly, with any debt or obligation of any investor-17
owned utility or private commercial or industrial entity or be 18
subject to any lien as a result thereof. No action in connection with 19
a common facility may be binding upon any irrigation district unless 20
authorized or approved by resolution of its board.21
(h) To acquire from a water-sewer district wholly within the 22
irrigation district's boundaries, by a conveyance without cost, the 23
water-sewer district's water system and to operate the same to 24
provide water for the domestic use of the irrigation district 25
residents. As a part of its acceptance of the conveyance the 26
irrigation district must agree to relieve the water-sewer district of 27
responsibility for maintenance and repair of the system. Any such 28
water-sewer district is authorized to make such a conveyance if all 29
indebtedness of the water-sewer district, except local improvement 30
district bonds, has been paid and the conveyance has been approved by 31
a majority of the water-sewer district's voters voting at a general 32
or special election. 33
(i) To approve and condition placement of hydroelectric 34
generation facilities by entities other than the district on water 35
conveyance facilities operated or maintained by the district.36
(2) An irrigation district providing electric or water utility 37
service to residential customers may not effect, due to lack of 38
payment, an involuntary termination of utility service to any 39
residential users, including tenants of metered apartment buildings 40
p. 22 HB 2575
and residents of mobile homes, on any day for which the national 1
weather service has issued or has announced that it intends to issue 2
a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat warning, a heat 3
advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area 4
in which the residential user's address is located.5
(a)(i) A residential user at whose dwelling electric or water 6
utility service has been disconnected for lack of payment may request 7
that the irrigation district reconnect service on any day for which 8
the national weather service has issued or has announced that it 9
intends to issue a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat 10
warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar 11
alert, for the area in which the residential user's address is 12
located. The irrigation district shall inform all customers in the 13
notice of disconnection of the ability to seek reconnection and 14
provide clear and specific information on how to make that request, 15
including how to contact the irrigation district. 16
(ii) Upon receipt of a request made pursuant to (a)(i) of this 17
subsection, the irrigation district shall promptly make a reasonable 18
attempt to reconnect service to the dwelling. The irrigation 19
district, in connection with a request made pursuant to (a)(i) of 20
this subsection, may require the residential user to enter into a 21
payment plan prior to reconnecting service to the dwelling. If the 22
irrigation district requires the residential user to enter into a 23
repayment plan, the repayment plan must comply with (b) of this 24
subsection. 25
(b) A repayment plan required by an irrigation district pursuant 26
to (a)(ii) of this subsection will be designed both to pay the past 27
due bill by the following May 15th, or as soon as possible after May 28
15th if needed to maintain monthly payments that are no greater than 29
six percent of the customer's monthly income, and to pay for 30
continued utility service. The plan may not require monthly payments 31
in excess of six percent of the customer's monthly income. A customer 32
may agree to pay a higher percentage during this period, but will not 33
be in default unless payment during this period is less than six 34
percent of the customer's monthly income. If assistance payments are 35
received by the customer subsequent to implementation of the plan, 36
the customer shall contact the irrigation district to reformulate the 37
plan. 38
(((c) On an annual basis, each irrigation district with more than 39
25,000 retail electric customers or 2,500 water customers in 40
p. 23 HB 2575
Washington must submit a report to the department of commerce that 1
includes the total number of disconnections that occurred on each day 2
for which the national weather service issued, or announced that it 3
intended to issue, a heat-related alert. Irrigation districts with 4
fewer than 25,000 retail electric customers or 2,500 water customers 5
in Washington must provide similar information upon request by the 6
department. 7
(i) Subject to availability, each irrigation district must 8
provide any other information related to utility disconnections that 9
is requested by the department.10
(ii) The information required in this subsection (2)(c) must be 11
submitted in a form, timeline, and manner as prescribed by the 12
department.))13
(3) This section shall not be construed as in any manner 14
abridging any other powers of an irrigation district conferred by 15
law. 16
NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. RCW 19.280.060 (Department's duties — 17
Report to the legislature) and 2015 3rd sp.s. c 19 s 10, 2013 c 149 s 18
4, & 2006 c 195 s 6 are each repealed.19
--- END ---
p. 24 HB 2575