WashingtonUtilities may fund energy-saving work in rental homes
Electric and gas companies may fund energy-saving work in rental homes and recover the cost through utility bills.
What it does
Electric and gas companies may invest in energy-saving programs for rental homes. They must prioritize customers with low incomes, vulnerable people, and communities more affected by pollution.
Companies recover upgrade costs through utility bills, with a separate line showing the charge. Owners must tell tenants about the work at least 30 days before it starts.
Argument forEfficiency work could help reduce energy use in rental homes, with priority for low-income customers and communities more affected by pollution.
Argument againstTenants, including later tenants, may have to pay for upgrades through utility bills even if they did not choose the work.
More detail
The utilities commission must allow electric and gas companies to invest in programs that save energy in rental homes. The programs may serve single-family and multifamily rental homes. Companies must prioritize investments that reduce energy burdens for low-income customers, vulnerable people, and customers in communities more affected by pollution, while meeting comfort and productivity needs. The programs may replace a property owner's contribution for measures that are cost-effective when considered together. The commission may allow a company to earn a return over time if the plan reduces customers' energy burden, limits bill impacts, and gives the company an incentive to invest.
Companies must recover these investments through utility bills and show the charge as an “energy savings charge.” The bill may be paid by the tenant, a later tenant, or the property owner. Before work starts, the owner must notify the tenant and describe the work and its expected benefits. The charge may be collected until the authorized return on the investment is fully recovered. If the property owner pays the utility bill, recovery must follow an agreement for that specific property. The owner must give notice at least 30 days before installation work begins.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 23Chapter 136, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 23Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 12President signed.Major
- Mar 12Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 95; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 2.Passed House
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#20). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 45; nays, 3; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#20). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 6Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Mar 6Committee amendment not adopted.Minor
- Mar 5Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 25Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 24Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 24ENET - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 20Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 13First reading, referred to Environment, Energy & Technology.Minor
- Feb 11Third reading, passed; yeas, 56; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#14). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 111st substitute bill substituted (ENVI 26).Major
- Feb 10Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 4Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 2Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 2ENVI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 2Executive action taken in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 29Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 27Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 12Public hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Environment & Energy.Minor
- Jan 7Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Environment & EnergyHousing