Washington utilities report clean energy targets every two years

Qualifying utilities report every two years on meeting clean energy targets. The reports cover each qualifying utility's compliance with clean energy targets and include information on savings, spending, renewable energy, and electricity use. Utilities choosing certain alternative ways to meet targets must include data showing they met the applicable criteria. Investor-owned utilities also report to the commission; other qualifying utilities make the information available to the state auditor. Utilities make reports available to customers. Reports are due by June 1 every two years.

Utilities provide heat-alert protections and follow the related reporting provisions in the text. These provisions cover residential customers of the utility types named in the text, including locally regulated utilities, cities, towns, public utility districts, and certain companies and irrigation districts. A covered utility may not shut off residential service for unpaid bills during a heat alert. A customer whose service was already shut off may request reconnection, and the utility must promptly make a reasonable attempt; it may require a payment plan. A required reconnection plan may not require monthly payments above six percent of the customer's income. The text encourages utilities to use savings from removed reporting requirements for energy help for people with low incomes. The protections apply on any day the National Weather Service issues, or announces it intends to issue, a heat-related alert for the customer's area.

The Department of Commerce reports on the state energy strategy after strategy reviews. The department sends the report to the governor and the appropriate legislative committees. The text names December 1, 2024, as an initial date and calls for another report no later than four years after each strategy review.

The law repeals the section about a department report to the legislature. The repealed section is identified as concerning the Department of Commerce's duties and a report to the legislature. The law takes effect June 11, 2026.