RCW 80.28.430
Authority to enter into agreements with certain organizations—Agreement to govern manner in which financial assistance is provided to an organization—Requirements.
(1) A gas company or electrical company shall, upon request, enter into one or more written agreements with organizations that represent broad customer interests in regulatory proceedings conducted by the commission, subject to commission approval in accordance with subsection (2) of this section, including but not limited to organizations representing low-income, commercial, and industrial customers, vulnerable populations, or highly impacted communities. The agreement must govern the manner in which financial assistance may be provided to the organization. More than one gas company, electrical company, or organization representing customer interests may join in a single agreement. Any agreement entered into under this section must be approved, approved with modifications, or rejected by the commission. The commission must consider whether the agreement is consistent with a reasonable allocation of financial assistance provided to organizations pursuant to this section among classes of customers of the gas or electrical company.
(2) Before administering an agreement entered into under subsection (1) of this section, the commission shall, by rule or order, determine:
(a) The amount of financial assistance, if any, that may be provided to any organization;
(b) The manner in which the financial assistance is distributed;
(c) The manner in which the financial assistance is recovered in the rates of the gas company or electrical company under subsection (3) of this section; and
(d) Other matters necessary to administer the agreement.
(3) The commission shall allow a gas company or electrical company that provides financial assistance under this section to recover the amounts provided in rates. The commission shall allow a gas company or electrical company to defer inclusion of those amounts in rates if the gas company or electrical company so elects. An agreement under this section may not provide for payment of any amounts to the commission.
(4) Organizations representing vulnerable populations or highly impacted communities must be prioritized for funding under this section.
[ 2021 c 188 § 4.]
NOTES:
Legislative directive—2021 c 188: See note following RCW 80.28.425.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 80.28 - Gas, Electrical, and Water Companies.
80.28.020 - Commission to fix just, reasonable, and compensatory rates.
80.28.022 - Water company rates—Reserve account.
80.28.024 - Legislative finding.
80.28.050 - Tariff schedules to be filed with commission—Public schedules.
80.28.065 - Tariff schedule—Energy conservation—Payment by successive property owners—Notice—Rules.
80.28.068 - Rates—Low-income customers.
80.28.070 - Sliding scale of charges permitted.
80.28.074 - Legislative declaration.
80.28.075 - Banded rates—Natural gas and electric services.
80.28.080 - Published rates to be charged—Exceptions.
80.28.090 - Unreasonable preference prohibited.
80.28.100 - Rate discrimination prohibited—Exception.
80.28.110 - Service to be furnished on reasonable notice.
80.28.120 - Effect on existing contracts.
80.28.130 - Repairs, improvements, changes, additions, or extensions may be directed.
80.28.140 - Inspection of gas and water meters.
80.28.150 - Inspection of electric meters.
80.28.160 - Testing apparatus to be furnished.
80.28.170 - Testing at consumer's request.
80.28.180 - Rules and regulations.
80.28.185 - Water companies or wastewater companies within counties—Commission may regulate.
80.28.190 - Gas companies—Certificate—Violations—Commission powers—Penalty—Fees.
80.28.200 - Gas companies—Refunds of charges.
80.28.220 - Gas companies—Right of eminent domain—Purposes.
80.28.230 - Gas companies—Use for purpose acquired exclusive—Disposition of property.
80.28.250 - Water companies—Fire hydrants.
80.28.260 - Adoption of policies to provide financial incentives for energy efficiency programs.
80.28.270 - Water or wastewater companies—Extension, installation, or connection charges.
80.28.280 - Compressed natural gas—Motor vehicle refueling stations—Public interest.
80.28.290 - Compressed natural gas—Refueling stations—Identify barriers.
80.28.303 - Conservation service tariff—Contents of filing—Rate base—Duties of commission.
80.28.309 - Costs as bondable conservation investment.
80.28.320 - Regulation of battery charging facilities.
80.28.350 - Petition to place a wastewater company in receivership—Power of eminent domain.
80.28.370 - Community solar companies—Definitions.
80.28.375 - Community solar companies—Requirements to engage in business—Registration.
80.28.380 - Gas companies—Conservation targets.
80.28.385 - Renewable natural gas program.
80.28.390 - Tariff—Voluntary renewable natural gas service.
80.28.395 - Natural gas—Cost of greenhouse gas emissions—Calculation.
80.28.400 - Commission—Monitoring greenhouse gas emissions—Report.
80.28.405 - Clean energy action plan—Greenhouse gas emissions—Calculation of cost.
80.28.410 - Clean energy action plan—Account for and defer costs.
80.28.425 - Multiyear rate plan.
80.28.435 - Replacement of natural gas with hydrogen—Notice to commission—Tariff approval.
80.28.900 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.