FINAL BILL REPORT

EHB 1606

C 122 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Allowing tariffs for irrigation pumping installations to reduce energy usage.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Clements, Crouse, B. Chandler, G. Chandler, Schoesler and Lisk.

House Committee on Technology, Telecommunications & Energy

Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Water

Background:

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has authority to approve or set rates for retail electricity service provided by investor-owned utilities.  Rates must be fair, just, reasonable, and sufficient to return reasonable compensation to the utility for the service provided.

Rates charged by publicly owned utilities are generally set by the utility=s board, or by another governing body such as a commission or council.  Elected officials in most cases are ultimately accountable for rates that are set. 

Low water conditions and a tight energy supply have prompted some private investor-owned utilities to submit proposals to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to compensate agricultural irrigators for reducing their electrical consumption and disconnecting irrigation pumps for this agricultural growing season.  The utilities will pay irrigators a specified amount per kilowatt hour for electricity not used during the 2001 growing season.

Summary:

A public or private utility may offer an irrigation pumping service program to buy back electricity from customers to reduce electricity usage during the irrigation season.

This provision applies to investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, public utility districts, electric cooperatives and mutuals, and irrigation districts.

Votes on Final Passage:

House980

Senate470

Effective:  April 27, 2001