Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Environment & Energy Committee |
HB 1405
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning reimbursement for the use of an emergency generator during a planned interruption of retail electricity service.
Sponsors: Representative Schmick.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/20/20
Staff: Nikkole Hughes (786-7156).
Background:
Electric Utilities.
There are two general categories of electric utility in Washington: investor-owned utilities and consumer-owned utilities.
The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) regulates the rates, services, and practices of investor-owned utilities. The UTC is required to ensure that rates charged by these companies are fair, just, reasonable. and sufficient.
"Consumer-owned utility" means a municipal electric utility, public utility district, irrigation district, cooperative, mutual corporation or association, port district, or water-sewer district that distributes electricity to one or more retail electric customers in the state. A consumer-owned utility is regulated by its own governing body.
Summary of Bill:
Each electric utility must provide for the reimbursement of costs incurred by a retail electric customer who uses an emergency generator to provide electricity to the customer's home or business during an interruption of service, scheduled by the electric utility, for the primary purpose of connecting neighboring retail electric customers.
A retail electric customer seeking reimbursement must provide original receipts, invoices, or other documentation of the costs incurred in order to receive reimbursement from the electric utility.
"Emergency generator" means a stationary combustion device, such as a reciprocating internal combustion engine or turbine, that serves solely as a secondary source of mechanical or electrical power whenever the primary energy supply is disrupted or discontinued due to factors that are beyond the control of the retail electric customer.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 14, 2020.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.