WSR 19-14-050

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Filed June 27, 2019, 2:28 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Implementation of Washington's 2019 clean electricity legislation (Clean Energy Transformation Act, chapter 288, Laws of 2019), including possible amendments to chapter 194-37 WAC concerning the Energy Independence Act.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Section 10, chapter 288, Laws of 2019; RCW 19.285.080.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Clean Energy Transformation Act includes several provisions that require adoption of rules. The legislation also contains provisions that stakeholders may identify as benefiting from clarification or interpretation. The legislation also directs commerce to consider possible rule changes to streamline the requirements of the Energy Independence Act and the 2019 law.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The utilities and transportation commission (UTC) regulates implementation of the Clean Energy Transformation Act and the Energy Independence Act with respect to investor-owned utilities. Commerce will conduct regular status checks with the UTC and where possible will coordinate the timing and subject matter of rule-making notices, workshops, and hearings.

Process for Developing New Rule: Standard rule-making process.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Glenn Blackmon, P.O. Box 42525, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-339-5619, email ceta@commerce.wa.gov, web site commerce.wa.gov/ceta.

Additional comments: Commerce maintains an email distribution list for communication with stakeholders. Interested parties may add their names to the distribution list by visiting the web page listed above.

June 27, 2019

Leslie Wolf

Rules Coordinator