H-1835

AN ACT Relating to energy efficiency; adding new sections to chapter 70.164 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 80.28 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the public interest is served by and the health and welfare of low-income persons benefited by a substantial increase in the pace of weatherizing low-income homes. The pace can be increased by requiring energy suppliers to have low-income weatherization programs and by improving financial incentives for regulated utilities toward this end.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 70.164 RCW to read as follows:

Regulated electrical companies and gas companies, cities and towns distributing electricity or natural gas, public utility districts distributing electricity, irrigation districts distributing electricity, electric cooperatives, oil heat dealers, and propane dealers shall individually or jointly by December 31, 1991, submit a plan to the department to complete weatherization of one-half of the homes of their low-income customers by the year 2001.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 70.164 RCW to read as follows:

(1) By December 31, 1992, and every year thereafter until December 31, 2001, regulated electrical and gas companies shall present updated low-income home weatherization plans and submit progress reports to the utilities and transportation commission.

(2) By December 31, 1992, and every year thereafter until December 31, 2001, cities and towns distributing electricity or natural gas, public utility districts distributing electricity, irrigation districts distributing electricity, electric cooperatives, oil heat dealers, and propane dealers shall present updated low-income home weatherization plans and submit progress reports to the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 70.164 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall develop and implement by December 31, 1991, an education program for low-income persons covering efficient energy use and wise financial management.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 RCW to read as follows:

The commission shall require that electrical and gas company low-income home weatherization programs include all energy efficiency measures that are in the public interest, taking into account both the measures that are cost-effective in reference to the company's avoided cost for additional energy supplies and the savings for all ratepayers that can be realized by better enabling low-income persons to pay their heating bills.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 RCW to read as follows:

Electrical and gas companies shall file energy conservation tariffs with the commission by October 31, 1991, and at least every five years thereafter until the year 2011. The filing shall include all extant energy conservation tariffs and any proposed new ones. Wherein on the effective date of this act a company does not have an energy conservation tariff in effect with the commission, the company shall, as a minimum, file one applicable to low-income residential customers and another applicable to other residential customers. The company may file a single tariff rather than the two if the company believes and can demonstrate to the commission that the single filing is more in the public interest. The provisions of RCW 80.04.130 apply to the filings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 RCW to read as follows:

By October 31, 1992, the commission shall adopt regulatory procedures that enable an electrical or gas company's least-cost plan for consumers to be the company's most profitable course of conduct. The commission shall make an interim report to the senate and house of representatives committees on energy and utilities by October 31, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The sum of one million six hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the department of community development for the purpose of implementing section 4 of this act.