FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1241

                         C 140 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing waivers of electric and gas utility connection charges.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Representatives Crouse, Casada, Dellwo, Chappell, Schoesler, Honeyford, Hymes, Sherstad, Backlund, Mastin, Benton, Campbell and Kremen).

House Committee on Energy & Utilities

Senate Committee on Energy, Telecommunications & Utilities

Background:  Some charitable organizations make interest-free purchase of housing available to low-income persons who would otherwise be unable to purchase homes. 

However, persons purchasing the homes often must pay utility connection charges, because the authority of public utilities to waive such charges is unclear.

While rates and charges by a particular utility generally must be uniform for the same class of service, connection charges imposed by different utilities vary widely.  For example, one utility may charge nothing, while another utility may charge over $1,000 to connect a new house.

Summary:  Public utility districts and municipal electric and gas utilities may waive, but are not required to waive, connection charges for properties being purchased from organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Waivers of connection charges for the same class of electric or gas utility service must be uniformly applied to all qualified property.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     98 0

Senate    48 0

Effective:  July 23, 1995