SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB
1241
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Energy, Telecommunications & Utilities, March 16, 1995
Title: An act relating to waivers of electric and gas utility connection charges.
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).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Energy, Telecommunications & Utilities: 3/16/95 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS
& UTILITIES
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Sutherland, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; Finkbeiner, Hochstatter and Owen.
Staff: Phil Moeller (786-7445)
Background: Some charitable organizations make housing available for purchase, interest free, by 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 of Bill: 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.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: None.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: No one.