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SUBSTITUTE
HOUSE BILL 1241
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Passed
Legislature - 1995 Regular Session
State of Washington 54th
Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/09/95.
Providing waivers of
electric and gas utility connection charges.
AN ACT
Relating to waivers of electric and gas utility connection charges; amending
RCW 35.41.080 and 54.24.080; and adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. A new
section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
A city
or town, including a code city, that owns or operates an electric or gas
utility may waive connection charges for properties purchased by low-income
persons from organizations exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the
federal internal revenue code as amended prior to the effective date of this
act. Waivers of connection charges for the same class of electric or gas
utility service must be uniformly applied to all qualified property. Nothing
in this section authorizes the impairment of a contract.
Sec.
2. RCW
35.41.080 and 1971 ex.s. c 223 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The legislative body of any city or town may provide by ordinance for revenues
by fixing rates and charges for the furnishing of service, use, or benefits to
those to whom service, use, or benefits from such facility or utility is
available, which rates and charges shall be uniform for the same class of
service. ((And,)) The legislative body may waive connection charges
for properties purchased by low-income persons from organizations exempt from
tax under section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code as amended
prior to the effective date of this act. Waivers of connection charges for the
same class of electric or gas utility service must be uniformly applied to all
qualified property. Nothing in this subsection (1) authorizes the impairment of
a contract.
(2)
If revenue bonds or warrants are issued against the revenues ((thereof))
collected under subsection (1) of this section, the legislative body of
the city or town shall fix charges at rates which will be sufficient, together
with any other moneys lawfully pledged therefor, to provide for the payment of
bonds and warrants, principal and interest, sinking fund requirements and
expenses incidental to the issuance of such revenue bonds or warrants; in
fixing such charges the legislative body of the city or town may establish
rates sufficient to pay, in addition, the costs of operating and maintaining
such facility or utility.
Sec.
3. RCW
54.24.080 and 1991 c 347 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The commission of each district which shall have revenue obligations
outstanding shall have the power and shall be required to establish, maintain,
and collect rates or charges for electric energy and water and other services,
facilities, and commodities sold, furnished, or supplied by the district ((which)).
The rates and charges shall be fair and, except as authorized by RCW
74.38.070 and by subsections (2) and (3) of this section, nondiscriminatory,
and shall be adequate to provide revenues sufficient for the payment of
the principal of and interest on such revenue obligations for which the payment
has not otherwise been provided and all payments which the district is
obligated to set aside in any special fund or funds created for such purpose,
and for the proper operation and maintenance of the public utility and all
necessary repairs, replacements, and renewals thereof.
(2) The
commission of a district may waive connection charges for properties purchased
by low-income persons from organizations exempt from tax under section
501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code as amended prior to the
effective date of this act. Waivers of connection charges for the same class
of electric or gas utility service must be uniformly applied to all qualified
property. Nothing in this subsection (2) authorizes the impairment of a
contract.
(3)
In establishing rates or charges for water service, commissioners may in their
discretion consider the achievement of water conservation goals and the
discouragement of wasteful water use practices.
