2594 AMH BOEH H5007.1
HB 2594 - H AMD 1612
By Representative Boehnke
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the enactment of the Washington clean energy transformation act, chapter 288, Laws of 2019, mandates remarkable changes in fuel sources for the state's electric grid and energy supply, which will require investments in new energy plants and transmission and distribution infrastructure. In the Washington clean energy transformation act, the legislature declared a finding that the transition to one hundred percent clean energy can occur while maintaining safe and reliable electricity service to all retail electric customers at stable and affordable rates. The legislature therefore intends to provide transparency and accountability to the public about the impact of the Washington clean energy transformation act on residential electricity rates.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 19.29A RCW to read as follows:
(1) At the time of an electric utility's initial filing of a proposed general rate case or rate increase with the commission, in the case of an investor-owned utility, or the governing body, in the case of a consumer-owned utility, the utility must notify its retail electric customers of the proposed rate increase using means prescribed by the applicable administrative rule, ordinance, or other policy.
(2) The notice must include a brief, plain language statement of an estimate of increased rates attributable to chapter 19.405 RCW, the Washington clean energy transformation act, to the extent that such information can be reasonably determined and can be compiled within the utility's existing resources.
(3) Each electric utility must maintain on its public internet web site the rate change notices required under this section for the most recent five years, as applicable.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 RCW to read as follows:
(1) At the time of a gas company's initial filing of a proposed general rate case or rate increase with the commission, in the case of an investor-owned utility, or the governing body, in the case of a consumer-owned utility, the gas company must notify its retail gas customers of the proposed rate increase using means prescribed by the applicable administrative rule, ordinance, or other policy.
(2) The notice must include a brief, plain language statement of an estimate of increased rates attributable to RCW 80.28.395, or to rules adopted by state agencies to implement RCW 80.28.395, and chapter . . . (Substitute House Bill No. 2892), Laws of 2020, or chapter . . . (Substitute Senate Bill No. 6628), Laws of 2020, should either be enacted by June 30, 2020, to the extent that such information can be reasonably determined and can be compiled within the gas company's existing resources.
(3) Each gas company must maintain on its public internet web site the rate change notices required under this section for the most recent five years, as applicable."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Strikes the underlying bill. Removes the specific rate change disclosure requirements for electric utilities and gas companies. Requires an electric utility or gas company to generally notify retail customers of the proposed rate increase. Requires the notice provided to retail electric customers to include a brief, plain language statement of an estimate of increased charges attributable to chapter 19.405 RCW, the Washington clean energy transformation act. Requires the notice provided to retail gas customers to include a brief, plain language statement of an estimate of increased charges reasonably attributable to RCW 80.28.395 and Substitute House Bill No. 2892 (2020) or Substitute Senate Bill No. 6628 (2020). Requires each electric utility or gas company to maintain on its public internet web site the rate change notices for the most recent five years, as applicable.
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