H-1500.1          _______________________________________________

 

                            SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1241

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1995 Regular Session

 

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

 

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.

 


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