Weekly UTC Clean Energy Bulletin

Source: Utilities and Transportation Commission, July 27, 2021

New workshops, rulemakings, and upcoming dates

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC or commission) invites the public to participate in its work to implement Washington’s clean energy legislation.

The 2019 Clean Energy Transformation Act requires electric utilities to transition to a carbon-neutral supply of electricity by 2030 and source 100% of their electricity from renewable or non-carbon-emitting sources by 2045.

In the 2021-23 Omnibus Operating Appropriations Act, the commission received funding to “examine feasible and practical pathways for investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities to contribute their share to greenhouse gas emissions reductions as described in RCW 70A.45.020 [state law].”

The commission is conducting numerous rulemakings, workgroups, and other proceedings to implement in support of these bills and other recently enacted energy legislation.

New announcements

  • Commission headquarters remain closed to the public. Our staff are following Gov. Inslee’s phased reopening plan by teleworking. Open meetings and other official business will continue remotely during this closure. Please see the commission’s COVID-19 response page for more information on impacts to our operations and regulated industries. 
  • The commission will not issue draft rules for the Markets and CETA Compliance Rulemaking (docket UE-210183) on July 30 and is cancelling the related Aug. 27 due date for stakeholder comments on the draft rules. See the revised proposed schedule for more information.
  • On July 26, the commission issued a notice of stakeholder workshop and opportunity to comment related to the commission’s investigation of the energy decarbonization impacts and pathways for electric and gas utilities to meet state emissions targets (docket U-210553). The workshop will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Aug. 9. Comments are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 13.
Date               ItemDescription
Monday, Aug. 9
9 a.m. to noon
Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions Workshop
(docket U-210553)
The UTC invites stakeholders to provide initial input to inform the commission’s examination of feasible and practical pathways for investor-owned electric and natural gas utility GHG emission reductions.The meeting will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams.Join by phone: 253-372-2181 Conference ID: 584 034 920# 
Thursday, Aug. 12
1 to 4 p.m.
Markets and CETA Compliance Rulemaking Joint Workshop with Department of Commerce (docket UE-210183)Commerce and the UTC invite stakeholders to provide updates and presentations on their evolving discussions on the interpretation of RCW 19.405.040(1)(a).The meeting will be held virtually on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 837 6961 9560 Passcode: Energy

Join by phone: 253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 873 1856 3056 Passcode: 218953 
Friday, Aug. 13
Due by 5 p.m.
Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions (docket U-210553)The UTC invites stakeholders to provide written comments, including relevant references, to inform the commission’s examination of feasible and practical pathways for investor-owned electric and natural gas utility GHG emission reductions. 
Monday, Sept. 27
1 to 4 p.m.
Markets and CETA Compliance Rulemaking Joint Workshop with Department of Commerce (docket UE-210183)Commerce and the UTC will host a workshop on an issue to be determined in the future.The meeting will be held virtually on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 873 1856 3056 Passcode: Energy  

Join by phone: 253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 873 1856 3056 Passcode: 814514 
Monday, Oct. 4
1 to 5 p.m.
Markets and CETA Compliance Rulemaking Joint Workshop with Department of Commerce (docket UE-210183)Commerce and the UTC will host a workshop on an issue to be determined in the future.The meeting will be held virtually on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 842 3247 0691 Passcode: Energy

Join by phone: 253-215-8782. Meeting ID: 873 1856 3056 Passcode: 073127