UTC Clean Energy Bulletin- June 2

Source: Washington Department of Commerce, June 2, 2020

New workshops, rulemakings, and upcoming dates

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission invites the public to participate in its work to implement Washington’s 2019 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.

Over the next two years, the commission will conduct numerous rulemakings, workgroups, and other proceedings to implement these changes along with other energy legislation enacted during the 2019 session.

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. 
  • Comments addressing the commission’s first discussion draft rules in its Clean Energy Implementation Plan rulemaking (docket UE-191023) are due today by 5 p.m. Please see the event table below for more details. 
  • Today’s adoption hearing on proposed rules in the commission’s Energy Independence Act rulemaking (docket UE-190652) has been canceled. The commission intends to re-issue the proposed rules for another round of comments. For more information, see the cancellation notice here
  • On Monday the commission issued the first draft rules in its Purchases of Electricity rulemaking (docket UE-190837), which discusses revisions to rules guiding how utilities conduct requests for proposals. The commission invites the public to comment on these rules as well as discuss questions posted in the notice of draft rules, which can be found here. Comments are due June 29.  
  • On Monday, June 8, the commission will host a virtual workshop on how to incorporate demand response programs and targets in utility integrated resource plans and clean energy implementation plans. Demand response programs can give customers opportunities to reduce or shift their electricity usage by using time-based rates or other financial incentives. The information discussed in this workshop will inform the commission’s Integrated Resource Plan rulemaking (docket UE-190698) and its Clean Energy Implementation Plan rulemaking (docket UE-191023). 
  • The Markets Stakeholder Workgroup will hold its second educational workshop on June 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The workshop will include an overview of policies and regulations affecting energy markets in the region. The public is invited to participate in the workshop. 

Upcoming events and deadlines

DateItemDescription
June 2, 2020Comments dueClean Energy Implementation Plan rulemaking (docket UE-191023). The commission requests public input on its first discussion draft rules in its Clean Energy Implementation Plan rulemaking, which was published along with questions for discussion. The notice and draft rules can be found here. Comments are due by 5 p.m. June 2.Please note: An incorrect version of the discussion draft rules was initially posted. The corrected version was posted May 6. Please find the correct draft rules in the errata order posted to this docket on May 6.
   
June 8, 2020WorkshopThe commission will host a virtual workshop on considering demand response in integrated resource plans (docket UE-190698) and setting demand response targets in clean energy implementation plans (docket UE-191023). The workshop will take place June 8 from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.To participate by phone, call (360) 407-3810 and enter conference ID 648699. To participate via Skype, please use the following link: https://lync.wa.gov/utc.wa.gov/meet/omeeting/4YJ5Z17S?sl=1
   
June 10, 2020WorkshopThe Markets Stakeholder Workgroup will hold its second educational workshop on June 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The workshop will include an overview of policies and regulations affecting energy markets in the region. The public is invited to participate in the workshop. Participation information: If possible, please join by computer with the following link: https://bpa.webex.com/bpa/j.php?MTID=m98a88a3b0489cdd3471c31c91e236cd7 Meeting password: 9xJtksED4e8 You may also join by phone at (415) 527-5035, access code 902 669 607
   
June 16, 2020WorkshopThe Department of Commerce and the commission will host a joint, virtual workshop to discuss incremental cost of compliance with the Clean Energy Transformation Act (docket UE-191023). The workshop will take place June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. This is the second workshop on this topic. The workshop will discuss the agencies’ draft rules pertinent to the topic. Updated participation information:  If possible, please join by computer with the following link: https://watech.webex.com/watech/j.php?MTID=m43ef49892f45f94db75e001b13c435f7. Password: CETA135!  You may also join by phone at (415) 655-0001, access code 282 821 763.
   
June 29, 2020Comments duePurchases of Electricity rulemaking (docket UE-190837). The commission requests public input on its first discussion draft rules in its Purchases of Electricity rulemaking. The draft rules were published along with questions for discussion on June 1. The notice can be found here. Comments are due by 5 p.m. June 29.