Weekly Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) Bulletin- August 10

Source: Washington State Department of Commerce, August 10, 2022

Submit utility data review by Aug. 12 deadline

Commerce is completing its initial aggregation of utility energy assistance reports which asks utilities to review the aggregation file to ensure it accurately:

  • Reflects the utility data submissions; and
  • Verifies the reported low-income programs meet the definition of low-income established in WAC 194-40-030.

The recording of the Utility Data Review webinar has been posted on the Energy Assistance webpage.

Questions? Please email Austin Scharff.

Energy assistance report workshops scheduled

Commerce has scheduled three public workshops to inform the development of its first biennial report on energy assistance under RCW 19.405.120(6)The first workshop is scheduled on Tuesday, Aug. 16.

Environmental justice organizations, utilities, low-income advocates, climate advocates, and members of the public are encouraged to attend these upcoming workshops and participate in the development of the report.

The statute instructs Commerce to submit a report to the Legislature that includes:

  • A statewide summary of energy assistance programs, energy burden, and energy assistance needs;
  • An identification and quantification of current expenditures on low-income energy assistance;
  • An evaluation of the effectiveness of additional optimal mechanisms for energy assistance, including but not limited to customer rates, a low-income specific discount, system benefits charges, and public and private funds; and
  • An assessment of mechanisms to prioritize energy assistance towards low-income households with a higher energy burden.

Input from public workshops will be supported by the work of the Energy Assistance Technical Advisory Team, which consists of technical experts who volunteered to advise Commerce on the implementation of RCW 19.405.120.

Commerce has held one public workshop on additional mechanisms to improve energy assistance and prioritize assistance towards low-income households with higher energy burden. The recording of the meeting and the complete meeting schedule can be found on the CETA Energy Assistance webpage.

Upcoming workshops

  • 2023 Biennial Energy Assistance Report Outline
    1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16
    Join on Zoom
    Meeting ID: 827 0589 7806
    Passcode: Assistance
    Call-in: +1 253 215 8782
    Phone passcode: 8704958218
  • 2023 Energy Assistance Biennial Report Draft
    1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30
    Join on Zoom
    Meeting ID: 893 0791 6424
    Passcode: Assistance
    Call-in: +1 253 215 8782
    Phone passcode: 0619697374
  • 2023 Biennial Energy Assistance Second Draft Report
    1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27
    Join on Zoom 
    Meeting ID: 853 6905 5765
    Passcode: Assistance
    Phone-in: +1 253 215 8782 
    Call-in passcode: 6965110255