Weekly Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) Bulletin

Source: Washington Department of Commerce, May 3, 2021

Announcements

CETA rulemaking resumes with questions about storage accounting

Commerce and the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) are resuming their work to adopt rules implementing CETA. The agencies are inviting stakeholder comments on possible rules concerning the tracking and accounting of electricity used and provided in energy storage resources, such as batteries and pumped storage hydro. Specific questions and comment procedures are posted on the CETA webpage.

Energy Assistance under CETA webpage address changed

The Energy Assistance under CETA webpage can now be found at this address.  

Energy burden and energy assistance data revised and available

CETA requires Commerce and the state’s utilities to assess energy assistance available to low-income households across the state. Under RCW 19.405.120, Commerce must publish data on a biennial basis that aggregates and estimates energy burden and energy assistance need. Utilities may use this data to develop specific estimates for their customers. The latest utility energy assistance data is posted on the Energy Assistance under CETA webpage.

Joint Commerce/UTC resource adequacy meeting scheduled

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST, Tuesday, May 11

Click here to register online

Click here for more information

Commerce is partnering with the UTC to hold an annual meeting to discuss issues related to resource adequacy for utilities in Washington state.

Meeting details and materials will be posted on the Commerce Resource Adequacy webpage prior to the meeting.

RCW 19.280.065 requires Commerce and the UTC to hold annual meetings and provide a summary to the governor and legislature. The meeting will be of interest to representatives of investor- and consumer-owned utilities, regional planning organizations, transmission operators, and other stakeholders. The meeting will be to discuss the current, short-term, and long-term adequacy of energy resources to serve the state’s electric needs. Topics covered will include identifying specific steps utilities can take to coordinate planning in light of significant changes to the Northwest’s power system. Those changes include, but are not limited to, technological developments, retirements of legacy baseload power generation resources, and changes in laws and regulations affecting power supply options.

A summary of the Resource Adequacy meetings, including any specific action items suggested by participants, will be submitted to the governor and legislature within 60 days of each meeting and will be posted on the Resource Adequacy webpage. The meetings will take place through 2024.

Questions can be directed to Commerce Senior Energy Policy Specialist Kate Kelly at kate.kelly@commerce.wa.gov or (360) 628-6846