Weekly UTC Clean Energy Bulletin- September 14

Source: Utilities and Transportation Commission, September 14, 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 issued a notice for comments on the draft request for proposals for consulting services on Monday, Sept. 13 in docket U-210553. The consultant will assist the commission with examining energy decarbonization impacts and pathways. Comments are due by 5 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
  • CANCELLATION: The Markets and CETA Compliance Rulemaking Joint Workshop with Department of Commerce (docket UE-210183) previously scheduled for Oct. 4 has been cancelled.
Date               ItemDescription
Tuesday, Sept. 21
5 p.m.
Examination of energy decarbonization impacts and pathways draft request for proposal (RFP) (docket U-210553)Comments due UTC will accept comments on draft RFP for consulting services.
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
Tuesday, Sept. 28
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Intervenor Funding Policy Statement (docket U-210595)WorkshopThe UTC will host a workshop to discuss implementation of legislation that grants statutory authority for energy utilities to provide financial assistance to certain organizations participating in commission-regulated regulatory processes.An agenda and meeting information will be provided in mid-September.
Early OctoberMarkets and CETA Compliance Rulemaking Joint Workshop with Department of Commerce (docket UE-210183)On Aug. 20, the commission sent a notice adjusting the target date for the issuance of draft rules addressing the “use of electricity” requirement in RCW 19.405.040(1)(a). This milestone has been moved to early October. More information is available in the notice.