H-3187.1
HOUSE BILL 2690
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Abbarno, Stuebe, Barnard, Dye, Walsh, and Ley
Read first time 01/28/26. Referred to Committee on Environment & Energy.
AN ACT Relating to clarifying existing requirements for electric utilities to provide low-income energy assistance without expanding those requirements; amending RCW 19.405.020 and 19.405.120 ; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that electric utilities play an important role in helping reduce the household energy burden of low-income customers associated with electric service, and that effective energy assistance is best delivered through coordination among utilities, public agencies, nonprofit service providers, and private and charitable funding sources.
The legislature further finds that duplicative administrative requirements and unclear funding boundaries can increase costs to utilities and ratepayers without improving the delivery of assistance to households most in need. It is therefore the intent of the legislature to simplify and clarify the administration of energy assistance programs, reduce unnecessary compliance and reporting costs, and allow electric utilities to demonstrate progress toward meeting energy assistance needs by leveraging multiple public and private funding sources.