On July 8, 2020, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (Washington Commission) rejected Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE’s) proposed rate increases for electric and natural gas customers and instead authorized much smaller increases that effectively provided a less than one percent increase. The Washington Commission’s decision reflects the Washington Commission’s efforts to protect ratepayers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Washington UTC Approves Multiparty Settlement in Avista Rate Case
On March 25, 2020, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (“UTC”) approved a multiparty settlement in Avista’s rate case. The decision will ultimately result in a rate increase, yet the Commission approved a number of refunds that will keep electric rates down this year, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PacifiCorp Stranded Cost Filing Rejected by Washington UTC
On October 12, 2017, PacifiCorp’s stranded cost tariff was rejected by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (Washington Commission). PacifiCorp proposed a tariff that would broadly charge departing customers removal costs as well as impose a significant exit fee to recover its alleged stranded costs. The Washington Commission’s order agreed in principle that customers that leave the utility’s service should pay for both removal costs necessary for their disconnection and stranded costs, but rejected PacifiCorp’s specific tariff concluding that stranded costs should be calculated on a case-by-case basis.
Washington UTC Approves PSE-Microsoft Renewable Direct Access Contract
On July 13, 2017, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (Washington Commission) approved a special contract between Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and Microsoft that was supported by a broad coalition of renewable energy advocates, independent power producers, environmentalists, ratepayer and low-income advocates, and the Commission Staff.
Puget Sound Energy PURPA Rates Modified
On February 9, 2017, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (Washington Commission) approved new avoided cost rates for Puget Sound Energy (PSE) after PSE abandoned its proposal to stop paying qualifying facilities (QFs) for capacity in certain years, and strongly encouraging PSE to enter into power purchase agreements (PPAs) with projects with delayed negotiations.
Washington Commission Rejects Avista Rate Case
On December 15, 2016, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (Washington Commission) rejected, in a 2-1 decision, Avista’s proposal to increase electric rates by 7.6 percent and natural gas rates by 2.8 percent. Rather than reduce the utility’s rate increase, the Washington Commission took the unusual action of simply rejecting in its entirety by concluding that Avista failed to carry its burden to show that its current rates are not fully sufficient to meet its needs.
Washington Court Rejects PacifiCorp Rate Case Appeal
On April 27, 2016, the Washington Court of Appeals (Court) affirmed the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission’s (Washington Commission) order in PacifiCorp’s 2013 general rate case. The Court affirmed the Washington Commission’s conclusions: 1) refusing to change the company’s cost allocation methodology; and 2) approving a hypothetical capital structure rather than the utility’s actual capital structure.
Washington Commission Rejects PacifiCorp PURPA Change
On November 12, 2015, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (the Washington Commission) issued its final order in PacifiCorp’s Washington avoided cost case. The Washington Commission rejected the company’s proposal to eliminate capacity payments. The Washington Commission concluded that some sort of capacity payment was warranted because PacifiCorp’s projected market prices did not reasonably account for the company’s full avoided costs.
WUTC Lowers PacifiCorp Rate Increase
On March 25, 2015, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (Washington Commission) denied PacifiCorp’s $27.2 million (8.5% average) rate increase, and instead authorized the utility to increase rates $9.6 million (3.0% average). In reducing PacifiCorp’s proposed rate increase, the Washington Commission rejected a number of PacifiCorp’s efforts to re-litigate issues from the utility’s last general rate case that are currently being appealed to the Washington courts, denied recovery of deferred costs, and ordered the utility to file a power cost adjustment mechanism.
WUTC Requires PSE to Credit Proceeds from Jefferson PUD Sale to Customers
On September 11, 2014, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (Washington Commission) ordered Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to credit ratepayers about $53 million. This credit was related to the proceeds of the sale of PSE’s assets to the Public Utility District No. 1 of Jefferson County (Jefferson PUD).