Net Metering

In 2019, the Washington State Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5223, which requires electric utilities in the state to provide information to the WSU Energy Program concerning their progress on reaching the cumulative generating capacity available to net metering systems in their service territories as specified in the bill. That capacity is defined as achieved when the cumulative generating capacity of net metering systems reaches four percent of the utility’s peak demand in 1996. This information is to be provided semiannually by each utility and is to be posted on the WSU Energy Program website.

Utilities that reach the available generating capacity prior to June 30, 2029 have the option of developing a standard rate or tariff schedule that deviates from the net metering requirements of RCW 80.60.030. Investor-owned utilities’ proposals are to be reviewed by the Utilities and Transportation Commission. Consumer-owned utilities’ proposals are to be reviewed by their governing body, however they must notify the WSU Energy Program sixty days in advance of when a standard rate for an eligible customer-generator is first placed on the agenda of the utility’s governing body. The WSU Energy Program is required to list utilities that have provided notice of a rate or tariff schedule under this subsection; as well as those that have adopted a standard rate or tariff schedule under this law.

The table below provides a summary by utility of each utility’s progress toward that cumulative generating capacity, and if they have achieved it, whether they have implemented a policy that deviates from net metering as set forth in RCW 80.60.030. For more detail on each utility’s status, follow this link.

Utility  Progress RCW 80.60.030 Deviation
Avista  47% No
Benton County PUD 60% No
Benton Rural Electric Assn 116% No
Big Bend Electric Coop Inc 16% No
Chelan County PUD 3% No
*City of Blaine 15% No
City of Centralia  36% No
City of Cheney  27% No
**City of Chewelah  0% No
City of Ellensburg  130% No
City of McCleary  23% No
City of Port Angeles  17% No
City of Richland  70% No
City of Sumas  1% No
Clallam County PUD 59% No
Clark County PUD 49% No
Clearwater Power Co. 43% No
Columbia Rural Electric Association 52% No
Cowlitz County PUD 16% No
Douglas County PUD 2% No
Elmhurst Mutual Power&Light Co 23% No
Ferry County PUD 33% No
Franklin County PUD 90% No
Grant County PUD 7% No
Grays Harbor County PUD 18% No
Inland Power & Light Co 48% No
Jefferson County PUD 131% No
Kittitas County PUD 348% Yes
Klickitat County PUD 97% No
Lakeview Light & Power Co 6% No
Lewis County PUD 32% No
Mason County PUD 1 48% No
Mason County PUD 3 29% No
Modern Electric Water Co 12% No
Nespelem Valley Elec Coop Inc 5% No
Ohop Mutual Light Co 41% No
**Okanogan County Elec Coop Inc 87% No
Okanogan County PUD 13% No
Orcas Power & Light Co 267% No
Pacific County PUD 25% No
PacifiCorp 78% No
Parkland Light & Water Co 14% No
Pend Oreille County PUD 2% No
Peninsula Light Co 45% No
Puget Sound Energy 87% No
Seattle City Light 62% No
Skamania County PUD 34% No
Snohomish County PUD 56% No
Tacoma Power 37% No
Tanner Electric Coop 83% No
Town of Steilacoom  72% No
Vera Irrigation District #15 23% No
Wahkiakum County PUD 41% No
*June 2022 Data
**December 2022 Data

Data current up to June 30, 2023