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
Column1 Column2 Column3
Avista  39% No
Benton County PUD 55% No
Benton Rural Electric Assn 102% No
Big Bend Electric Coop Inc 15% No
Chelan County PUD 2% No
*City of Blaine 15% No
City of Centralia  30% No
City of Cheney  12% No
City of Chewelah  0% No
City of Ellensburg  140% No
City of McCleary  16% No
City of Port Angeles  15% No
City of Richland  69% No
City of Sumas  1% No
Clallam County PUD 55% No
Clark County PUD 42% No
Clearwater Power Co. 40% No
Columbia Rural Electric Association 41% No
Cowlitz County PUD 14% No
Douglas County PUD 1% No
Elmhurst Mutual Power&Light Co 19% No
Ferry County PUD 31% No
Franklin County PUD 81% No
Grant County PUD 7% No
Grays Harbor County PUD 15% No
Inland Power & Light Co 43% No
Jefferson County PUD 119% No
Kittitas County PUD 282% Yes
Klickitat County PUD 84% No
Lakeview Light & Power Co 5% No
Lewis County PUD 29% No
Mason County PUD 1 50% No
Mason County PUD 3 29% No
Modern Electric Water Co 11% No
Nespelem Valley Elec Coop Inc 2% No
Ohop Mutual Light Co 29% No
Okanogan County Elec Coop Inc 87% No
Okanogan County PUD 12% No
Orcas Power & Light Co 247% No
Pacific County PUD 23% No
PacifiCorp 71% No
Parkland Light & Water Co 12% No
Pend Oreille County PUD 2% No
Peninsula Light Co 41% No
Puget Sound Energy 77% No
Seattle City Light 58% No
Skamania County PUD 35% No
Snohomish County PUD 51% No
Tacoma Power 32% No
Tanner Electric Coop 69% No
Town of Steilacoom  65% No
Vera Irrigation District #15 17% No
Wahkiakum County PUD 32% No
*July 2022 Data

Data current up to December 31, 2022