Dear friends and neighbors,

I have heard from many of you with thoughts, questions, and concerns about the rates we pay for electricity and utilities through Puget Sound Energy, and the possibility of future rate increases.

Privately owned utilities in Washington state, like PSE, cannot raise rates freely the way your internet provider can. Instead, PSE must receive approval from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) before adjusting rates. Before that happens, we all get the opportunity to provide public comments to the UTC on these proposed rate increases.

The UTC’s responsibility is to make sure that rate increases provide benefits to us, the ratepayers, and are used to support responsible investments that improve service and reliability.

I sat down with the UTC to share the concerns and frustrations I have heard from you about current and proposed rates and to learn a little bit more about what that process looks like.

The UTC considers five main issues when reviewing a rate change case:

  • The company’s cost of providing service based on 12 months of financial records;
  • The company’s investment in equipment to provide service;
  • The appropriate profit level the company should be allowed for its investments and to attract capital;
  • The appropriate amount each customer class (residential, commercial, or industrial) should pay; and
  • The company’s overall rate design.

So why is PSE asking to raise their rates? The main factor has to do with costs around moving to cleaner energy options. A big part of this involves our long-standing goal of retiring coal power, our dirtiest source of electricity, but now that energy needs to be replaced with cleaner, greener options. PSE does not get access to cheap federal hydropower like the public utility districts do, so now they must make large investments to catch up and bring more clean, renewable energy into their power grid.

I am told that PSE is hoping to invest about $3.2 billion in its electricity and gas systems. 70% of that money will go towards electricity system investments, including 11 new renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, and battery facilities. Those investments mean cleaner electricity, more reliability, and lower costs in the long run.

I think we all share the goal of moving to a cleaner energy system that’s better for our environment and less reliant on fossil fuels, with more reliability to keep the power on during winter storms or high demand during a heat wave. I also recognize the impact these rate increases have on the household budget. We have taken legislative action to help families afford their utility bills – this year, we passed HB 1903 which will establish a statewide program to provide ongoing energy bill assistance to low-income households. The program will work in partnership with gas and electric utilities to ensure assistance is reflected directly on customers’ monthly bills. But I also recognize that will not help everyone.

The UTC is currently accepting public comment on PSE’s rate case – that means you have an opportunity to weigh in and have your voice heard. Instructions how to file a public comment are on the UTC website at https://www.utc.wa.gov/consumers/submit-comment.

I appreciate you reaching out and sharing the impact of these rate changes!

Ribbon cutting for affordable housing

Like many legislators, I spend time at my “normal” job when we are outside of the legislative session, but I am always glad to be able to participate in events and tours in the community. This week, I spoke at a ribbon cutting for an affordable housing development opening 162 new homes right here in Olympia.

Sen. Bateman at apartment ribbon cutting

The affordable housing crisis is happening right here in Thurston County, just as it is all around the state. More than half of the residents of Olympia are rent-burdened. These are our neighbors, our coworkers, the people we see every day who are one bad month away from a real crisis. The only way we solve this is with more housing – a million new homes in the next 20 years.

This project is exactly what we’re trying to replicate at scale across Washington. A project that’s done — completed, financed, and ready to house families today. That’s what progress looks like.

When $2.65 million in local investment, including the state Housing Finance Commission, unlocks 162 units of affordable housing, that’s proof that smart public-private partnership works and can stretch our dollars further. We need more of that — not less.

I’ve spent my career working on housing — on the city council, in the House, and now in the Senate — because I believe where you live shapes everything else about your life. Today, 162 more families in our community will have a place that’s stable, affordable, and theirs. That’s worth celebrating. And it’s worth fighting to do again.

Thank you for reading as always! You can always reach me at Jessica.Bateman@leg.wa.gov with your thoughts and feedback. Let me know what the issues on the top of your mind are, or what bills or policies you have questions about. Looking forward to staying in touch!

In service,

– Jess