WASHINGTON RATEPAYER FUNDED PROGRAMS

CURRENT PROGRAMS
Rate Assistance

Investor-Owned Utilities

  • Gas Residential Energy Assistance Tariff (GREAT)
    • Northwest Natural Gas customers with incomes at or below 150% FPG can receive up to $1,000 annually in assistance.
  • Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP)
    • Puget Sound Energy customers with incomes up to 150% of FPG can receive a benefit of up to $1,000 annually based on a calculation related to energy use.
  • Low-Income Bill Assistance (LIBA)
    • PacifiCorp customers with household incomes at or below 150% FPG can receive discounts applied to every kWh over 600 kWh; based on three income brackets: 0%-75% FPG, 76%-100% FPG, and 101%-150%; lowest bracket receives highest discount. Discount provided November 1 - April 30.
  • Low-Income Rate Assistance Program (LIRAP)
    • Avista customers with household incomes at or below 125% FPG; Discounts determined by local agencies as funding is given by company in grant form. Pilot provides assistance to fixed-income customers between 126 – 200 % of FPG. - Maximum grant amount is $1550
  • Washington Energy Assistance Fund (WEAF)
    • Cascade Natural Gas Corporation customers with incomes between 125%-150% FPG can receive up to $500 annual discount.

Municipals/Cooperatives

  • City of Richland
    • Low-Income Senior/Disabled Discount: Service charge waived and 15% discount on energy charge on electric bills for customers at least 62 years old or with a disability that have incomes at or below 125% FPG. Individual must be sole occupant / primary responsible for energy bill AND permanent resident
  • City of Tacoma
    • Offers discounts to seniors who are at least 62 years old; people with disabilities; and generally to low-income customers. All discounts apply to households with incomes no more than 150% FPG.
  • Peninsula Light Company
    • Low-Income Senior Discount: Must be at least 62 years old and meet income eligibility requirements. Receive 25% discount on bill.
    • Low-Income Disabled Discount: Meet requirements proving disability. Receive 25% discount on bill.
  • Seattle City Light
    • Utility Discount Program: 60% discount on electric bills for customers with incomes at or below 70% of state median income. this program now includes inclusion of subsidized housing.

Public Utility Districts (PUDs)

  • Low-Income Senior Discount: 14 PUDs offer this. Eligibility generally starts at 62 years of age with income levels for some programs starting as low at 125% FPG. Discounts range from 5% to 35% based on the PUD, including some programs that offer tiered discounts based on income level.
  • Low-Income Disabled Discount: 10 PUDs offer this. Eligibility is based on meeting each program's disability requirements and income guidelines, which start as low as 100% FPG for some PUDs. Discounts range from 5% to 35%, including some programs that offered tiered discounts based on income level.
  • General Low-Income Discount: 3 PUDs offer a general low-income discount to customers meeting the PUD's income requirements. The discounts range from 10% to 60% depending on the PUD.
Energy Efficiency
  • Low-Income Weatherization (LIWAP)
    • Eligibility: Customer of Avista, PacifiCorp, or Puget Sound Energy with household income at or below 200% FPG.
    • Services include: various insulation measures; caulking and weather stripping; installment of efficient showerheads; and various heating/cooling upgrades.
Participating Utilities
  • Rate Assistance/Discounts
    • All 5 regulated IOUs
    • 14 PUDs offer some form of low-income discount
    • Some municipals and cooperatives, including the cities of Seattle and Tacoma
  • Energy Efficiency
Annual Funding (2016)

Investor-Owned

  • GREAT: $733,060
  • HELP: $18.1 million
  • LIBA: $1.09 million
  • LIRAP: $6.7 million
  • WEAF: $1.05 million
  • LIWAP: $4.57 million

Municipals and Cooperatives

  • Seattle City Light: $9.2 million
  • Tacoma Public Utilities: $2.14 million
  • Smaller municipals and co-ops: $320,000 (estimate)

Public Utility Districts

  • Snohomish: Senior and Low-Income Discount: $6.4 million
  • Clark: $1.41
  • Six smaller PUDs: $2.8 million in discounts (estimate)
Households Served (2016)

Investor-Owned

  • GREAT: 5774 (estimate)
  • HELP: 21,325
  • LIBA:2,618
  • LIRAP: 13,000
  • WEAF:2,951
  • LIWAP
    • Avista: (currently unavailable)
    • PacifiCorp: 136
    • Puget Sound Energy: 2,148 measures installed (some homes receive multiple measures)
    • Smaller Gas Utilities: 60 (estimate)

Municipals and Cooperatives

  • Seattle City Light: 14,000
  • Tacoma: 9,973
  • Two Smaller: 1,500 (estimate)

Public Utility Districts

  • Snohomish: 18,000
  • Clark: 2,824
  • Six smaller PUDs: 13,200 (estimate)
Funding Mechanism
  • Investor-Owned: Both rate assistance and efficiency funded through customer surcharges.
  • Municipals and Cooperatives: Rate assistance built into their rate structure.
  • Public Utility Districts: Rate assistance built into their rate structure.
Administration
  • Investor-Owned: Contract with local community action agencies.
  • Municipals and Cooperatives: Some run their own programs and some partner with community action agencies.
  • Public Utility Districts: Some run their own programs and some partner with community action agencies.
LEGISLATION
Authorizing
Reports