HB 1903 — Establishing a statewide low-income energy assistance program.

H-1576.1H-1209.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1903 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Environment & Energy (originally sponsored by Representatives Mena, Berry, Doglio, Parshley, Simmons, Santos, Taylor, Scott, Ramel, Farivar, Hill, Pollet, and Duerr)Duerr READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/21/25.02/07/25.

Referred to Committee on Environment & Energy.

1 SHBHB 1903 experience and likelihood that an eligible household receives assistance.

(c) Low-income households may applyself-attest tothat the utility from which they receivemeet serviceincome ifqualifications; the utility has voluntarily chosen to serve as coadministrator of the program;

(d) Low-incomeThe householdsdepartment may self-attestverify that theyapplicants and participants meet the income qualifications;qualifications, and may work with utilities and community action councils to conduct this verification;

(e) TheThere departmentis mayno verifyrisk thatto applicantseligibility andbased participantson meetimmigration thestatus or income qualifications,self-attestation; and may work with utilities and community action councils to conduct this verification;

and (f) ThereThe isdepartment nomust riskexplore toauto-enrollment eligibilityof basedknown oneligible immigrationhouseholds. status or income self-attestation;

and(3) (g) The department must exploreprovide auto-enrollmentoutreach offor knownthe eligibleprogram households.by:

2 SHBHB 1903 (3)(a) TheDeveloping departmenta mustwebsite provideand outreachmaterials for the program by:that provide information in multiple languages.

(a) Developing a website and materials for the program that provide information in multiple languages.

(4)(4)(a) TheIn departmentaccordance may enter into agreements with utilitiessection to5 serveof asthis coadministratorsact, of the statewidedepartment low-incomemust energyadminister assistancethe program forby theproviding purposesfunds offor enhancingenergy customerassistance engagement,to facilitatinggas enrollmentand ofelectric eligiblecompanies, customers, and sharingto administrativeall dutiesother withelectric theutilities. department.

Serving as a coadministrator is voluntary for utilities.

(5)(a) In accordance with section 5 of this act, the department must administer the program by providing funds for energy assistance to gas and electric companies, and to all other electric utilities.

(b)(i)(b) AThe utilitydollar withamount morethat than 25,000 customers in the statedepartment must provide energyto assistancelow- toincome customershouseholds andmust thenbe seektiered reimbursementto fromprovide the departmentmost equalenergy assistance to the energyhouseholds assistancewith provided.the greatest need.

(c) The departmentdepartment's mustobligation to provide reimbursementenergy withinassistance 30is daysbased ofon receiptavailable offunding aappropriated reimbursementfor requestthis fromspecific thepurpose. utility.

(ii) A utility serving up to 25,000 customers in the state may request that the department provide funds for energy assistance in advance of the utility providing the energy assistance to customers.

p.

3 SHB 1903 The department may provide energy assistance upfront with appropriate contractual agreements.

(c) The dollar amount that the department must provide to low- income households must be tiered to provide the most energy assistance to the households with the greatest need.

(d) The department's obligation to provide energy assistance is based on available funding appropriated for this specific purpose.

(e)(5) The department must ensuresubmit thata benefitreport levelsto providedthe throughgovernor theand statewidelegislature low-incomethat energyincludes assistancea program areevaluation notof lessthe thanstatewide whatlow- aincome customerenergy enrolledassistance in their utility program receivedby fromJuly their1st utility program in theevery previouseven-numbered year.

(6) The department must submit a report to the governor and legislature that includes a program evaluation of the statewide low- income energy assistance program by July 1st in every even-numbered year.

NEWp. SECTION.

3 HB 1903 NEW SECTION.

p.(2) A gas company or electric company may opt-out of the statewide low-income energy assistance program if it has at least one low-income program that provides energy assistance to at least 50 percent of low-income households served by the utility and maintains this participation percent.

4For SHBan 1903 (2) A gas company or electric companycompany, maysuch opt-outa of the statewide low-income energy assistance program ifor theprograms utilitymust providesfollow monthly energy bill assistance to at least 50 percent of low-income households served by the utilityrequirements andoutlined maintainsin thisRCW participation19.405.120. percent.

ForThe angas electriccompany company,or suchelectric programscompany must followcertify in a report to the requirementsdepartment outlinedof commerce each year that the utility is meeting the required low-income household participation percent in RCWthe 19.405.120.program or programs.

The gas company or electric company must certify in a report to the department of commerce each year that the utility is meeting the required low- income household participation percent in the program or programs.

(2)(a)(2) An electric utility must make programs and funding available for energy assistance to low-income households by July 31, 2021.2021, p.

(b)4 ByHB July1903 1,which 2028,the anutility electricmay utilityeither mustdo either:directly and in accordance with the requirements described in this section or through the statewide low- income energy assistance program described in section 3 of this act.

(i)An Participateelectric utility's participation in the statewide low-income energy assistance program establishedsatisfies incompliance sectionwith 3 of this act;section.

or (ii) have at least one low- income program that provides monthly energy bill assistance to at least 50 percent of all low-income households, as defined in RCW 19.405.020, served by the utility, maintain this participation percent, and comply with the requirements described in this section.

(c) For an electric utility choosing to opt-out of the statewide low-income energy assistance program, the electric utility must certify in a report to the department of commerce each year that the utility is meeting the required low-income household participation percent in the program or programs as described in (b) of this subsection.

The first report to the department of commerce must be by July 1, 2026.

If an electric utility does not meet the requirements of this subsection by July 1, 2028, the electric utility must then p.

5 SHB 1903 immediately contact the department of commerce to establish participation in the statewide low-income energy assistance program.

(d) An electric utility's participation in the statewide low- income energy assistance program satisfies compliance with this section.

65 SHBHB 1903 (c) The information required by (b) of this subsection must be from the electric utility's most recent completed budget period and in a form, timeline, and manner as prescribed by the department.

76 SHBHB 1903 (b) The department must also assess mechanisms to prioritize energy assistance towards low-income households with a higher energy burden.

87 SHBHB 1903 equipment, to reduce process emissions, and to switch to less emissions intensive fuel sources;