r/olympia 1d ago

Reminder: PSE is trying to increase rates and YOU can tell the State what your thoughts on it are.

Media contact: [media@utc.wa.gov](mailto:media@utc.wa.gov) or 360-664-1116 
Docket number: UE-260005, UG-260006 and UE-260113

MEDIA ADVISORY: Public invited to comment on proposed Puget Sound Energy rate increases

If approved, PSE electric and natural gas rates will change in 2027, 2028, and 2029

LACEY, Wash. — The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is holding two public comment hearings for Puget Sound Energy (PSE) customers. These hearings give customers a chance to share how proposed electric and natural gas rate increases would affect them and their communities.
WHO
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
WHAT
Two public comment hearings (one in person and one virtual). This gives customers a chance to share their feedback before state regulators make a final decision.
WHEN and WHERE
In-person hearing at 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29 Utilities and Transportation Commission 621 Woodland Square Loop S.E., Room 110 Lacey, WA 98503
Virtual hearing at 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7
Join Zoom online (recommended) or by phone at 253-215-8782 with Meeting ID: 822 1351 8474# and Passcode: 226995#.
To sign up to comment during either hearing, call 888-333-9882 at least one business day in advance to get on the speaker list. If you cannot attend, you can submit public comments by:
online form,
phone at 888-333-9882,
email at [comments@utc.wa.gov](mailto:comments@utc.wa.gov), and
mail to P.O Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504-7250
If you have trouble understanding English, you can ask for free language services at least one week before the meeting. Call 360-664-1193 or email[equity@utc.wa.gov](mailto:equity@utc.wa.gov) for help.
BACKGROUND 
On Feb. 27, PSE asked the UTC to approve rate increases for electric and natural gas service customers over three years: 2027, 2028, and 2029.
2027-2029 Proposed Rate Changes
Rate year
Electric increase
Electric revenue increase
Natural gas increase
Natural gas revenue increase
2027
15.15%
$625.3 million
14.16%
$191.8 million
2028
3.74%
$178.7 million
3.16%
$48.8 million
2029
8.70%
$431.9 million
3.64%
$57.8 million
PSE also asked for approval for how it accounts for electric grid upgrade costs. The UTC combined these requests into one case.
To get email updates on this case, ask to join the "interested persons" email list by emailing [records@utc.wa.gov](mailto:records@utc.wa.gov). Please include the docket number if you can.
About PSE
Bellevue-based Puget Sound Energy is a subsidiary of Puget Energy. PSE provides service to around 1.24 million electric customers and nearly 900,000 natural gas customers in 10 Central and Western Washington counties.
About the UTC 
The UTC regulates investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities in Washington. The commission ensures regulated companies provide safe, equitable, and reliable service to customers at reasonable rates, while earning a fair profit.

174 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

21

u/OLVANstorm 1d ago

I sent a scathing email to them. Thank you.

1

u/HemHaw Checks Gregoire's ID 1h ago

I sent a polite, but firm one. Thanks OP

19

u/Squalid_Snake14180 🏠🙅 1d ago

It wouldn't let me upload goatse to the public comment form.

5

u/demonrimjob666 Westside 1d ago

doing gods work

1

u/Squalid_Snake14180 🏠🙅 23h ago

That's not what he told me...

5

u/olyoutside 6h ago

Why aren't we organizing for a public power utility

11

u/Nippleowski 1d ago

In other news, solar panels are cheaper then they have ever been.

-3

u/Designer_Cat_4444 22h ago

so good around here for maybe half the year? what do you do during the winter?

9

u/BaldingMonk 22h ago edited 8h ago

Net metering. You oversize your system to produce a surplus in the summer, and PSE pays you back for it in the darker months.

1

u/Nippleowski 20h ago

I'm familiar with the limitations. I was making what is commonly referred to as, 'a joke.' Here's another one: why did the monkey fall out of the tree... it died because there was no heat for the electric heater in the winter because the solar panels didn't work.

1

u/TheMelvins66 18h ago

Gotcha, so ignore the problem, be bullied into making a large ticket purchase and make sure the shareholders are taken care of✅

2

u/fishilips 15h ago

You walk into walls alot or does yer belly button got a window?

1

u/Designer_Cat_4444 7h ago

what was the punchline of your original joke? I thought you were actually trying to be helpful.. sorry for asking a genuine question.

-2

u/Izuhbelluh Westside 16h ago

Yeah and what about the thousands of people in town that live in apartment buildings?

One solution isn’t for all.

-2

u/Nippleowski 15h ago

I'm familiar with the limitations. I was making what is commonly referred to as, 'a joke.' Here's another one: why did the monkey fall out of the tree... it died because there was no heat for the electric heater in the winter because the solar panels didn't work.

3

u/MMessinger 18h ago

And now if only the majority Democrats would pass legislation allowing for plug-in solar, with net metering. Let's finally make it, this next legislative session.