Transmission Siting Preemption (SHB 1037)

A substitute bill was passed out of the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee earlier this week, with some changes brought forth from a member of the Committee. The underlying bill would allow developers of electrical transmission facilities to seek permits through the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) if they choose, rather than from the affected local governments, as has been the process for many decades.

As of this printing, the substitute bill language was not yet available for review. While it’s been a long-standing position that AWC opposes this preemption, some cities have expressed some support for this proposal or are neutral. AWC wants to affirm our ongoing opposition to this bill and needs to hear from the membership. Please contact Victoria Lincoln victorial@awcnet.org or Sheri Sawyer at sheris@awcnet.org with your comments.

Scrap Metal Theft (HB 1251/SB 5312)

Cities are working with a coalition of electric utilities, utility contractors, and law enforcement to advance a bill designed to deter the theft of scrap metal and copper wire. The theft problem has grown exponentially in the past couple of years as the market price of metal has increased markedly. The bill places some new responsibilities on the purchasers of scrap metal by requiring they take identification and by delaying cash payments to the seller. A hearing on HB 1251 will be held on Thursday, January 25 at 1:30 pm in the House Insurance, Financial Services & Consumer Protection Committee.

Requiring Electronic Payment of Utility Bills (HB 1034)

This bill was heard in House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee last week and several interest groups signed in or testified with concerns, including AWC. In addition to the hearing on the bill, cities and other utilities have been speaking to committee members about the potential cost of this proposal, especially to the smaller utilities.

The bill would affect utilities with more than 5,000 customers that provide electricity, natural gas, water or sewer services. When the utility upgrades, changes or purchases new equipment relating to billing or service, the new equipment must be capable of accepting electronic payment of bills for service provided by the utility. The utility would be able to collect the additional costs to provide this service from their customers.

Modifying Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Provisions (HB 1314/SB 5225)

The bill moves all pipeline safety authority into one chapter of the Revised Code of Washington (Chapter 81.88). The bill maintains the status quo in terms of the Washington Utility and Transportation Commission’s (WUTC) safety authority, with a few exceptions as follows:

Increases penalties for pipeline safety violations consistent with federal law. The current minimum federal pipeline safety penalty is $100,000 per violation per day with a maximum of $1 million for a related series of violations.
Defines "gas" consistent with the federal definition, which will extend state pipeline safety regulation to include hydrogen and acid gas pipelines.
Clarifies that publicly-owned small pipeline systems called "master meters," that are subject to federal pipeline safety rules, will be subject to state jurisdiction. An example of a publicly-owned master meter system is one where gas is resold, such as a tenant who uses gas delivered through a pipeline system owned by a public housing authority.
Allows for WUTC pipeline safety regulation over propane distribution systems regardless of whether the propane system is regulated by the commission as to rates and service.
Eliminates obsolete references and unused definitions.
Clarifies and streamlines other statutory language.

SB 5225 has been scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Water and Energy & Telecommunications at 1:30 pm on January 26.

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