Transmission Siting Preemption (HB 1037)

AWC has been working diligently to come up with a compromise proposal that would allow for the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council to coordinate and site multi-jurisdiction transmission projects while leaving single jurisdiction transmission projects to the cities to continue to permit.

Cities that have indicated interest or concern about this issue in the past were recently sent e-mail copies of draft language for their comments. In the meantime, stakeholders and AWC will meet on Friday, February 2 to go over the draft language and compare issues. Any city wishing to receive a copy of the bill draft by e-mail should contact Victoria Lincoln at victorial@awcnet.org or Sheri Sawyer at sheris@awcnet.org immediately. All comments, suggestions and opinions will be appreciated.

Requiring Electronic Payment of Utility Bills (HB 1034)

The House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee passed this bill with an amendment intended to soften the impact on utility billing systems. AWC thanks the two members of the committee who voted "no" – Rep. Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland,) former Mayor of Kirkland, and Rep. Jim McCune (R-Dist 2).

The amendment states that when utilities serving water, sewer, electricity or natural gas (with more than 5,000 customers) "substantially" upgrade or replace their billing system, the resulting system must be capable of accepting electronic payment. "Substantial" is defined as being at least a 25% change in the billing system. AWC is polling city utilities to assess the impact of this amended bill. Please send comments to Sheri Sawyer at sheris@awcnet.org or Victoria Lincoln at victorial@awcnet.org.

Radio Frequency ID Systems (HB 1031)

A bill that addresses the uses for information obtained through RFID systems (radio frequency identification) has been redrafted several times. It may impact how cities do business. For example, cities may use RFID technology to keep track of inventory, of people entering stadiums, etc.

It is a small, flat item resembling a bar code that can be attached to just about anything. It can be scanned or read remotely and the supporting system can store personal information about people and things, or it can broadcast data. In addition to governmental uses, the technology is useful to retail businesses, transit systems, public event organizers, and for inventory control, to name a few uses.

There seems to be a great deal of concern about the scope and breadth of the bill. A hearing is scheduled for February 9 in the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee at 8:00 am. AWC staff will continue to follow this proposal.

Water Conservation Audits (SSB 5481)

Current law, RCW 39.35A, allows state and local governments to enter into performance contacts to help identify energy savings and help defray the cost of energy-saving projects by paying for projects from the energy savings. The Department of General Administration helps facilitate performance-based contracts for public facilities, including cities. This bill would expand the options for performance-based contacting to include water savings and solid waste reduction. AWC signed in to support this bill.

Creating an Energy Trust (PSHB 1032)

This proposal would allow electric and natural gas utilities to charge a monthly fee to pay for smart energy technologies and sustainable energy resources. The monthly system benefits charge can be no more than $1.90 per customer and must be deposited in a trust account at the utility that is separate from other utility accounts. No more than five percent can be used for administrative purposes. City utilities are still being surveyed for their opinion on this proposal.

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