Relevant Laws and Rules
The UTC is largely responsible for ensuring IOUs meet CETA requirements. Some of the UTC's key roles include:
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Ratepayer cost and reliability protections: CETA limits cost increases for consumers due to the effects of the clean energy law to 2% per year. The UTC established these rules in 2020. The UTC is also authorized to temporarily relieve a utility of its emission reduction obligation if the electric grid's reliability or safety is compromised.
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Low-income support and public interest considerations: The UTC has also developed rules for low-income customer support, the reduction of energy burden for vulnerable populations, and other ways to equitably distribute clean energy benefits to utility customers.
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Improving wholesale electricity markets: By 2022, the UTC and the Dept. of Commerce will adopt rules for reporting wholesale power transactions to ensure the benefits of clean energy, such as renewable energy credits, are not double-counted between Washington and other states with carbon cap-and-trade programs.
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Participating in state advisory committees and workgroups: The UTC will participate in a variety of workgroups and advisory committees including:
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Supporting the Dept. of Commerce in developing CETA effectiveness reports that include analysis of customer rate impacts and electric grid reliability;
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Participating in the Energy Strategy Advisory Committee, which will review CETA's alignment with the state's greenhouse gas reduction targets;
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Participating in the Energy and Climate Policy Advisory Committee, which will review new and existing energy-related programs; and
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Participating in a workgroup led by the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council that will review the need for upgraded and new electricity transmission and distribution facilities to deliver power to population centers.
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The commission established a plan outlining its full role in CETA implementation.