Media contact: media@utc.wa.gov or 360-664-1116
Docket number: UE-260162
Interested parties invited to submit comments by Aug. 5
LACEY, Wash. — The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) invites the public to a hybrid workshop on how new large electric power users, including data centers, could impact Washington’s investor-owned electric utilities.
These utilities do not currently serve many large load customers. Planning now will help the UTC protect customers and ensure electric services stay safe, equitable, available, reliable, and fairly priced as demand grows.
Building on the UTC’s April technical conference, the workshop will cover power rates, cost sharing, interconnection conditions, energy flexibility, and customer protections. The discussion will help guide a future UTC policy for connecting large energy users to the power grid.
WHO
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
WHAT
Hybrid technical workshop on emerging large electric loads
WHEN and WHERE
9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12
Join by Zoom (recommended) or by phone at 253-215-8782 with Meeting ID: 880 2170 1259# and Passcode: 387081#.
The official notice includes specific questions the commission is seeking public feedback on. Interested parties can submit written comments by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Comments sent after this date will still be reviewed but may not be included in the workshop presentation.
You can submit comments:
- online,
- by phone at 888-333-9882,
- by email at comments@utc.wa.gov, and
- by mail to P.O Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504-7250
If you have trouble understanding English, you can ask for free language assistance services at least one week before the meeting. Contact us at 360-664-1193 or equity@utc.wa.gov.
Background
In 2025, Gov. Bob Ferguson created the Data Center Workgroup (DCWG). UTC Chair Brian Rybarik joined this group, which recommended that the commission strengthen customer protections and improve long-term planning for large electric power users.
State lawmakers also discussed issues related to new large energy-use facilities in House Bill 2515. While that bill did not pass, it brought attention to critical issues for the state to address.
Workshop materials, filed comments, and future updates will be posted in Docket UE-260162 on the UTC website. To get notices and updates about this docket, ask to join the Docket UE-260162 interested persons email list by emailing records@utc.wa.gov.
About the UTC
The UTC regulates the rates and services of investor-owned electric utilities, telecommunications companies, natural gas and water companies, solid waste collection companies, household-goods movers and passenger transportation companies, commercial ferries, pipeline companies, marine pilotage, and a low-level radioactive waste repository. The commission does not regulate the rates of broadband services, cellular, cable, or Internet service.
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