Washington is offering $200 to some residents to help pay electric bills

July 29, 2024 / 4:47 pm

caption: Along with officials from King County and Seattle, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announces the Washington Families Clean Energy Credits grant program on July 29, 2024. The program offers a $200 utility bill credit to low- to moderate-income households.

Hyping it as the latest program benefiting from the state's Climate Commitment Act, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday a new program that will give a $200 utility bill credit to certain customers in the state.

“We are committed to ensuring that the benefits of the state’s clean energy transition reach everyone, especially those most burdened by energy costs,” Inslee said in a statement announcing the new program Monday.

Inslee presented the Washington Families Clean Energy Credits grant program in Seattle, alongside officials from Seattle, King County, and the state's Department of Commerce, which is managing the effort.

Washington Families Clean Energy Credits grant program will reportedly offer a one-time $200 utility bill credit to 675,000 low- to moderate-income customers. The state estimates this will cover about 20% of utility households in the state. Customers below 80% of an area's median income will get priority. The Dept. of Commerce gave the following examples of income ranges eligible for the credit:

In cities like Everett, Seattle, or Vancouver, a household with four people and an income between $110,950 to $226,050.
In areas with the lowest incomes in Washington, household income could range between $72,000 and 135,000.

The state noted the program could be expanded to households at 150% of the area's AMI, if funding is available.

The credit will be placed in eligible customers' accounts on Sept. 15, 2024.

According to the Dept. of Commerce, customers who are already signed up for discounts or assistance will automatically get the credit. Others will need to apply. See a video below about how to find out if your utility account is eligible. For Puget Sound Energy Customers, check here.

During the program's announcement, Inslee often highlighted the fact that it is funded by the state's Climate Commitment Act — one of the governor's main accomplishments in office that is now under fire.

“The Climate Commitment Act is helping thousands of low-income families and communities reduce their home energy costs through things like weatherization, heat pumps, and solar installations," Inslee said. "While we continue to make those tools available for more people, this credit offers an immediate benefit.”

The Climate Commitment Act uses a carbon auction that the state's largest polluters pay into. That money goes toward climate programs throughout the state. The auction arrived amid rising gas prices and other costs of living. Some have pointed to the auction as one reason prices have gone up, and some economists have said this was to be expected.

That has fueled a voter initiative that will be on the November ballot. I-2117 is part of a suite of conservative-backed initiatives and proposes to nix the carbon auction. If passed, it would essentially remove the state's funding source for various climate programs, such as the Washington Families Clean Energy Credits grant program. A campaign to defend the CCA has also been launched.

Washington's first carbon auction was held in February 2023. It raised $300 million. Prices considerably fell at the most recent auction in March 2024