Washington Administrative Code

(1) Multifuel biomass energy. A utility using biomass energy produced by a multifuel generating facility, where the biomass energy fuel provides less than ninety-eight percent of the total heat input, must document the eligible renewable energy using RECs created by WREGIS pursua…

(1) Apprentice labor credit. A utility claiming an additional credit for the electricity output from an eligible renewable resource per RCW 19.285.040 (2)(h)(i) must document that the facility commenced operation after December 31, 2005, and must provide written documentation fro…

For each year that a utility meets the renewable energy financial cost cap, associated with no load growth, identified in RCW 19.285.040 (2)(d), the utility must document the following by January 1:(1) That it used a consistent methodology from year to year to weather-adjust its …

(1) For purposes of the report filed pursuant to RCW 19.285.070, a utility shall document its annual revenue requirement.(2) A utility that uses a different basis for the determination of its annual revenue requirement for purposes of calculating what it expects to recover or act…

By January 1 of the first target year that a utility fulfills its renewable energy requirements under RCW 19.285.050, the utility shall select one of the following methodologies for documenting the incremental cost of all eligible renewable resources acquired thereafter by that u…

(1) Each utility must document its calculation of the levelized annual incremental cost of eligible renewable resources. Utilities are encouraged, but not obligated, to use the following methodology:Step 1: Calculate the net present value of the cost of the utility's eligible ren…

(1) The delivered cost of a resource includes all direct and indirect costs associated with that resource being delivered to the distribution system of a utility over the contract length or facility life of the delivered resource. Direct and indirect costs may include operating a…

(1) In support of its annual filings to the department under RCW 19.285.070, utilities must document the type, availability, and cost of the reasonably available substitute resource used to calculate the incremental cost of an eligible renewable resource.(a) In documenting the in…

A utility may elect to invest in RECs to meet any portion of, or the entirety of, each annual renewable resource target in RCW 19.285.040(2) or 19.285.050(1). If the cost of the RECs and the incremental cost of acquired renewable resources, as documented according to WAC 194-37-1…

(1) WREGIS is the renewable energy credit tracking system for purposes of verification of RECs under chapter 19.285 RCW.(2) Upon request by a utility, the department may approve a special purpose renewable energy credit tracking system for the generation of any specific generatin…

The purpose of this chapter is to implement the requirements of chapter 19.405 RCW, Clean Energy Transformation Act, and chapter 19.280 RCW.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.405.100 and 19.285.080. WSR 20-02-089, § 194-40-010, filed 12/30/19, effective 1/30/20.]

Unless specifically provided otherwise, the provisions of this chapter apply to consumer-owned electric utilities that provide electrical service to retail customers in the state of Washington.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.405.100 and 19.285.080. WSR 20-02-089, § 194-40-020, filed…

If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.405.100 and 19.405.060. WSR 21-02-039…

Unless specifically provided otherwise, the terms defined in RCW 19.405.020 have the same meaning in this chapter."100% Clean electricity standard" means the standard established in RCW 19.405.050(1) and any requirements necessary for compliance with that standard."BPA" means the…

(1) Each consumer-owned utility and each investor-owned utility must submit an interim performance report by July 1, 2026, and by July 1, 2030, documenting the utility's progress during the prior interim performance period in reaching compliance with the GHG neutral standard begi…

(1) Each utility must submit by January 1, 2022, and every four years thereafter, a CEIP for resources to be acquired and other actions to be undertaken during the next interim performance period or GHG neutral compliance period to comply with the GHG neutral standard and the 100…

(1) The social cost of greenhouse gas emissions to be included by utilities in resource planning, evaluation, and selection, in compliance with RCW 19.280.030(3), is equal to the cost per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, using the 2.5 percent discount rate, list…

(1)(a) Each utility must incorporate the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions as a cost adder for all relevant inputs when evaluating and selecting conservation policies, programs, and targets; developing integrated resource plans and clean energy action plans; and evaluating …

(1) Specific actions. Each utility must identify in each CEIP the specific actions the utility will take during the next interim performance period or GHG neutral compliance period to demonstrate progress toward meeting the standards under RCW 19.405.040(1) and 19.405.050(1) and …

(1) Each utility that is required to prepare an integrated resource plan under RCW 19.280.030(1) must establish by January 1, 2022, a standard for resource adequacy to be used in resource planning, including assessing the need for and contributions of generating resources, storag…

(1) Each utility must provide reasonable opportunities for its customers and interested stakeholders to provide input to the utility during the development of, and prior to the adoption of, plans identifying actions to comply with RCW 19.405.040(8) and other requirements of RCW 1…

(1) For any period in which a utility relies on RCW 19.405.060 (4)(a) to meet an interim target during an interim performance period or as the basis for compliance with the standard under RCW 19.405.040(1) or 19.405.050(1), the utility must:(a) Document, as provided in this secti…

Each utility must publish by June 1, 2027, and each year thereafter, an attestation by a properly authorized representative of the utility certifying that the utility's allocation of electricity for Washington retail electric load in the prior calendar year did not include any el…

(1) Any utility using nonemitting electric generation to comply with a requirement under RCW 19.405.040 or 19.405.050 must demonstrate that it owns the nonpower attributes of that electricity and that it has committed to use the nonpower attributes exclusively for the stated comp…

(1) Energy efficiency resources.(a) Assessment of potential:(i) Any utility that is a qualifying utility under chapter 19.285 RCW must assess the amount of energy efficiency and conservation that is available using the conservation methodology established in RCW 19.285.040(1) and…

A utility that acquires a new fossil fuel generating resource or new nonemitting electric generation must document through its integrated resource plan and any other analysis relied on in making its decision that the resource acquisition is consistent with meeting the utility's t…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a utility may not use any alternative compliance option under RCW 19.405.040 (1)(b) in any GHG neutral compliance period if it relies on RCW 19.405.060 (4)(a) as the basis for compliance with the standard under RCW 19.405.…

(1) A utility must notify commerce at least thirty days prior to consideration of action by the governing body to authorize a temporary exemption under RCW 19.405.090 (5)(a). The notice must provide all information that the governing body will rely on in making a decision whether…

(1) The eligibility of renewable or nonemitting electricity to demonstrate compliance with CETA is not affected by the use of storage resources.(2) Except for storage resources located on the customer side of a retail meter, any electrical consumption or loss resulting from the c…

(1) The Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System is the renewable energy credit tracking system for purposes of verification of RECs under chapter 19.405 RCW.(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, each utility must verify and document by the retirement…

(1) A utility may use a REC other than an unbundled REC to comply with the requirements of RCW 19.405.040 (1)(a) or to demonstrate performance compared to an interim target established under RCW 19.405.060(1) only if the utility complies with the requirements of this section.(2) …

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a utility may not use a REC to comply with the requirements of RCW 19.405.050(1) unless:(a) The utility acquired the REC and the electricity associated with the REC in a single transaction through ownership or control of t…

(1) A utility may use an unbundled REC as an alternative compliance option, as provided in RCW 19.405.040 (1)(b), only if the utility demonstrates that there is no double counting of any nonpower attribute associated with that REC by complying with the requirements of this sectio…

(1) A thermal renewable energy credit may be used as an unbundled REC under RCW 19.405.040 (1)(b) if it is created in association with the generation of qualifying thermal energy for a secondary purpose at a facility that generates electricity from biomass energy. For multiple-fu…

(1) Qualifying thermal energy must be measured and tracked using the following methods:(a) Large facilities: Facilities with the capacity to generate one or more thermal RECs per hour of operation must install a thermal energy measurement system to continually measure qualifying …

(1) Where continual measurements are required to determine the quantity of qualifying thermal energy, the operator of the thermal energy generating facility must take data readings at least once per hour, or more frequently as necessary to capture irregular or frequently varying …

All thermal RECs are subject to the requirements of WAC 194-40-400.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.405.100 and 19.405.060. WSR 21-02-039, § 194-40-460, filed 12/29/20, effective 1/29/21.]

ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 100-2018 Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings is hereby adopted by reference with the exceptions noted in this chapter of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) updated February 7, 2024, to include Tier 2 covered buildings pursuant to RCW 19.27A.250,…

1.1 This standard provides criteria that will result in reduced energy consumption through improved energy efficiency and performance in existing buildings. In adopting this standard by rule, Washington state department of commerce shall seek to maximize reductions of greenhouse …

This standard is mandatory for all covered buildings and state campus district energy systems located in the state of Washington. Multifamily residential buildings exceeding 50,000 square feet of gross floor area, excluding the parking garage areas, may seek early adopter incenti…

3.1 GeneralAgricultural structure: A structure designed and constructed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock, or other horticultural products, and is not a place used by the public or a place of human habitation or employment where agricultural products are pr…

4.1.1.1 A building or complex of buildings whose majority of gross floor area has activities in Table 7-1 shall comply with the requirements of Sections 4.2 and 4.3.4.1.1.2For Tier 1 covered buildings, the qualified person determining compliance shall:1. Determine whether or not …

Exception to 5.1.1 - Not adopted.5.1.2.1 Energy accounting in accordance with Section 5.2.5.1.2.2 In the initial year of compliance, the building's weather normalized energy use intensity (WNEUI) and energy use intensity (EUI).5.1.2.3 Annual updates of the net energy use, WNEUI a…

6.3 Operation and maintenance (O&M) Implementation. The O&M program shall be implemented in accordance with Normative Annex L.Exception to 6.3:O&M programs developed and implemented by the building's serving utility or local government and approved as equivalent or more stringent…

7.1 Building activity type and energy targets.7.1.1 Building activity type.Buildings are divided into activity types as shown in Table 7-1 Normative Annex Z. Building activity types are defined by the AHJ in Table 7-4.7.1.2 Energy targets. Energy targets for each building activit…

8.1 The qualified energy auditor shall complete Form D and submit to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). If an energy audit is required within this section, a copy of the audit summary results shall be included in the compliance documentation in a format specified in Normati…

9.1.1 Requirements.Buildings that have an energy target shall comply with the requirements of Section 9.1.1.1. Buildings that do not have an energy target shall comply with the requirements of Section 9.1.1.2. All buildings shall implement an energy management plan as described i…

1. ASHRAE. 2010. Performance Measurement Protocols for Commercial Buildings. Atlanta: ASHRAE.2. ASHRAE. 2013. ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings. Atlanta: ASHRAE.3. ASHRAE. 2007. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.2, Energy-Eff…

For Washington State Compliance Normative Annex C forms adopted as modified and published in Normative Annex Z, Section Z6. Compliance forms for Tier 1 covered buildings and Normative Annex Y, Section Y6 Compliance forms for Tier 2 covered buildings.Informative Annex F Standard 1…

L2 Operations and maintenance program.Each building system shall have an O&M program that, at a minimum, preserves the condition of the system and its elements in a manner that enables the system to provide the intended thermal and visual comfort, energy efficiency, and helps to …