Title 80 — Title 80 PUBLIC UTILITIES
23 chapters · 368 sections in this title.
RCW 80.16.050 Commission's control is continuing.
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The commission shall have continuing supervisory control over the terms and conditions of such contracts and arrangements as are herein described so far as necessary to protect and promote the public interest. The commission shall have the same jurisdiction over the modifications…
RCW 80.16.055 Small local exchange company—Chapter does not apply.
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Subject to RCW 80.04.530(1), this chapter does not apply to a local exchange company that serves less than two percent of the access lines in the state of Washington.[ 1995 c 110 s 4.]
RCW 80.16.060 Summary order on nonapproved payments.
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Whenever the commission shall find upon investigation that any public service company is giving effect to any such contract or arrangement without such contract or arrangement having been filed or approved, the commission may issue a summary order prohibiting the public service c…
RCW 80.16.070 Summary order on payments after disallowance.
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Whenever the commission finds upon investigation that any public service company is making payments to an affiliated interest, although the payments have been disallowed or disapproved by the commission in a proceeding involving the public service company's rates or practices, th…
RCW 80.16.080 Court action to enforce orders.
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The superior court of Thurston county is authorized to enforce such orders to cease and desist by appropriate process, including the issuance of a preliminary injunction, upon the suit of the commission.[ 1961 c 14 s 80.16.080. Prior: 1933 c 152 s 8; RRS s 10440-8.]
RCW 80.16.090 Review of orders.
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Any public service company or affiliated interest deeming any decision or order of the commission to be in any respect or manner improper, unjust or unreasonable may have the same reviewed in the courts in the same manner and by the same procedure as is now provided by law for re…
RCW 80.20.010 Definition.
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As used in this chapter, the term "public service company" means any person, firm, association, or corporation, whether public or private, operating a utility or public service enterprise subject in any respect to regulation by the commission under the provisions of this title.[ …
RCW 80.20.020 Cost of investigation may be assessed against company.
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Whenever the commission in any proceeding upon its own motion or upon complaint shall deem it necessary in order to carry out the duties imposed upon it by law to investigate the books, accounts, practices and activities of, or make any valuation or appraisal of the property of a…
RCW 80.20.030 Interest on unpaid assessment—Action to collect.
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Amounts so assessed against any public service company not paid within thirty days after mailing of the bill therefor, shall draw interest at the rate of six percent per annum from the date of mailing of the bill. Upon failure of the public service company to pay the bill, the at…
RCW 80.20.040 Commission's determination of necessity as evidence.
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In such action the commission's determination of the necessity of the investigation, valuation, appraisal or services shall be conclusive evidence of such necessity, and its findings and determination of facts expressed in bills rendered pursuant to RCW 80.20.020 through 80.20.06…
RCW 80.20.050 Order of commission not subject to review.
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In view of the civil action provided for in RCW 80.20.020 through 80.20.060 any order made by the commission in determining the amount of such bill shall not be reviewable in court, but the mere absence of such right of review shall not prejudice the rights of defendants in the c…
RCW 80.20.060 Limitation on frequency of investigation.
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Expenses of a complete valuation, rate and service investigation shall not be assessed against a public service company under this chapter if such company shall have been subjected to and paid the expenses of a complete valuation, rate and service investigation during the precedi…
RCW 80.24.010 Companies to file reports of gross revenue and pay fees—Delinquent fee payments.
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(1) Every public service company subject to regulation by the commission shall, on or before the date specified by the commission for filing annual reports under RCW 80.04.080, file with the commission a statement on oath showing its gross operating revenue from intrastate operat…
RCW 80.24.020 Fees to approximate reasonable cost of regulation.
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In fixing the percentage rates of gross operating revenue to be paid in any year, the commission shall consider all moneys then in the public service revolving fund and the fees currently to be paid into such fund, to the end that the fees collected from the several classes of co…
RCW 80.24.030 Intent of legislature—Regulatory cost records to be kept by commission.
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It is the intent and purpose of the legislature that the several groups of public service companies shall each contribute sufficient in fees to the commission to pay the reasonable cost of regulating the several groups respectively. The commission shall keep accurate records of t…
RCW 80.24.040 Disposition of fees.
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All moneys collected under the provisions of this chapter shall within thirty days be paid to the state treasurer and by the state treasurer deposited to the public service revolving fund: PROVIDED, That all fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties collected or assessed by a distri…
RCW 80.24.050 Penalty for failure to pay fees—Disposition of fines and penalties.
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Every person, firm, company or corporation, or the officers, agents or employees thereof, failing or neglecting to pay the fees herein required shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. All fines and penalties collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited into the pub…
RCW 80.24.060 Pipeline safety fee—Reports—Procedure to contest fees—Regulatory incentive program.
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(1)(a) Every gas company and every interstate gas pipeline company subject to inspection or enforcement by the commission shall pay an annual pipeline safety fee to the commission. The pipeline safety fees received by the commission shall be deposited in the pipeline safety accou…
RCW 80.28.005 Definitions.
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Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Assignee" means a person, and any subsequent assignee, to which an electrical, gas, or water company assigns, sells, or transfers all or part of the electrical, gas, …
RCW 80.28.010 Duties as to rates, services, and facilities—Limitations on termination of utility service for residential heating and of electric, water, or thermal energy utility service during heat-related alerts.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2575.SL) ***(1) All charges made, demanded or received by any gas company, electrical company, wastewater company, water company, or thermal energy company for gas, electricity, water, or thermal energy, or for any service rendered or to be rendered in…
RCW 80.28.020 Commission to fix just, reasonable, and compensatory rates.
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Whenever the commission shall find, after a hearing had upon its own motion, or upon complaint, that the rates or charges demanded, exacted, charged or collected by any gas company, electrical company, wastewater company, water company, or thermal energy company, for gas, electri…
RCW 80.28.022 Water company rates—Reserve account.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1906-S2.SL) ***In determining the rates to be charged by each water company subject to its jurisdiction, the commission may provide for the funding of a reserve account exclusively for the purpose of making capital improvements approved by the departme…
RCW 80.28.024 Legislative finding.
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The legislature finds and declares that the potential for meeting future energy needs through conservation measures, including energy conservation loans, energy audits, the use of appropriate tree plantings for energy conservation, and the use of renewable resources, such as sola…
RCW 80.28.025 Encouragement of energy cogeneration, conservation, and production from renewable resources—Consideration of water conservation goals.
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(1) In establishing rates for each gas and electric company regulated by this chapter, the commission shall adopt policies to encourage meeting or reducing energy demand through cogeneration as defined in *RCW 82.35.020, measures which improve the efficiency of energy end use, an…
RCW 80.28.030 Commission may order improved quality of commodity—Ordering improvements to the storage, distribution, or supply of water—Ordering improvements to the system of sewerage.
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(1) Whenever the commission finds, after such hearing, that the illuminating or heating power, purity or pressure of gas, the efficiency of electric lamp supply, the voltage of the current supplied for light, heat or power, the quality of wastewater company services, the purity, …
RCW 80.28.040 Commission may order improved service—Water companies, system of sewerage noncompliance, receivership.
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(1) Whenever the commission finds, after hearing, that any rules, regulations, measurements or the standard thereof, practices, acts or services of any such gas company, electrical company, wastewater company, water company, or thermal energy company are unjust, unreasonable, imp…
RCW 80.28.050 Tariff schedules to be filed with commission—Public schedules.
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Every gas company, electrical company, wastewater company, water company, and thermal energy company shall file with the commission and shall print and keep open to public inspection schedules in such form as the commission may prescribe, showing all rates and charges made, estab…
RCW 80.28.060 Tariff changes—Statutory notice—Exception—Waiver of provisions during state of emergency.
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(1) Unless the commission otherwise orders, no change may be made in any rate or charge or in any form of contract or agreement or in any rule or regulation relating to any rate, charge or service, or in any general privilege or facility which shall have been filed and published …
RCW 80.28.065 Tariff schedule—Energy conservation—Payment by successive property owners—Notice—Rules.
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(1) Upon request by an electrical, gas, or thermal energy company, the commission may approve a tariff schedule that contains rates or charges for energy conservation measures, services, or payments provided to individual property owners or customers. The tariff schedule shall re…
RCW 80.28.068 Rates—Low-income customers.
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(1) Upon its own motion, or upon request by an electrical, gas, or thermal energy company, or other party to a general rate case hearing, or other proceeding to set rates, the commission may approve rates, charges, services, and/or physical facilities at a discount, or through gr…
RCW 80.28.070 Sliding scale of charges permitted.
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Nothing in this chapter shall be taken to prohibit a gas company, electrical company, water company, or thermal energy company from establishing a sliding scale of charges, whereby a greater charge is made per unit for a lesser than a greater quantity for gas, electricity, water,…
RCW 80.28.074 Legislative declaration.
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The legislature declares it is the policy of the state to:(1) Preserve affordable energy services to the residents of the state;(2) Maintain and advance the efficiency and availability of energy services to the residents of the state of Washington;(3) Ensure that customers pay on…
RCW 80.28.075 Banded rates—Natural gas, electric, or thermal energy services.
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Upon request by a natural gas company, an electrical company, or a thermal energy company, the commission may approve a tariff that includes banded rates for any nonresidential natural gas, electric, or thermal energy service that is subject to effective competition from energy s…
RCW 80.28.080 Published rates to be charged—Exceptions.
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(1)(a) Except as provided otherwise in this subsection, no gas company, electrical company, wastewater company, water company, or thermal energy company may charge, demand, collect or receive a greater or less or different compensation for any service rendered or to be rendered t…
RCW 80.28.090 Unreasonable preference prohibited.
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No gas company, electrical company, wastewater company, water company, or thermal energy company may make or grant any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any person, corporation, or locality, or to any particular description of service in any respect whatsoever, or …
RCW 80.28.100 Rate discrimination prohibited—Exception.
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No gas company, electrical company, wastewater company, water company, or thermal energy company may, directly or indirectly, or by any special rate, rebate, drawback or other device or method, charge, demand, collect or receive from any person or corporation a greater or less co…
RCW 80.28.110 Service to be furnished on reasonable notice.
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(1) Every gas company, electrical company, wastewater company, or water company, engaged in the sale and distribution of gas, electricity, or water, or the provision of wastewater company services, shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish to all persons and corporations who may app…
RCW 80.28.120 Effect on existing contracts.
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Every gas, water, wastewater, electrical, or thermal energy company owning, operating or managing a plant or system for the distribution and sale of gas, water, electricity, or thermal energy, or the provision of wastewater company services to the public for hire is, and is held …
RCW 80.28.130 Repairs, improvements, changes, additions, or extensions may be directed.
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Whenever the commission finds, after hearing had upon its own motion or upon complaint, that repairs or improvements, to, or changes in, any gas plant, electrical plant, system of sewerage, water system, or thermal energy system ought to be made, or that any additions or extensio…
RCW 80.28.140 Inspection of gas and water meters.
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The commission may appoint inspectors of gas and water meters whose duty it shall be when required by the commission to inspect, examine, prove and ascertain the accuracy of any and all gas and water meters used or intended to be used for measuring or ascertaining the quantity of…
RCW 80.28.150 Inspection of electric meters.
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The commission may appoint inspectors of electric meters whose duty it shall be when required by the commission to inspect, examine, prove and ascertain the accuracy of any and all electric meters used or intended to be used for measuring and ascertaining the quantity of electric…
RCW 80.28.160 Testing apparatus to be furnished.
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Every gas company, electrical company, water company, and thermal energy company shall prepare and maintain such suitable premises, apparatus and facilities as may be required and approved by the commission for testing and proving the accuracy of gas, electric, water, or thermal …
RCW 80.28.170 Testing at consumer's request.
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If any consumer to whom a meter has been furnished shall request the commission in writing to inspect such meter, the commission shall have the same inspected and tested, and if the same, on being so tested, shall be found to be more than four percent if an electric meter, more t…
RCW 80.28.180 Rules and regulations.
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The commission shall prescribe such rules and regulations to carry into effect the provisions of RCW 80.28.140 through 80.28.170 as it may deem necessary, and shall fix the uniform and reasonable charges for the inspection and testing of meters upon complaint.[ 1961 c 14 s 80.28.…
RCW 80.28.185 Water companies or wastewater companies within counties—Commission may regulate.
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The commission may develop and enter into an agreement with a county to carry out the regulatory functions of this chapter with regard to water companies or wastewater companies located within the boundary of that county. The duration of the agreement, the duties to be performed,…
RCW 80.28.190 Gas companies—Certificate—Violations—Commission powers—Penalty—Fees.
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(1) No gas company shall, after January 1, 1956, operate in this state any gas plant for hire without first having obtained from the commission under the provisions of this chapter a certificate declaring that public convenience and necessity requires or will require such operati…
RCW 80.28.200 Gas companies—Refunds of charges.
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Whenever any gas company whose rates are subject to the jurisdiction of the commission shall receive any refund of amounts charged and collected from it on account of natural gas purchased by it, by reason of any reduction of rates or disallowance of an increase in rates of the s…
RCW 80.28.220 Gas companies—Right of eminent domain—Purposes.
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Every corporation having for one of its principal purposes the transmission, distribution, sale, or furnishing of natural gas or other type gas for light, heat, or power and holding and owning a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the utilities and transportation…
RCW 80.28.230 Gas companies—Use for purpose acquired exclusive—Disposition of property.
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Any property or interest acquired as provided in RCW 80.28.220 shall be used exclusively for the purposes for which it was acquired: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That if any such property be sold or otherwise disposed of by said corporations, such sale or disposition shall be by public sal…
RCW 80.28.240 Recovery of damages by utility company for tampering, unauthorized connections, diversion of services.
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(1) A utility may bring a civil action for damages against any person who commits, authorizes, solicits, aids, abets, or attempts to:(a) Divert, or cause to be diverted, utility services by any means whatsoever;(b) Make, or cause to be made, any connection or reconnection with pr…