Title 80, PUBLIC UTILITIES

Every corporation, other than a public service company, which shall violate any provision of this title, or which shall fail to obey, observe or comply with any order of the commission under authority of this title, so long as the same shall be and remain in force, shall be subje…

Every person who, either individually, or acting as an officer or agent of a corporation other than a public service company, shall violate any provision of this title, or fail to observe, obey or comply with any order made by the commission under this title, so long as the same …

Actions to recover penalties under this title shall be brought in the name of the state of Washington in the superior court of Thurston county, or in the superior court of any county in or through which such public service company may do business. In all such actions the procedur…

In addition to all other penalties provided by law every public service company subject to the provisions of this title and every officer, agent or employee of any such public service company who violates or who procures, aids or abets in the violation of any provision of this ti…

In all actions between private parties and public service companies involving any rule or order of the commission, and in all actions for the recovery of penalties provided for in this title, or for the enforcement of the orders or rules issued and promulgated by the commission, …

In all court actions involving any rule or order of the commission, where the commission has not been made a party, the commission shall be served with a copy of all pleadings, and shall be entitled to intervene. Where the fact that the action involves a rule or order of the comm…

Whenever the commission has issued or promulgated any order or rule, in any writ of review brought by a public service company to determine the reasonableness of such order or rule, the findings of fact made by the commission shall be prima facie correct, and the burden shall be …

In case any public service company shall do, cause to be done or permit to be done any act, matter or thing prohibited, forbidden or declared to be unlawful, or shall omit to do any act, matter or thing required to be done, either by any law of this state, by this title or by any…

Upon application of any person the commission shall furnish certified copies of any classification, rate, rule, regulation or order established by such commission, and the printed copies published by authority of the commission, or any certified copy of any such classification, r…

Every public service company shall give immediate notice to the commission of every accident resulting in death or injury to any person occurring in its plant or system, in such manner as the commission may prescribe. Such notice shall not be admitted as evidence or used for any …

It shall be the duty of the commission to enforce the provisions of this title and all other acts of this state affecting public service companies, the enforcement of which is not specifically vested in some other officer or tribunal. Any employee of the commission may, without a…

This title shall not have the effect to release or waive any right of action by the state or any person for any right, penalty or forfeiture which may have arisen or may hereafter arise under any law of this state; and all penalties accruing under this title shall be cumulative o…

Nothing in this title authorizes the commission to make or enforce any order affecting rates, tolls, rentals, contracts or charges or service rendered, or the adequacy or sufficiency of the facilities, equipment, instrumentalities or buildings, or the reasonableness of rules or r…

It shall be the duty of the attorney general to represent and appear for the people of the state of Washington and the commission in all actions and proceedings involving any question under this title, or under or in reference to any act or order of the commission; and it shall b…

In addition to any other powers and duties under this chapter, the commission shall have the authority to authorize and approve the terms of any lease of utility facilities by a public service company, as lessee, if the public service company makes proper application to the commi…

(1)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the following do not apply to a local exchange company that serves less than two percent of the access lines in the state of Washington: RCW 80.04.080, 80.04.300 through 80.04.330, and, except for RCW 80.08.140, chapters 80.08,…

(1) It is the intent of the legislature to exempt from commission regulation thermal energy companies in operation or under development before July 1, 2025, and combined heat and power facilities that are not otherwise regulated under this title. Nothing in this section shall pre…

The legislature finds that an electrical company's acquisition of coal transition power helps to achieve the state's greenhouse gas emission reduction goals by effecting an orderly transition to cleaner fuels and supports the state's public policy. [ 2011 c 180 s 303.] Notes: Fin…

(1) Every wastewater company subject to regulation by the commission must, on or before the date specified by the commission for filing annual reports under RCW 80.04.080, pay to the commission a regulatory fee. (2) The commission must assess such regulatory fees in amounts suffi…

The term "public service company", as used in this chapter, shall mean every company now or hereafter engaged in business in this state as a public utility and subject to regulation as to rates and service by the utilities and transportation commission under the provisions of thi…

The power of public service companies to issue stocks and stock certificates or other evidence of interest or ownership, and bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness and to create liens on their property situated within this state is a special privilege, the right of supe…

A public service company may issue stock and stock certificates or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness payable on demand or at periods of more than twelve months after the date thereof, for the following purposes only: The ac…

Any public service company that undertakes to issue stocks, stock certificates, other evidence of interest or ownership, bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness shall file with the commission before such issuance: (1) A description of the purposes for which the issuance …

A public service company may issue notes, except demand notes, for proper purposes and not in violation of any provision of this chapter, or any other law, payable at periods of not more than twelve months after the date of issuance, without complying with the requirements of RCW…

The commission may from time to time by order or rule, and subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed in the order or rule, exempt any security or any class of securities for which a filing is required under this chapter or any electrical or natural gas company or …

The commission shall have no power to authorize the capitalization of the right to be a corporation, or to authorize the capitalization of any franchise or permit whatsoever or the right to own, operate or enjoy any such franchise or permit, in excess of the amount (exclusive of …

The commission shall have the power to require public service companies to account for the disposition of the proceeds of all sales of stocks and stock certificates or other evidence of interest or ownership, and bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness, in such form and …

If a public service company issues any stock, or other evidence of interest or ownership, bond, note, or other evidence of indebtedness contrary to the provisions of this chapter, the company may be subject to penalty under RCW 80.08.110 and 80.08.120. [ 1994 c 251 s 2; 1961 c 14…

Every public service company which, directly or indirectly, issues or causes to be issued, any stock or stock certificate or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bond, note, or other evidence of indebtedness, in nonconformity with the provisions of this chapter, or which a…

Every officer, agent, or employee of a public service company, and every other person who knowingly authorizes, directs, aids in, issues or executes, or causes to be issued or executed, any stock or stock certificate or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bond, note or ot…

Any public service company that assumes any obligation or liability as guarantor, indorser, surety or otherwise in respect to the securities of any other person, firm or corporation, when such securities are payable at periods of more than twelve months after the date thereof, sh…

No provision of this chapter, RCW 80.28.005, 80.28.303, 80.28.306, 80.28.309, 80.28.490, or 80.28.500, and no deed or act done or performed under or in connection therewith, shall be held or construed to obligate the state of Washington or any agency, instrumentality, political s…

No action by a public service company in compliance with nor by the commission in conformance with the requirements of this chapter may in any way affect the authority of the commission over rates, service, accounts, valuations, estimates, or determinations of costs, or any matte…

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 2.]

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Person" means an individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation, association, firm, public service company, or any other entity, however organized. (2) "Public s…

(1) No public service company shall sell, lease, assign or otherwise dispose of the whole or any part of its franchises, properties or facilities whatsoever, which are necessary or useful in the performance of its duties to the public, and no public service company shall, by any …

(1) Any such sale, lease, assignment, or other disposition, merger or consolidation made without authority of the commission shall be void. (2) The commission shall enter an order approving or denying a transaction under RCW 80.12.020 or 80.12.040 within eleven months of the date…

No public service company shall, directly or indirectly, purchase, acquire, or become the owner of any of the franchises, properties, facilities, capital stocks or bonds of any other public service company unless authorized so to do by the commission. Nothing contained in this ch…

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 3.]

The commission shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to make effective the provisions of this chapter. [ 1961 c 14 s 80.12.050. Prior: 1941 c 159 s 5; Rem. Supp. 1941 s 10440e.]

The provisions of RCW 80.04.380 and 80.04.385 as to penalties shall be applicable to public service companies, their officers, agents and employees failing to comply with the provisions of this chapter. [ 1961 c 14 s 80.12.060. Prior: 1941 c 159 s 6; Rem. Supp. 1941 s 10440f.]

As used in this chapter the term "public service company" shall include every corporation engaged in business as a public utility and subject to regulation as to rates and service by the utilities and transportation commission under the provisions of this title. As used in this c…

Every public service company shall file with the commission a verified copy, or a verified summary if unwritten, of a contract or arrangement providing for the furnishing of management, supervisory[,] construction, engineering, accounting, legal, financial, or similar services, o…

In any proceeding, whether upon the commission's own motion or upon complaint, involving the rates or practices of any public service company, the commission may exclude from the accounts of the public service company any payment or compensation to an affiliated interest for any …

No proof shall be satisfactory, within the meaning of RCW 80.16.010 through 80.16.030, unless it includes the original (or verified copies) of the relevant cost records and other relevant accounts of the affiliated interest, or such abstract thereof or summary taken therefrom, as…

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…