Title 80 — Title 80 PUBLIC UTILITIES
23 chapters · 368 sections in this title.
RCW 80.04.350 Depreciation and retirement accounts.
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The commission shall have power after hearing to require any or all public service companies to carry proper and adequate depreciation or retirement accounts in accordance with such rules, regulations and forms of accounts as the commission may prescribe. The commission may from …
RCW 80.04.360 Earnings in excess of reasonable rate—Consideration in fixing rates.
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If any public service company earns in the period of five consecutive years immediately preceding the commission order fixing rates for such company a net utility operating income in excess of a reasonable rate of return upon the fair value of its property used and useful in the …
RCW 80.04.380 Penalties—Violations by public service companies.
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Every public service company, and all officers, agents and employees of any public service company, shall obey, observe and comply with every order, rule, direction or requirement made by the commission under authority of this title, so long as the same shall be and remain in for…
RCW 80.04.385 Penalties—Violations by officers, agents, and employees of public service companies.
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Every officer, agent or employee of any public service company, who shall violate or fail to comply with, or who procures, aids or abets any violation by any public service company of any provision of this title, or who shall fail to obey, observe or comply with any order of the …
RCW 80.04.387 Penalties—Violations by other corporations.
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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…
RCW 80.04.390 Penalties—Violations by persons.
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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 …
RCW 80.04.400 Actions to recover penalties—Disposition of fines, penalties, and forfeitures.
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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…
RCW 80.04.405 Additional penalties—Violations by public service companies and officers, agents, and employees thereof.
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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…
RCW 80.04.410 Orders and rules conclusive.
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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, …
RCW 80.04.420 Intervention by commission where order or rule is involved.
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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…
RCW 80.04.430 Findings of commission prima facie correct.
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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 …
RCW 80.04.440 Companies liable for damages.
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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…
RCW 80.04.450 Certified copies of orders, rules, etc.—Evidentiary effect.
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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…
RCW 80.04.460 Investigation of accidents.
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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 …
RCW 80.04.470 Commission to enforce public service laws—Employees as peace officers.
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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…
RCW 80.04.480 Rights of action not released—Penalties cumulative.
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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…
RCW 80.04.500 Application to municipal utilities.
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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…
RCW 80.04.510 Duties of attorney general.
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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…
RCW 80.04.520 Approval of lease of utility facilities.
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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…
RCW 80.04.530 Local exchange company that serves less than two percent of state's access lines—Regulatory exemptions—Reporting requirements.
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(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,…
RCW 80.04.550 Thermal energy—Restrictions on authority of commission.
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(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…
RCW 80.04.560 Finding.
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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:Findin…
RCW 80.04.570 Power purchase agreement for acquisition of coal transition power.
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(1) On the petition of an electrical company, the commission shall approve or disapprove a power purchase agreement for acquisition of coal transition power, as defined in RCW 80.80.010, and the recovery of related acquisition costs. No agreement for an electrical company's acqui…
RCW 80.04.580 Regulatory fee on wastewater companies regulated by the commission—Rule-making authority.
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(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 suffic…
RCW 80.08.010 Definition.
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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…
RCW 80.08.020 Control vested in state.
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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…
RCW 80.08.030 Authority to issue.
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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…
RCW 80.08.040 Prior to issuance—Filing required—Contents—Request for order establishing compliance.
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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 i…
RCW 80.08.043 Issuance of notes—Compliance with RCW 80.08.040—Exceptions.
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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…
RCW 80.08.047 Commission may exempt certain issuances—Order or rule—Public interest.
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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 …
RCW 80.08.080 Capitalization of franchises or merger contracts prohibited.
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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 …
RCW 80.08.090 Accounting for disposition of proceeds.
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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 …
RCW 80.08.100 Issuance made contrary to this chapter—Penalties.
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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 …
RCW 80.08.110 Penalty against companies.
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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…
RCW 80.08.120 Penalty against individuals.
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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…
RCW 80.08.130 Assumption of obligation or liability—Compliance with filing requirements.
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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…
RCW 80.08.140 State not obligated.
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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…
RCW 80.08.150 Authority of commission—Not affected by requirements of this chapter.
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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…
RCW 80.08.160 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 2.]
RCW 80.12.010 Definitions.
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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 ser…
RCW 80.12.020 Order required to sell, merge, etc.—Exemption.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1906-S2.SL) ***(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, a…
RCW 80.12.030 Disposal without authorization void—Approval or denial within eleven months, extension permitted.
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(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 …
RCW 80.12.040 Authority required to acquire property or securities of utility.
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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…
RCW 80.12.045 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 3.]
RCW 80.12.050 Rules and regulations.
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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.]
RCW 80.12.060 Penalty.
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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.]
RCW 80.16.010 Definitions.
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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 ch…
RCW 80.16.020 Dealings with affiliated interests—Prior filing with commission required—Commission may disapprove.
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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…
RCW 80.16.030 Payments to affiliated interest disallowed if not reasonable.
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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 …
RCW 80.16.040 Satisfactory proof, what constitutes.
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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…