Sample Language for comments to UTC

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is seeking approval from its regulator, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), to increase customer energy rates by over $1.5 billion over the next three years. By 2029, this would increase a typical residential customer’s monthly electric bill by $51 (nearly 30%), and would increase their monthly gas bill by $23 (nearly 20%). 

PSE is also requesting hundreds of millions for fossil-powered generation, including $600 million to convert the Centralia coal-fired power plant to run on methane gas. PSE has asked for over $860 million to maintain and expand its system of pipelines that delivers methane gas to homes and buildings, including $3.4 million for a pilot project to pipe polluting, leak-prone, and explosive hydrogen gas into homes and businesses. These fossil fuel projects make it harder and more expensive to meet Washington’s decarbonization requirements, adding hundreds of millions in annual compliance costs on top of the costs of building and running the fossil fuel equipment. These are costs that would not exist if PSE instead pursued clean energy resources that inherently meet decarbonization requirements.

What You Can Do

Write comments – The UTC is accepting written comments on PSE’s rate case through November 5, but comments should be submitted by October 14 to have the greatest impact. Comments can be submitted through the UTC’s form, by email to , or by calling 1-888-333-9882. Be sure to say your comments relate to Docket UE-260005. For more information on commenting, see the UTC’s website.

Voice your thoughts – The UTC will hold two public comment hearings: A live hearing from 6-8pm on September 29 at the UTC headquarters (621 Woodland Square Loop S.E. in Lacey, Room 115), and a virtual hearing from 6-8pm on October 7. To participate in the virtual hearing, join by Zoom or call (253) 215-8782 and enter Meeting ID: 822 1351 8474# and Passcode: 226995#.

Here is sample language to help you:

Chair Rybarik and Commissioners Rendahl and Doumit,

I am writing regarding Docket UE-260005, PSE’s general rate case, to urge the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to advance an affordable clean energy transition and reject PSE’s requests for fossil-fuel generation and gas system costs that drive up rates and hinder this transition. 

[Can add any identifying information or brief background on interest in the case here or in the paragraph above.]

PSE’s expensive fossil-fuel energy projects are adding hundreds of millions in unnecessary Climate Commitment Act costs, and PSE has failed to properly consider lower-cost clean energy options. PSE sidestepped its normal resource planning and competitive bidding process for the costs of converting the Centralia plant to run on methane gas. It left available clean resources like the Sunstone Solar project on the table. And PSE failed to seriously evaluate non-pipeline alternatives to gas system costs, even though the UTC directed it to do so in its last rate case.

[Can add detail on your concerns about your energy bills, health, the environment, the long-term viability of fossil infrastructure, etc.]

Instead of pursuing available, affordable solutions like building electrification, PSE wants to put customer funds toward false solutions like a hydrogen blending pilot. PSE has not committed to using clean hydrogen for this project, and doesn’t even know where it would get the hydrogen. It has not developed safeguards against elevated emissions of Nitrogen Oxide pollution (NOx), or said which community would be affected by the pilot.

[Can add detail on how this dangerous, polluting, expensive, dead-end pilot could affect you, your family, and your community]

For these reasons, I support the recommendations of the Joint Environmental Advocates, including: (1) keeping Centralia conversion costs and new gas turbine costs out of customer rates, (2) a cost sharing mechanism for Climate Commitment Act allowance costs, (3) rejecting PSE’s $3.4 million hydrogen blending pilot, (4) directing PSE to seriously pursue non-pipeline alternatives, including a service line NPA program, and (5) prohibiting fees associated with customer utility disconnections.

[Can add any other personal experiences, concerns, or detail on recommendations]

Thank you for considering my comments.

[Your Name]