OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown is taking steps to combat rising utility bills regionally.
Puget Sound Energy’s gas and electric utility rates have been steadily climbing over the last five years.
If approved by the Utilities and Transportation Commission, a price hike to take effect in January would raise electric rates by 17% and gas rates by 13%.
The Attorney General’s office filed expert testimony on Tuesday, July 28 with the UTC in an effort to relieve the growing rates.
The testimony challenges PSE’s proposal to increase its electric rates by 29% and gas rates by over 20% over the next three years. At time of their filing request for the increases, PSE said that the jump is to keep up with maintenance costs as well as upgrading their equipment to meet the demand they forecasted.
The office proposes a plan which involves asking PSE shareholders to pay a share of expenses, hopefully saving customers as much as $695 million in 2027.
Brown’s office notes that even with this diversion of dividends, PSE’s rates will continue to rise in years to come.
