Keep our Electricity on the Path to Clean
Two years ago this November, Washingtonians overwhelmingly defended our climate commitments at the ballot box. Now, as we face rising electricity costs, some are blaming these same climate commitments for our rising rates. But in fact, it is not our climate commitments, but the effects of climate change - like wildfires, droughts, and more expensive insurance - that are driving rate increases. To keep the lights on, utilities must make investments in hardening infrastructure, in new and improved transmission and distribution systems, in distributed storage, and in new clean energy sources. (New solar generation is cheaper than new gas generation, so again, we can’t blame clean energy requirements for rising rates.) All of this costs money and our rates will rise.
But with an adjustment on our part and wise investment on the part of our electric utilities, our electric bills can be clean AND affordable. How?
Everyone can use less electricity and gas, through efficiency and conservation. Think heat pumps not space heaters, clotheslines not dryers, carpools not driving alone, and wearing layers not raising the thermostat.
Think twice before resorting to AI, whose growth is spurring the demand for new data centers and power generation.
Sign up for FLEX programs at PSE (here) that alert you to peak load times. Get paid to save during peak load.
Tell our state legislators that you support our clean energy laws, and tell our regulators at the Utilities and Transportation Commission not to allow PSE to charge us for fossil fuel expansion.
Two things you can do today to keep our electricity clean and affordable.
Submit a comment by October 14 on the PSE 2026 Rate Case. Ask the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to support an affordable clean energy transition and reject PSE’s request for fossil-fuel generation costs. Learn more about the issue and how to comment. More info, pre-written comment.
Contact Clyde Shavers, Dave Paul and Ron Muzzall and ask them to keep our climate commitments. Weakening climate goals now would only increase the cost of future climate impacts. Ask your friends in other legislative districts across the State to talk to their legislators ahead of the 2027 session about defending our clean energy and climate goals. Rep. Clyde Shavers: 360-786-7884, clyde.shavers@leg.wa.gov; Rep. Dave Paul: 360-786-7914, dave.paul@leg.wa.gov; Sen. Ron Muzzall: 360-786-7618, ron.muzzall@leg.wa.gov.
