About one-fifth of all electricity customers in Washington will be eligible for a $200 energy credit this summer, funded through the state’s landmark climate law.
An estimated 675,000 low- and moderate-income households can qualify for the credit. The $150 million program is funded by the Climate Commitment Act’s carbon-pricing program, which requires the state’s biggest polluters to reduce emissions or purchase allowances to cover them. The quarterly carbon allowance auctions have raised over $2 billion since the beginning of 2023.
In November, voters will decide whether to repeal the carbon-pricing program entirely. Supporters of the program have touted various grants and programs, hoping to show the value of the policy and the funding it provides. Critics of the program have portrayed it as a cash grab by the state that has led to higher prices for utilities, fuel and other consumer goods.
The energy credit offers an “immediate benefit” while other Climate Commitment Act programs like heat pump and solar installations become more available for low-income households, Gov. Jay Inslee said in a news release.
The electricity credit will become one of the most direct, immediate and wide-reaching effects of the Climate Commitment Act. Amid rising electricity demand due to things like electric vehicles, extreme weather and data centers, planners have raised alarm over energy forecasts for the Pacific Northwest over the next five years.
“We are committed to ensuring that the benefits of the state’s clean energy transition reach everyone, especially those most burdened by energy costs,” Inslee said.
Utilities will distribute the one-time credit directly into eligible customer accounts by Sept. 15. Some customers, who are already enrolled in low-income energy assistance programs with their utility or with their local community agencies for nutrition or home weatherization assistance, will automatically receive the credit. These customers can contact their utility to confirm that the credit will be applied automatically.
Other customers will have to apply with their utility and may receive a text message pointing them to the program’s website to see if they qualify.
Customers can go to the website wacleanenergycredits.com to see if they qualify for the credit. Customers will need to provide the name of their utility, their account number, the county they live in, the number of people in their household and their total gross annual income for 2023 for all household members.
According to the Department of Commerce, the program directs utilities to prioritize customers at or below 80% of the area median income.
If there is enough funding, that eligibility may be expanded to 150% of the area median income. In Seattle, Everett and Vancouver, a qualifying four-person household income ranges from around $110,950 to $226,050. In areas with the lowest cost of living, a qualifying income four a four-person household could range from $72,000 to $135,000.
The utilities participating in the program make up around 99.6% of residential electricity customers in the state, according to the department.
According to a 2023 Commerce report, around 250,000 households in Washington are energy burdened, meaning they spend more than 6% of their income on energy costs from electricity, propane, wood and natural gas, which is mostly methane. Even after bill reductions from existing assistance programs, these costs total around $844 on average a year for a household, and $234 million statewide.
How to apply for the one-time electricity credit
If you are already participating in your utilities assistance program, like the “Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program,” or another that helps senior or disabled people, the Department of Commerce says you will have the credit automatically applied to your account. The same is true for customers enrolled through assistance programs with their local community agencies, such as home weatherization or nutrition assistance. These customers can also confirm with their utility.
Other customers should go to wacleanenergycredits.com to see if they qualify.
To start, users will have to select their utility and input their account number, street address and ZIP code. If you followed the link from a text message from your utility, your account number should already be entered.
After that step, you will be asked to review your account information before being asked to enter a mobile number for a verification code through text message. If you do not have a mobile number, you will be asked to call a number listed on the page.
After entering the six digit code, you will be asked for the county your household lives in and the number of people in your household. The website will then provide three options and you will need to select what income bracket best describes your total gross annual income for 2023.
In Seattle or Everett, the three options for a household of four could be below $110,950, between $11,950 and $226,050 and above $226,060. These numbers represent the cutoffs for the 80% and 150% area median income levels.
You will not be required to submit any documents.
Before submitting the application, users must attest that they are the account owner and that all the information in the application is “true and complete to the best of” their knowledge.