How Washington residents can get $200 toward their electric bills

Editors’ note: Additional context and perspective about the grant program providing the rebates to utility customers have been included to accompany to the version of this story originally published Friday, Aug. 23. 

Washington residents can make money this month with just the tap on the phone screen or a click of the mouse. The Washington Families Clean Energy Credits Grant Program is providing up to 675,000 Washington households with $200 off their electricity bills thanks to the Climate Commitment Act (CCA).

According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, the clean energy credits program is supported by $150 million from the CCA. The credits will help low- and moderate-income families with energy costs.

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The department said there are enough funds for about 20% of all residential electricity customers in the state. Those who qualify as low-income get priority.

“For a family of four living in areas of the state with the lowest cost of living, this equates to a qualifying household income of $72,000, and up to $135,000 if funding allows,” the Washington State Department of Commerce’s website states. “In areas such as Seattle, Everett and Vancouver, the qualifying income for a four-person household increases to $110,950, and up to $226,050 depending on available funding.”

Critics have spoken out over the timing of this rebate

In February, during the Washington State Legislature’s 2024 legislative session in Olympia, multiple Republican elected leaders spoke out against the timing of this rebate using terms such as “electioneering,” “awfully fishy” and “suspicious,” according to coverage in The Washington State Standard.

The reaction is based on the appearance of Initiative 2117 on the Washington ballot for the Nov. 5 general election. If that initiative passes, it will immediately eliminate the CCA, the law that is funding these rebates for state utility customers.

Last month, Brian Heywood, who is the founder of the political committee behind the initiative, Let’s Go Washington, said these rebates were being used to “bribe” people into keeping the CCA, the Standard reported.

“(Washington Gov. Jay ​​Inslee) has created a program where taxes take thousands out of voter’s paychecks, then a couple hundred dollars are offered back to them to try to make up for it,” Heywood said in a statement. “Government greed is at an all time high and we’ve had enough of the most regressive tax in state history.”

According to the a story the Tri-City Herald published earlier this month, the Benton and Franklin public utility districts and the city of Richland all agreed to accept state grants to fund the credits residents can apply for, but they don’t support being forced to acknowledge the money comes from the CCA.

Richland Councilman Ryan Whitten called the climate change language a “conflict of interest” given the political climate. But supported taking the state money as long as the city adds its own disclaimer language.

A Department of Commerce spokeswoman confirmed to the Herald the state is requiring utilities to include marketing language about the CCA, and is aware some utilities have added disclaimers. That won’t affect their customers’ eligibility, she said.

Who these credits are helping

The Spokesman-Review in Spokane reported Sunday this program has already provided $200 credits to 50,000 low-income families in Eastern Washington. In addition, more than half of northeastern Washington counties receiving automatic approval.

Elisanne McCutchen of Chewleah, who is 63 and disabled, told the Spokane media outlet she was automatically approved for the credit and was able to pay off this month’s utility bill and a previous backlog as well.

“I am disabled and I am elderly, and that means I can’t work extra hours or, you know, I can’t earn extra income anywhere. I have to budget everything,” she said, according to The Spokesman-Review.

Residents can apply for a credit and see if they qualify on WACleanEnergyCredits.com.

Utilities have different processes to apply for the credit

However, each electricity provider asks for different information. For example, Seattle City Light asks for the account number, billing address and billing ZIP code, while Tacoma Public Utilities offers the application on TPU’s website. Tacoma residents can apply here. They will need their account number, along with the service address, service city, service sate and service ZIP code.

Snohomish County PUD also redirects customers to its website. Snohomish County residents can apply here. They will need their account number, along with their name and email address.

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But don’t wait! The deadline to apply for the credit is Sept. 15.

The Department of Commerce said residents can look for further information in their utility billing statements.

Contributing: Steve Coogan

Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X here and email her here.