Conservation/Environment Energy Independence Act

In November 2006, Washington voters approved the Energy Independence Act, also known as Initiative 937. The act, codified as RCW Chapter 19.285, imposes targets for energy conservation and use of eligible renewable resources on the state’s electric utilities that serve more than 25,000 customers. Specifically, these utilities, both public and private, must secure 15 percent of their power supply from renewable resources by 2020. The utilities must also set and meet energy conservation targets starting in 2010.

Under the act, conservation is defined as any reduction in electric power consumption resulting from an increase in the efficiency of energy use, production or distribution. Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, qualifying utilities must begin acquiring all conservation that is cost-effective, reliable and feasible. Each utility is required to set an annual target consisting of a certain share of this achievable cost-effective conservation potential and to meet that share of conservation. A utility must identify its achievable cost-effective conservation potential. Every two years the utility must review and update its 10-year assessment. Each impacted utility must establish a biennial acquisition target and  meet that target during the subsequent two-year period.

Questions should be directed to Andrew Grassell, Energy Development and Conservation manager, at (509) 661-4626 or by email.

2012-13 Target

The Chelan County PUD Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on establishing 10- and two-year conservation targets for the next biennium at 1 p.m. Dec. 5 in the boardroom of the PUD Headquarters Building, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee. A presentation to the board on the District's conservation potential and setting the targets took place prior to that meeting, on Monday, Nov. 21, also in the boardroom. For more information, visit these links:

Notice of public hearing and presentation (Wenatchee World, Nov. 13, 2011)