Qualified Lewis County residents can now receive a $200 credit on their energy bills.
Approximately 675,000 households across Washington — about 20% of residential customers — can receive the state credit. The program is funded through the Climate Commitment Act.
“We are committed to ensuring that the benefits of the state’s clean energy transition reach everyone, especially those most burdened by energy costs,” said Gov. Jay Inslee in a July 29 statement. “The Climate Commitment Act is helping thousands of low-income families and communities reduce their home energy costs through things like weatherization, heat pumps and solar installations. While we continue to make those tools available for more people, this credit offers an immediate benefit.”
The Washington Families Clean Energy Credit program prioritizes customers at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI). If enough money is available, eligibility will expand to residents at or below 150% of the AMI.
To find out if you qualify for the program, visit https://wacleanenergycredits.com/relief_program.
According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, the utilities will distribute the credit into accounts by Sept. 15.
“The state’s largest as well as the smallest utilities have an equal chance to support the communities they serve by providing these credits,” Commerce Director Mike Fong said in a statement.
According to Fong, most of the state’s utility districts with residential customers have signed on to the program. More than 99.6% of all residential customers in Washington are served by participating utilities.
According to the Commerce Department, energy burden disproportionately affects low-income households, communities of color, rural households, renter households, and households living on fixed incomes. According to the Commerce Department, around 250,000 Washington households spend more than 6% of their income on energy costs.
