This bill amends existing law (RCW 19.405.120) to require electric utilities to offer energy assistance programs that include a monthly bill discount program. Utilities with 25,000 or more retail customers must offer programs sufficient to meet energy assistance need for all low-income customers by January 1, 2028, using funds generated by the utility’s operations; utilities with fewer than 25,000 retail customers must offer at least one such program, including the monthly bill discount, with the same statewide coverage deadline and funding source. The monthly discount must be income‑tiered with at least five tiers, approximate discounts needed to meet energy assistance need, provide a reasonable discount to low‑income households not in assistance need, and rely on a third‑party low‑income needs assessment updated at least every five years. If a customer cannot receive a monthly discount, a comparable monthly lump‑sum payment may be provided, and utilities may maintain prior benefit levels if those exceed the new requirements. The amendment imposes procedural and reporting requirements: utilities must offer multiple enrollment methods (in person, phone, web), streamlined eligibility (including categorical eligibility and self‑attestation), limited application requirements, multilingual materials reviewed by first‑language speakers in Washington, quarterly bill inserts or email notices about eligibility and enrollment, and codesign outreach materials with community‑based organizations serving low‑income BIPOC communities. Utilities must demonstrate biennial progress in participation and reduced energy burden, submit biennial assessments describing program mechanisms, outreach, and plans to improve effectiveness, and the department must aggregate and publish biennial data estimating energy burden, energy assistance need, and program participation and must report biennially to the legislature. Consumer‑owned utilities may contract with specified entities to aggregate disclosures and submit assessments on their behalf. Utilities must disclose to the department, for their most recent completed budget period and in the form/timeline/manner the department prescribes, amounts and types of assistance provided, numbers and characteristics of households served, amounts passed through to third parties, amounts used to mitigate rate impacts from allowance sales if applicable, and other requested low‑income assistance information as available. The section explicitly does not restrict the rate‑making authority of the commission or governing bodies of consumer‑owned utilities. The text does not include definitions or methodologies for key terms and measures—such as "electric utility," "low‑income household/customer," "energy assistance need," "energy burden," the identity of the "department," or how discounts and need are calculated—nor does it include specific discount formulas, dollar amounts, or the prescribed format and timing for disclosures. Section 1 takes effect January 1, 2028.

If enacted, electric utilities will have to use money from their own operations to run or expand low-income energy assistance so that by January 1, 2028 all eligible low-income customers can get help. Big utilities (25,000 or more retail customers) must have programs that meet the full assessed need across their service areas, and smaller utilities must at least offer a monthly bill discount program designed to meet need; programs must be income‑tiered with at least five tiers, include options like a lump‑sum payment if a monthly discount isn’t possible, and maintain or exceed any prior benefit levels. This will increase utility costs for benefits, require new or expanded enrollment and outreach (including multilingual materials and community co‑design), and likely raise administrative spending for third‑party needs assessments and biennial reporting; consumer‑owned utilities can contract with universities or community groups to help aggregate and submit required disclosures. Utilities must show biennial progress on participation and reducing energy burden and submit detailed assessments and data to a state department that will publish statewide summaries and report to the legislature. Key details that will shape actual costs and who qualifies are missing from the excerpt—terms like “low‑income,” “energy assistance need,” which state department is responsible, and the formulas or dollar amounts for discounts are not defined—so it’s unclear how big the required programs will be in dollar terms or exactly which customers will qualify.