More Rain, Mountain Snow Continue After Storm Batters Western Washington A powerful storm swept across western Washington, bringing strong winds, heavy rain in the lowlands, and dangerous snowy conditions in the mountains. Thousands of residents were left without power on Thursday morning as the storm disrupted infrastructure and caused widespread outages. Many of the reported outages by Puget Sound Energy occurred on the Eastside along the Interstate 90 corridor, leading up to Snoqualmie Pass. The storm’s strong winds and relentless rain caused trees to fall across the region, leading to significant damage. In Snohomish County, a tree fell onto a car near Monroe around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, resulting in one fatality. First responders noted that several power lines sparked during the incident but did not ignite a fire. Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue confirmed the incident was one of several calls they received for downed trees and power lines. In east King County, a tree fell on a camper along Lake Joy Road Northeast in Carnation around 9 p.m. Wednesday. The tree, measuring 70 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter, blocked access to the vehicle. Eastside Fire and Rescue crews worked for two hours to free the trapped individual, who was later hospitalized with critical injuries. The storm also caused road closures, with a 10-mile section of State Route 410 blocked due to downed trees. Trees were also reported on State Route 160 in the south Sound, while US 101 and State Route 7 in Eatonville had trees and power lines obstructing both directions of the highways. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) stated crews were actively removing debris and trees from State Route 20 between Marblemount Road and Newhalem.#puget_sound_energy #snoqualmie_pass #western_washington #snohomish_county #washington_state_department_of_transportation
Puget Sound Energy seeks 30% rate hike, citing clean energy mandates and grid upgrades Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is requesting a significant increase in customer rates, proposing a nearly 30% rise in electric bills and nearly 20% in gas bills by 2029 for residential users. The utility’s plan, submitted to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, comes amid rising energy costs and expanding commitments to renewable energy and grid reliability. The rate increase follows a 12% jump in energy bills this year, driven by state-mandated costs for complying with the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) and the Clean Electricity Transformation Act (CETA). These laws require utilities to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and invest in clean energy infrastructure. PSE’s Public Relations Manager, Melanie Coon, explained that the new proposal reflects additional investments in renewable projects, grid upgrades, and natural gas capacity to meet peak demand. The utility’s request includes costs for 11 new CETA-compliant renewable energy projects, which account for approximately 40% of the proposed rate adjustments. Coon emphasized that the plan also covers expenses for natural gas-fired power plants, which are necessary to ensure reliability when renewable sources like wind and solar are unavailable. The rate hike has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Mary Dye, ranking minority on the House Environment & Energy Committee. Dye argued that PSE’s financial burden stems from Democratic-led clean energy policies, which she claims have shifted costs to customers while benefiting shareholders.#house_bill_2515 #puget_sound_energy #melanie_coon #climate_commitment_act #clean_electricity_transformation_act
PSE Rate Proposal Could Raise Seattle Area Bills Seattle area households and businesses may face significant increases in energy costs as Puget Sound Energy seeks approval for a three-year rate plan that would raise electric and natural gas bills from 2027 to 2029. The utility filed its proposal on February 27, proposing a front-loaded increase in the first year, which could add dozens of dollars to monthly bills for many customers. These hikes would build on existing rate adjustments already in place for 2025 and 2026. Puget Sound Energy is requesting state regulators to approve the plan, which would allow the utility to recover over $1.5 billion in costs. The proposed increases—29.32% for electric service and 19.83% for natural gas over three years—would fund investments in new power generation, transmission upgrades, and grid improvements. These projects aim to meet rising demand and comply with state mandates for clean energy. The utility argues that the funds are necessary to ensure reliability and resilience against extreme weather events and wildfires. For residential customers, the impact would be noticeable. A typical electric user consuming 800 kilowatt-hours per month could see an additional $28 in early 2027, rising to about $7 in 2028 and nearly $16 in 2029. Natural gas customers using 64 therms monthly would face a $14 increase in 2027, with smaller annual adjustments in the following years. The utility also highlights projected federal tax credits worth $529 million, which it claims would offset some of the costs for customers. The proposal comes amid broader challenges for utilities, including surging demand from data centers driven by artificial intelligence. A recent study by the Berkeley Lab, supported by the Department of Energy, warns that U.S.#seattle #puget_sound_energy #berkeley_lab #department_of_energy #house_bill_2515
