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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsPuget Sound Energy’s proposed electric and gas rate increases are not approved. At a September 29, 2026, public hearing in Lacey, customers and other speakers urged Washington regulators to reject or change the proposal, citing affordability and concerns about planned investments. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is reviewing the case; PSE says final rates may differ from what it requested.
What happened at the hearing
About 100 people reportedly spoke during the four-hour in-person hearing at the UTC’s Lacey headquarters. The October 1 account by the South Seattle Emerald, reprinting Washington State Standard reporting, said many commenters called on regulators to reject the proposal. Concerns included the effect of higher bills on households and the balance between gas infrastructure and clean-energy goals. The attendance figure and speakers’ comments are reported accounts, not a representative survey of Washington residents. Read the hearing report.
What PSE is asking regulators to approve
The October 1 report described PSE’s request as electric increases of 29.3% and gas increases of 19.8% over three years, and a proposed increase in the utility’s allowed return on equity from 9.9% to 10.8%. Those are figures reported for the overall request; they are not the annual changes PSE lists for each rate year.
PSE’s case page gives these rounded annual rate requests for 2027 through 2029. They remain proposed changes, not approved rates. PSE’s rate-increase page says the final approved rates may differ.
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| Service | 2027 requested change | 2028 requested change | 2029 requested change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 15.2% | 3.7% | 8.7% |
| Gas | 14.2% | 3.2% | 3.6% |
Do not read the three annual percentages as the increase on a particular customer’s bill. A customer’s result depends on service and usage, and the percentages are rounded requests. The cumulative figures reported by the Emerald and the annual figures on PSE’s page describe the proposal in different ways.
What the proposal could mean for a household bill
PSE’s examples estimate the change if its proposal is approved. They use specified “typical” monthly consumption, so they are illustrations rather than individual forecasts or guarantees of the final bill. PSE’s rate page provides the examples.
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| Example customer and usage | Early 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential electric, 800 kWh per month | About $28 more per month | About $7 more per month | Nearly $16 more per month |
| Residential gas, 64 therms per month | About $14 more per month | About $4 more per month | Nearly $5 more per month |
Why PSE says it needs the increase
PSE says the case would fund more than $3.2 billion in electric and gas system investment over three years. The utility describes electric spending as supporting safety, reliability, demand growth and resilience to severe weather and wildfire risks, and gas spending as preserving safety and infrastructure. Its plan also refers to 11 utility-scale renewable projects and capacity resources that include batteries, gas turbines and gas generation. These are PSE’s explanations for its request, not findings that the UTC has accepted.
PSE separately describes a new-generation capital plan exceeding $3.6 billion. The company presents that as a separate category; it should not be added to the $3.2 billion system-investment figure without compatible definitions. PSE’s case information outlines its stated investment rationale.
What critics said about affordability and the investment mix
At the hearing, concerns included the effect of higher bills on people with low incomes or fixed incomes and on customers who depend on electrically powered medical devices. Rep. Beth Doglio, D-Olympia, questioned whether the gas investments were necessary, cost-effective and consistent with Washington’s clean-energy goals. The October 1 report said the proposal includes nearly $1 billion for the gas distribution system and described criticism of converting the shut-down Centralia Power Plant to gas generation.
Doglio said, “Washington residents should not have to choose between keeping the lights on and protecting our climate. We can and must do both.” On the investment questions, she asked: “Are these investments necessary? Cost-effective? And, consistent with Washington’s clean energy goals?” Earthjustice attorney Jan Hasselman criticized the Centralia conversion, saying it was “a very bad use of ratepayer dollars” and would interfere with pollution and climate goals. These are speakers’ positions as reported at the hearing, not conclusions reached by the UTC.
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PSE acknowledged the bill pressure in a statement quoted by the report: “We recognize that higher bills are difficult for our customers and that more rate increases are not what anyone wants to hear.” It added that “the cost of providing safe and reliable energy has increased significantly.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the UTC review works and what happens next
This is a general rate case, in which the UTC reviews a utility’s costs, investments and operations before deciding what rates, if any, to approve. PSE says the review may take up to 11 months. The October 1 report said commissioners were expected to accept, reject or modify the proposal in early January. As of October 3, 2026, no final decision had been reported.
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A further virtual public-comment hearing was scheduled for October 7, 2026. The date was still in the future as of the October 3 information cutoff, so check the UTC or PSE case page for any later schedule or decision changes.
How to submit a comment
Customers can use the UTC public-comment form linked from PSE’s case page. A useful comment can explain how the requested changes would affect your household and identify specific concerns about the proposal. Submitting a comment gives regulators information to consider; it does not guarantee a particular outcome.
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