RCW 54.24.200 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 200
RCW 54.24.200: Local improvement guaranty fund.
Status: in_force

Every public utility district in the state is hereby authorized, by resolution, to create a fund for the purpose of guaranteeing, to the extent of such fund, and in the manner hereinafter provided, the payment of such of its local improvement bonds and/or warrants as the commission may determine issued to pay for any local improvement within any local utility district established within the boundaries of the public utility district. Such fund shall be designated "local improvement guaranty fund, public utility district No. . . . .". For the purpose of maintaining such fund the public utility district shall set aside and pay into it such proportion as the commissioners may direct by resolution of the monthly gross revenues of its public utilities for which local improvement bonds and/or warrants have been issued and guaranteed by said fund: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any obligation to make payments into said fund as herein provided shall be junior to any pledge of said gross revenues for the payment of any outstanding or future general obligation bonds or revenue bonds of the district. The proportion may be varied from time to time as the commissioners deem expedient: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That under the existence of the conditions set forth in subdivisions (1) and (2), hereunder, and when consistent with the covenants of a public utility district securing its bonds, the proportion shall be as therein specified, to wit: (1) When bonds and/or warrants of a local utility district have been guaranteed and are outstanding and the guaranty fund does not have a cash balance equal to twenty percent of all bonds and/or warrants originally guaranteed hereunder, excluding bonds and/or warrants which have been retired in full, then twenty percent of the gross monthly revenues from each public utility for which such bonds and/or warrants have been issued and are outstanding but not necessarily from users in other parts of the public utility district as a whole, shall be set aside and paid into the guaranty fund: PROVIDED, That when, under the requirements of this subdivision, the cash balance accumulates so that it is equal to twenty percent of the total original guaranteed bonds and/or warrants, exclusive of any issue of bonds and/or warrants of a local utility district which issue has been paid and/or redeemed in full, or equal to the full amount of all bonds and/or warrants guaranteed, outstanding and unpaid, which amount might be less than twenty percent of the original total guaranteed, then no further revenue need be set aside and paid into the guaranty fund so long as such condition continues; (2) When warrants issued against the guaranty fund remain outstanding and uncalled, for lack of funds, for six months from date of issuance, or when bonds, warrants, or any coupons or interest payments guaranteed hereunder have been matured for six months and have not been redeemed, then twenty percent of the gross monthly revenue, or such portion thereof as the commissioners determine will be sufficient to retire the warrants or redeem the coupons, interest payments, bonds and/or warrants in the ensuing six months, derived from all the users of the public utilities for which such bonds and/or warrants have been issued and are outstanding in whole or in part, shall be set aside and paid into the guaranty fund: PROVIDED, That when under the requirements of this subdivision all warrants, coupons, bonds and/or warrants specified in this subdivision have been redeemed and interest payments made, no further income need be set aside and paid into the guaranty fund under the requirements of this subdivision unless other warrants remain outstanding and unpaid for six months or other coupons, bonds and/or warrants default or interest payments are not made: PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER, That no more than a total of twenty percent of the gross monthly revenue shall be required to be set aside and paid into the guaranty fund by these subdivisions (1) and (2).
RCW 54.04.039 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 039
RCW 54.04.039: County with federal nuclear reservation within its boundaries—Special procedure for addition or withdrawal of territory from public utility district.
Status: in_force

(1) Any voting precinct located within a county that has a federal nuclear reservation within its boundaries is: (a) Withdrawn from a public utility district if the precinct receives at least one electric distribution, water, or sewer service from a city, and no electric distribution, water, or sewer service from a public utility district; (b) Included in a public utility district if any portion of the precinct receives at least one electric distribution, water, or sewer service from the public utility district. (2) For voting precincts that meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, within ten days after March 24, 2004, and for voting precincts that later meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, within thirty days of meeting the requirements: (a) The city that provides any electric distribution, water, or sewer service to a precinct that is withdrawn from a public utility district under subsection (1) of this section shall submit to the public utility district and the county auditor a list of street addresses, or map of the areas to which any service is provided; (b) The public utility district that provides any electric distribution, water, or sewer service to a precinct that is included in the public utility district under subsection (1) of this section shall submit to the city or town and the county auditor a list of street addresses, or map of the areas to which any service is provided. (3) Within ten days of receipt of the information required under subsection (2) of this section, the auditor shall determine which voting precincts are required to be withdrawn from or included in the public utility district, and provide that information to the public utility district commissioners who shall, within ten days, revise the boundaries of the district in conformance with RCW 54.12.010 without dividing any voting precinct. (4) Unless otherwise provided in an agreement between the public utility district and the city or town, taxes or assessments levied or assessed against property located in an area withdrawn from a public utility district shall remain a lien and be collected as by law (a) if the taxes or assessments were levied or assessed before the withdrawal or (b) if the levies or assessments were made to pay or secure an obligation of the district duly incurred or issued before the withdrawal. The withdrawal of an area from the boundaries of a district does not exempt any property therein from taxation or assessment for the purpose of paying the costs of retiring or redeeming any obligation of the district duly incurred or issued before the withdrawal. (5) Except as set forth in subsection (4) of this section, a public utility district may not levy or impose any taxes upon property located within those voting precincts withdrawn from the public utility district. (6) Nothing in chapter 113, Laws of 2004 limits the authority of public utility districts and cities or towns to enter into service agreements that are otherwise permitted by law.
RCW 54.36.050 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 36 / Section 050
RCW 54.36.050: Compensation of school district for construction pupils—How paid when more than one project in the same school district.
Status: in_force

If more than one public utility district or joint operating agency is carrying on a construction project in the same school district, the number of construction pupils for whom the school district is to receive compensation shall be computed as if the projects were constructed by a single agency. The public utility districts or joint operating agencies involved shall divide the cost of such compensation between themselves in proportion to the number of construction pupils occasioned by the operations of each.
RCW 54.16.165 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 165
RCW 54.16.165: Segregation of assessments.
Status: in_force

Whenever any land against which there has been levied any special assessment by any public utility district shall have been sold in part or subdivided, the board of commissioners of such public utility district shall have the power to order a segregation of the assessment. Any person owning any part of the land involved in a special assessment and desiring to have such special assessment against the tracts of land segregated to apply to smaller parts thereof shall apply in writing to the board of commissioners of the public utility district which levied the assessment. If the commissioners determine that a segregation should be made they shall do so as nearly as possible on the same basis as the original assessment was levied and the total of the segregated parts of the assessment shall equal the assessment before segregation. The commission shall then send notice thereof by mail to the several owners interested in the tract, as shown on the general tax rolls. If no protest is filed within twenty days from date of mailing said notice, the commission shall then by resolution approve said segregation. If a protest is filed, the commission shall have a hearing thereon, after mailing to the several owners at least ten days notice of the time and place thereof. After the hearing, the commission may by resolution approve said segregation, with or without change. Within ten days after the approval, any person aggrieved by the segregation may perfect an appeal to the superior court of the county wherein the property is situated and thereafter seek appellate review, all as provided for appeals from assessments levied by cities of the first class. The resolution approving said segregation shall describe the original tract, the amount and date of the original assessment, and shall define the boundaries of the divided parts and the amount of the assessment chargeable to each part, and shall order the county treasurer to make segregation on the original assessment roll as directed in the resolution. A certified copy of the resolution shall be delivered to the county treasurer who shall proceed to make the segregation ordered. The board of commissioners may require as a condition to the order of segregation that the person seeking it pay the public utility district the reasonable engineering and clerical costs incident to making the segregation. Unless otherwise provided in said resolution, the county treasurer shall apportion amounts paid on the original assessment in the same proportion as the segregated assessments bear to the original assessment. Upon segregation being made by the county treasurer, as aforesaid, the lien of the special assessment shall apply to the segregated parcels only to the extent of the segregated part of such assessment.
RCW 54.28.100 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 28 / Section 100
RCW 54.28.100: Use of moneys received by taxing district.
Status: in_force

All moneys received by any taxing district shall be used for purposes for which state taxes may be used under the provisions of the state constitution.
RCW 54.48.020 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 48 / Section 020
RCW 54.48.020: Legislative declaration of policy.
Status: in_force

The legislature hereby declares that the duplication of the electric lines and service of public utilities and cooperatives is uneconomical, may create unnecessary hazards to the public safety, discourages investment in permanent underground facilities, and is unattractive, and thus is contrary to the public interest and further declares that it is in the public interest for public utilities and cooperatives to enter into agreements for the purpose of avoiding or eliminating such duplication.
RCW 54.16.230 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 230
RCW 54.16.230: Sewage system works—Acquire, construct, operate, etc.—Authorizing election—Procedure.
Status: in_force

A public utility district may acquire, construct, operate, maintain, and add to sewage systems, subject to and in compliance with the county comprehensive plan, under the general powers of Title 54 RCW or through the formation of local utility districts as provided in RCW 54.16.120 through 54.16.170 : PROVIDED, That prior to engaging in any sewage system works as authorized by this section, the voters of the public utility district shall first approve by majority vote a referendum proposition authorizing such district to exercise the powers set forth in this section, which proposition shall be presented at a general election.
RCW 54.16.250 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 250
RCW 54.16.250: Sewage system works—Ballot proposition—Canvass.
Status: in_force

The legislative authority of the county in which the public utility district is located, upon receipt of the resolution of the public utility district commission or petition as provided for in RCW 54.08.010 , shall submit such proposal to the voters of the district at the next general election in substantially the following terms: Shall Public Utility District No. . . . . of . . . . . . County be authorized to acquire, construct, operate, maintain, and add to sewage systems? Yes □ No □ Within ten days after such election, the election board of the county shall canvass the returns, and if at such election a majority of voters voting on the proposition shall vote in favor of such authority, the district shall have the powers set forth in RCW 54.16.230 .
RCW 54.04.140 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 140
RCW 54.04.140: Employee benefit plans when private utility acquired—Admission to district's employee plan—Service credit—Contributions—Benefits.
Status: in_force

Any person affected by RCW 54.04.130 who was employed by the private utility at the time of acquisition may, at his or her option, apply to the district and/or appropriate officers, for admission to any plan available to other employees of the district. Every such person who was covered at the time of acquisition by a plan with the private utility shall have added and accredited to his or her period of employment his or her period of immediately preceding continuous service with such private utility if he or she remains in the service of the municipal corporation until such plan for which he or she seeks admission becomes applicable to him or her. No such person shall have added and accredited to his or her period of employment his or her period of service with said private utility unless he or she or a third party shall pay to the appropriate officer or fund of the plan to which he or she requests admission his or her contribution for the period of such service with the private utility at the rate provided in or for such plan to which he or she desires admission, or if he or she shall be entitled to any private benefits, as a result of such private service, unless he or she agrees at the time of his or her employment with the district to accept a reduction in the payment of any benefits payable under the plan to which he or she requests entry that are based in whole or in part on such added and accredited service by the amount of benefits received. For the purposes of contributions, the date of entry of service shall be deemed the date of entry into service with the private utility, which service is accredited by this section, and the amount of contributions for the period of accredited service shall be based on the wages or salary of such person during that added and accredited period of service with the private utility. The district may receive such payments from a third party and shall make from such payments contributions with respect to such prior service as may be necessary to enable it to assume its obligations. After such contributions have been made and such service added and accredited such employee shall be established in the plan to which he or she seeks admission with all rights, benefits, and privileges that he or she would have been entitled to had he or she been a member of the plan from the beginning of his or her immediately preceding continuous employment with the private utility or of his or her eligibility.
RCW 54.16.380 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 380
RCW 54.16.380: Appliance repair service—Operation by district.
Status: in_force

Any public utility district that has operated an electrical appliance repair service for at least ten years prior to July 24, 2005, may continue to operate an electrical appliance repair service within its service territory.
RCW 54.08.041 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 08 / Section 041
RCW 54.08.041: Formation election expenses.
Status: in_force

All expenses of elections for the formation of such public utility districts shall be paid by the county holding such election, and such expenditure is hereby declared to be for a county purpose, and the money paid out for such purpose shall be repaid to such county by the public utility district, if formed.
RCW 54.44.020 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 44 / Section 020
RCW 54.44.020: Authority to participate in and enter into agreements—Percentage of ownership—Expenses—Taxes—Payments.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, cities of the first class, public utility districts organized under chapter 54.08 RCW, which operate electric generating facilities or distribution systems, and any joint operating agency organized under chapter 43.52 RCW shall have power and authority to participate and enter into agreements with each other and with electrical companies which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Washington utilities and transportation commission or the regulatory commission of any other state, hereinafter called "regulated utilities", and with rural electric cooperatives, including generation and transmission cooperatives, with any other person or entities for the development, use, and ownership of any type of electric generating plants and facilities, including, but not limited to, nuclear and other thermal power generating plants and facilities, renewable energy facilities, energy storage facilities, and transmission facilities including, but not limited to, related transmission facilities, hereinafter called "common facilities", and for the planning, financing, acquisition, construction, operation and maintenance thereof. Agreements under this section include, but are not limited to, joint venture agreements and limited liability company agreements. It shall be provided in such agreements that each city, public utility district, or joint operating agency shall own a percentage of any common facility at least equal to the percentage of the money furnished or the value of property supplied by it for the acquisition and construction thereof and shall own and control a like percentage of the electrical output thereof. (2)(a) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, cities of the first class, counties with a biomass facility authorized under RCW 36.140.010 , public utility districts organized under chapter 54.08 RCW, any cities that operate electric generating facilities or distribution systems, any joint operating agency organized under chapter 43.52 RCW, or any separate legal entity comprising two or more thereof organized under chapter 39.34 RCW shall, either directly or as co-owners of a separate legal entity, have power and authority to participate and enter into agreements described in (b) and (c) of this subsection with each other, and with any of the following, either directly or as co-owners of a separate legal entity: (i) Any public agency, as that term is defined in RCW 39.34.020 ; (ii) Electrical companies that are subject to the jurisdiction of the Washington utilities and transportation commission or the regulatory commission of any state; (iii) Rural electric cooperatives and generation and transmission cooperatives or any wholly owned subsidiaries of either rural electric cooperatives or generation and transmission cooperatives; and (iv) Any other persons or entities. (b) Except as provided in (b)(i)(B) of this subsection (2), agreements including, but not limited to, joint venture agreements and limited liability company agreements, may provide for: (i)(A) The development, use, or ownership, or indirect ownership in the case of a separate legal entity, of common facilities that include any type of electric generating plant generating an eligible renewable resource, as defined in RCW 19.285.030 , energy storage facilities, and transmission facilities including, but not limited to, related transmission facilities, and for the planning, financing, acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance thereof; (B) For counties with a biomass facility authorized under RCW 36.140.010 , the provisions in (b)(i)(A) of this subsection (2) are limited to the purposes of RCW 36.140.010 ; and (ii) The formation, operation, and ownership of a separate legal entity that may own the common facilities. (c) Agreements must provide that each city, county, public utility district, or joint operating agency: (i) Owns a percentage of any common facility or a percentage of any separate legal entity at least equal to the percentage of the money furnished or the value of property supplied by it for the acquisition and construction thereof; and (ii) Owns and controls, or has a right to own and control in the case of a separate legal entity, a like percentage of the electrical output thereof. (d) Any entity in which a public utility district participates, either directly or as co-owner of a separate legal entity, in constructing or developing a common facility pursuant to this subsection shall comply with the provisions of chapter 39.12 RCW. (3) Each participant shall defray its own interest and other payments required to be made or deposited in connection with any financing undertaken by it to pay its percentage of the money furnished or value of property supplied by it for the planning, acquisition and construction of any common facility, or any additions or betterments thereto. The agreement shall provide a uniform method of determining and allocating operation and maintenance expenses of the common facility. (4) Each city, county acting under RCW 36.140.010 , public utility district, joint operating agency, regulated utility, and cooperatives participating in the direct or indirect ownership or operation of a common facility described in subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall pay all taxes chargeable to its share of the common facility and the electric energy generated thereby under applicable statutes as now or hereafter in effect, and may make payments during preliminary work and construction for any increased financial burden suffered by any county or other existing taxing district in the county in which the common facility is located, pursuant to agreement with such county or taxing district.
RCW 54.24.240 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 240
RCW 54.24.240: Local improvement guaranty fund—Certificates of delinquency—Redemption, foreclosure.
Status: in_force

The certificates of delinquency may be redeemed by the owner of the property assessed at any time up to two years from the date of foreclosure of the certificate. If a certificate is not redeemed on the second occurring first day of January, after its issuance, the county treasurer shall foreclose the certificate in the manner specified for the foreclosure of the lien of local improvement assessments in cities, and if no redemption is made within the succeeding two years, from date of the decree of foreclosure, shall execute and deliver unto the public utility district, as trustee for the fund, a deed conveying fee simple title to the property described in the foreclosed certificate.
RCW 54.04.082 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 082
RCW 54.04.082: Alternative bid procedure.
Status: in_force

For the awarding of a contract to purchase any item, or items of the same kind of materials, equipment, or supplies in an amount exceeding thirty thousand dollars per calendar month, but less than one hundred twenty thousand dollars per calendar month, exclusive of sales tax, the commission may, in lieu of the procedure described in RCW 54.04.070 and 54.04.080 requiring public notice to invite sealed proposals for such materials, equipment, or supplies, pursuant to commission resolution use the process provided in RCW 39.04.190 . Waiver of the deposit or bid bond required under RCW 54.04.080 may be authorized by the commission in securing such bid quotations.
RCW 54.44.040 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 44 / Section 040
RCW 54.44.040: Authority to provide money and/or property, issue revenue bonds—Declaration of public purpose.
Status: in_force

Any such city, public utility district, or joint operating agency participating in common facilities under this chapter, without an election, may furnish money and provide property, both real and personal, issue and sell revenue bonds pledging revenues of its electric system and its interest or share of the revenues derived from the common facilities and any additions and betterments thereto in order to pay its respective share of the costs of the planning, financing, acquisition and construction thereof. Such bonds shall be issued under the provisions of applicable laws authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds for the acquisition and construction of electric public utility properties by cities, public utility districts, or joint operating agencies as the case may be. All moneys paid or property supplied by any such city, public utility district, or joint operating agency for the purpose of carrying out the powers conferred herein are declared to be for a public purpose.
RCW 54.16.405 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 405
RCW 54.16.405: Voluntary donations for purpose of supporting hunger programs.
Status: in_force

(1) Public utility districts may request voluntary donations from their customers for the purpose of supporting hunger programs. (2) Voluntary donations collected by public utility districts under this section must be used by the public utility district to support the maintenance and operation of hunger programs. (3) Donations received under this section do not contribute to the gross income of a light and power business or gas distribution business under chapter 82.16 RCW. (4) Nothing in this section precludes a public utility district from requesting voluntary donations to support other programs.
RCW 54.28.110 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 28 / Section 110
RCW 54.28.110: Voluntary payments by district to taxing entity for removal of property from tax rolls.
Status: in_force

Whenever, hereafter, property is removed from the tax rolls as a result of the acquisition of operating property or the construction of a generating plant by a public utility district, such public utility district may make voluntary payments to any municipal corporation or other entity authorized to levy and collect taxes in an amount not to exceed the amount of tax revenues being received by such municipal corporation or other entity at the time of said acquisition or said construction and which are lost by such municipal corporation or other entity as a result of the acquisition of operating property or the construction of a generating plant by the public utility district: PROVIDED, That this section shall not apply to taxing districts as defined in RCW 54.28.010 , and: PROVIDED FURTHER, That in the event any operating property so removed from the tax rolls is dismantled or partially dismantled the payment which may be paid hereunder shall be correspondingly reduced.
RCW 54.08.050 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 08 / Section 050
RCW 54.08.050: Validity of district, questioning of.
Status: in_force

The existence of any public utility district now or hereafter formed under chapter 1, Laws of 1931, cannot hereafter be legally questioned by any person except the state of Washington in an appropriate court action brought within six months from the date that the county election board shall have canvassed the returns of the election held on the proposition of creating such district. If the existence of a district is not challenged within the period above specified, by the filing and service of petition or complaint in the action aforesaid, the state of Washington thereafter shall be barred forever from questioning the legal existence and validity of such district by reason of any defect in the organization thereof, and the same shall be deemed duly and regularly organized under the laws of this state.
RCW 54.16.240 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 240
RCW 54.16.240: Sewage system works—Resolution or petition—Voter approval or rejection.
Status: in_force

The commission of a public utility district, by resolution may, or on petition in the same manner as provided for the creation of a district under RCW 54.08.010 shall, submit to the voters for their approval or rejection the proposal that said public utility district be authorized to exercise the powers set forth in RCW 54.16.230 .
RCW 54.36.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 36 / Section 010
RCW 54.36.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: "Public utility district" means public utility district or districts or a joint operating agency or agencies. "Construction project" means the construction of generating facilities by a public utility district. It includes the relocation of highways and railroads, by whomever done, to the extent that it is occasioned by the overflowing of their former locations, or by destruction or burying incident to the construction. "Base-year enrollment" means the number of pupils enrolled in a school district on the first of May next preceding the date construction was commenced. "Subsequent-year enrollment" means the number of pupils enrolled in a school district on any first of May after construction was commenced. "Construction pupils" means pupils who have a parent who is a full time employee on the construction project and who moved into the school district subsequent to the first day of May next preceding the day the construction was commenced. "Nonconstruction pupils" means other pupils.
RCW 54.16.170 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 170
RCW 54.16.170: Apportionment of cost of improvement.
Status: in_force

When an improvement is ordered hereunder, payment for which shall be made in part from assessments against property specially benefited, not more than fifty percent of the cost thereof shall ever be borne by the entire public utility district, nor shall any sum be contributed by it to any improvement acquired or constructed with or by any other body, exceed such amount, unless a majority of the electors of the district consent to or ratify the making of such expenditure.
RCW 54.40.050 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 40 / Section 050
RCW 54.40.050: Petition for reclassification—Certificate of sufficiency—Election.
Status: in_force

The question of reclassification of a public utility district that has or had a license from the federal power commission to construct a hydroelectric project of an estimated cost of more than two hundred fifty million dollars, including interest during construction, or has a population of five hundred thousand or more, as a five commissioner public utility district shall be submitted to the voters if a petition proposing the change is filed with the county auditor of the county in which the district is located, identifying the district by number and praying that an election be held to determine whether it shall become a five commissioner district. The petition must be signed by a number of registered voters of the district equal to at least ten percent of the number of registered voters in the district who voted at the last general election and include each signer's residence address. The petition shall be filed with the county auditor for verification of the validity of the signatures. Within thirty days after receipt of the petition, the county auditor shall determine the sufficiency of the petition. If the petition is found insufficient, the person who filed the same shall be notified by mail and he or she shall have an additional fifteen days from the date of mailing such notice within which to submit additional signatures, and the county auditor shall have an additional thirty days after the submission of such additional signatures to determine the validity of the entire petition. No signature may be withdrawn after the petition has been filed. If the petition, including these additional signatures if any, is found sufficient, the county auditor shall certify its sufficiency to the public utility district and if the commissioners of the public utility district had certified to the county auditor the eligibility of the district for reclassification as provided in this chapter, the county auditor shall submit to the voters of the district the question of whether the district shall become a five commissioner district. The election shall be held at the next state general election occurring sixty or more days after the petition was certified as having sufficient valid signatures.
RCW 54.44.030 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 44 / Section 030
RCW 54.44.030: Liability of city, joint operating agency, or public utility district—Extent—Limitations.
Status: in_force

In carrying out the powers granted in this chapter, each such city, public utility district, or joint operating agency shall be severally liable only for its own acts and not jointly or severally liable for the acts, omissions or obligations of others. No money or property supplied by any such city, public utility district, or joint operating agency for the planning, financing, acquisition, construction, operation or maintenance of any common facility shall be credited or otherwise applied to the account of any other participant therein, nor shall the undivided share of any city, public utility district, or joint operating agency in any common facility be charged, directly or indirectly, with any debt or obligation of any other participant or be subject to any lien as a result thereof. No action in connection with a common facility shall be binding upon any public utility district, city, or joint operating agency unless authorized or approved by resolution or ordinance of its governing body.
RCW 54.16.140 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 140
RCW 54.16.140: Petition or resolution for local district—Hearing—Notice.
Status: in_force

Any such improvement shall be ordered by resolution of the commission either upon petition or resolution therefor. When a petition, signed by ten percent of the owners of land in the district to be therein described, is filed with the commission, asking that the plan or improvement therein set forth be adopted and ordered, and defining the boundaries of a local improvement district to be assessed in whole or in part to pay the cost thereof, the commission shall fix the date of hearing thereon, and give not less than two weeks notice thereof by publication. The commission may deny the petition or order the improvement, unless a majority of the owners of lands in the district file prior to twelve o'clock noon of the day of the hearing, with the secretary a petition protesting against the improvement. If the commission orders the improvement, it may alter the boundaries of the proposed local district and prepare and adopt detail plans of the local improvement, declare the estimated cost thereof, what proportion thereof shall be borne by the local improvement district, and what proportion, if any shall be borne by the entire public utility district.
RCW 54.24.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 010
RCW 54.24.010: Treasurer—Bond—Duties—Funds—Depositaries.
Status: in_force

(1) The treasurer of the county in which a utility district is located shall be ex officio treasurer of the district: PROVIDED, That the commission by resolution may designate some other person having experience in financial or fiscal matters as treasurer of the utility district. The commission may require a bond, with a surety company authorized to do business in the state of Washington, in an amount and under the terms and conditions which the commission by resolution from time to time finds will protect the district against loss. The premium on any such bond shall be paid by the district. (2) All district funds shall be paid to the treasurer and shall be disbursed by him or her only on warrants issued by an auditor appointed by the commission, upon orders or vouchers approved by it. The treasurer shall establish a public utility district fund, into which shall be paid all district funds, and he or she shall maintain such special funds as may be created by the commission, into which he or she shall place all money as the commission may, by resolution, direct. (3) If the treasurer of the district is the treasurer of the county all district funds shall be deposited with the county depositaries under the same restrictions, contracts, and security as provided for county depositaries; if the treasurer of the district is some other person, all funds shall be deposited in such bank or banks authorized to do business in this state as the commission by resolution shall designate, and with surety bond to the district or securities in lieu thereof of the kind, no less in amount, as provided in *RCW 36.48.020 for deposit of county funds. (4) Such surety bond or securities in lieu thereof shall be filed or deposited with the treasurer of the district, and approved by resolution of the commission. (5) All interest collected on district funds shall belong to the district and be deposited to its credit in the proper district funds. (6) A district may provide and require a reasonable bond of any other person handling moneys or securities of the district: PROVIDED, That the district pays the premium thereon. (7) If the treasurer of the district is some other person than the treasurer of the county, the commission may adopt a policy for the payment of claims or other obligations of the utility district, which are payable out of solvent funds, and may elect to pay such obligations by check or warrant. However, if the applicable fund is not solvent at the time payment is ordered, then no check may be issued and payment shall be by warrant. When checks are to be used, the commission shall designate the qualified public depositary upon which the checks are to be drawn as well as the officers required or authorized to sign the checks. For the purposes of this chapter, "warrant" includes checks where authorized by this subsection.
RCW 54.44.900 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 44 / Section 900
RCW 54.44.900: Liberal construction—Not to affect existing acts.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes thereof. This chapter shall not be construed to affect any existing act or part thereof relating to the construction, operation or maintenance of any public utility.
RCW 54.24.050 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 050
RCW 54.24.050: Covenants to secure owners of revenue obligations.
Status: in_force

Any resolution creating any such special fund or authorizing the issue of revenue obligations payable therefrom, or by such alternate method of payment as may be provided therein, shall specify the title of such revenue obligations as determined by the commission and may contain covenants by the district to protect and safeguard the security and the rights of the owners thereof, including covenants as to, among other things: (1) The purpose or purposes to which the proceeds of sale of such obligations may be applied and the use and disposition thereof; (2) The use and disposition of the gross revenues of the public utility, and any additions or betterments thereto or extensions thereof, the cost of which is to be defrayed with such proceeds, including the creation and maintenance of funds for working capital to be used in the operation of the public utility and for renewals and replacements to the public utility; (3) The amount, if any, of additional revenue obligations payable from such fund which may be issued and the terms and conditions on which such additional revenue obligations may be issued; (4) The establishment and maintenance of adequate rates and charges for electric energy, water, and other services, facilities, and commodities sold, furnished, or supplied by the public utility; (5) The operation, maintenance, management, accounting, and auditing of the public utility; (6) The terms and prices upon which such revenue obligations or any of them may be redeemed at the election of the district; (7) Limitations upon the right to dispose of such public utility or any part thereof without providing for the payment of the outstanding revenue obligations; and (8) The appointment of trustees, depositaries, and paying agents to receive, hold, disburse, invest, and reinvest all or any part of the income, revenues, receipts, and profits derived by the district from the operation, ownership, and management of its public utility.
RCW 54.52.030 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 52 / Section 030
RCW 54.52.030: Contributions not considered commingling of funds.
Status: in_force

Contributions received under a program implemented by a public utility district in compliance with this chapter shall not be considered a commingling of funds.
RCW 54.16.330 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 330
RCW 54.16.330: Telecommunications facilities—Purposes—Limitations—Provision of telecommunications services—Eminent domain.
Status: in_force

(1) A public utility district in existence on June 8, 2000, may construct, purchase, acquire, develop, finance, lease, license, handle, provide, add to, contract for, interconnect, alter, improve, repair, operate, and maintain any telecommunications facilities within or without the district's limits for the following purposes: (a) For the district's internal telecommunications needs; (b) For the provision of wholesale telecommunications services as follows: (i) Within the district and by contract with another public utility district; (ii) Within an area in an adjoining county that is already provided electrical services by the district; or (iii) Within an adjoining county that does not have a public utility district providing electrical or telecommunications services headquartered within the county's boundaries, but only if the district providing telecommunications services is not authorized to provide electrical services; or (c) For the provision of retail telecommunications services as authorized in this section. (2) A public utility district providing wholesale or retail telecommunications services shall ensure that rates, terms, and conditions for such services are not unduly or unreasonably discriminatory or preferential. Rates, terms, and conditions are discriminatory or preferential when a public utility district offering rates, terms, and conditions to an entity for wholesale or retail telecommunications services does not offer substantially similar rates, terms, and conditions to all other entities seeking substantially similar services. (3) A public utility district providing wholesale or retail telecommunications services shall not be required to, but may, establish a separate utility system or function for such purpose. In either case, a public utility district providing wholesale or retail telecommunications services shall separately account for any revenues and expenditures for those services according to standards established by the state auditor pursuant to its authority in chapter 43.09 RCW and consistent with the provisions of this title. Any revenues received from the provision of wholesale or retail telecommunications services must be dedicated to costs incurred to build and maintain any telecommunications facilities constructed, installed, or acquired to provide such services, including payments on debt issued to finance such services, until such time as any bonds or other financing instruments executed after June 8, 2000, and used to finance such telecommunications facilities are discharged or retired. (4) When a public utility district provides wholesale or retail telecommunications services, all telecommunications services rendered to the district for the district's internal telecommunications needs shall be allocated or charged at its true and full value. A public utility district may not charge its nontelecommunications operations rates that are preferential or discriminatory compared to those it charges entities purchasing wholesale or retail telecommunications services. (5) If a person or entity receiving retail telecommunications services from a public utility district under this section has a complaint regarding the reasonableness of the rates, terms, conditions, or services provided, the person or entity may file a complaint with the district commission. (6) A public utility district shall not exercise powers of eminent domain to acquire telecommunications facilities or contractual rights held by any other person or entity to telecommunications facilities. (7) Except as otherwise specifically provided, a public utility district may exercise any of the powers granted to it under this title and other applicable laws in carrying out the powers authorized under this section. Nothing in chapter 81, Laws of 2000 limits any existing authority of a public utility district under this title. (8) A public utility district may provide retail telecommunications services or telecommunications facilities within the district's limits or without the district's limits by contract with another public utility district, any political subdivision of the state authorized to provide retail telecommunications services in the state, or with any federally recognized tribe located in the state of Washington. (9)(a) A public utility district may provide retail telecommunications services to end users in unserved areas. (b) A public utility district must notify and consult with the governor's statewide broadband office within 30 days of its decision to provide retail telecommunications services to unserved areas. The governor's statewide broadband office must post notices received from a public utility district pursuant to this subsection on its public website. (c) Any public utility district that intends to provide retail telecommunications services to unserved areas must submit a telecommunications infrastructure and service plan to the governor's statewide broadband office that will be published on the office's website. Submission of plans will enable the governor's statewide broadband office: (i) To better understand infrastructure deployment; (ii) to potentially allocate funding for unserved areas; (iii) to advance the state policy objectives; (iv) to determine whether the plan aligns with state policy objectives and broadband priorities; (v) to measure progress toward serving those in unserved areas; (vi) to report on the feasibility and sustainability of the project; and (vii) to confirm that the project is within an unserved area. The telecommunications infrastructure and service plans shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (A) Map and description of how the deployment of proposed broadband infrastructure will achieve at a minimum 100 megabits per second download speed and at a minimum 20 megabits per second upload speed and then increases to be consistent with the stated long-term state broadband speed goals for unserved areas; (B) Project timeline prioritization of unserved areas; and (C) Description of potential state and federal funding available to provide service to the unserved area. (d) A public utility district that exercises its authority under (a) of this subsection to provide retail telecommunications services may use state funds, federal funds appropriated through the state, or federal funds dedicated for projects in unserved areas to fund projects identified in the submitted telecommunications infrastructure and service plan required in (c) of this subsection. (e) A public utility district providing retail telecommunications services under this subsection must operate an open access network. (f) This section does not apply to retail internet services provided by a public utility district under *RCW 54.16.420 . (g) Provisions in this subsection do not apply to the provision of wholesale telecommunications services authorized in this section. (h) For the purposes of this subsection: (i) "Open access network" means a network that, during the useful life of the infrastructure, ensures service providers may use network services and facilities at rates, terms, and conditions that are not discriminatory or preferential between providers, and employs accountable interconnection arrangements published and available publicly. (ii) "Unserved areas" means areas of Washington in which households and businesses lack access to broadband service of speeds at a minimum of 100 megabits per second download and at a minimum 20 megabits per second upload.
RCW 54.16.220 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 220
RCW 54.16.220: Columbia river hydroelectric projects—Grant back of easements to former owners.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, every public utility district acquiring privately owned lands, real estate or property for reservoir purposes of a hydroelectric power project dam on the Columbia river, upon acquisition of title to said lands, whether acquired by purchase or condemnation, shall grant back to the former owners of the lands acquired upon their request therefor, whether prior to conveyance of title to the district or within sixty days thereafter, a perpetual easement appurtenant to the adjoining property for such occupancy and use and improvement of the acquired lands as will not be detrimental to the operation of the hydroelectric project and not be in violation of the required conditions of the district's federal power commission license for the project: PROVIDED, That said former owners shall not thereafter erect any structure or make any extensive physical change thereon except under a permit issued by the public utility district: PROVIDED FURTHER, That said easement shall include a provision that any shorelands thereunder shall be open to the public, and shall be subject to cancellation upon sixty days notice to the owners by the district that such lands are to be conveyed to another public agency for game or game fish purposes or public recreational use, in which event the owners shall remove any structures they may have erected thereon within a reasonable time without cost to the district. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable with respect to: (1) lands acquired from an owner who does not desire an easement for such occupancy and use; (2) lands acquired from an owner where the entire estate has been acquired; (3) lands acquired for, and reasonably necessary for, project structures (including borrow areas) or for relocation of roads, highways, railroads, other utilities or railroad industrial sites; and (4) lands heretofore acquired or disposed of by sale or lease by a public utility district for whatsoever purpose.
RCW 54.24.220 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 220
RCW 54.24.220: Local improvement guaranty fund—Warrants to meet liabilities.
Status: in_force

When a bond, warrant, or any coupon or interest payment guaranteed by the guaranty fund matures and there are not sufficient funds in the local utility district bond redemption fund to pay it, the county treasurer shall pay it from the local improvement guaranty fund of the public utility district; if there are not sufficient funds in the guaranty fund to pay it, it may be paid by issuance and delivery of a warrant upon the local improvement guaranty fund. When the cash balance in the local improvement guaranty fund is insufficient for the required purposes, warrants drawing interest at a rate determined by the commission may be issued by the district auditor, against the fund to meet any liability accrued against it and shall issue them upon demand of the owners of any matured coupons, bonds, interest payments, and/or warrants guaranteed hereby, or to pay for any certificate of delinquency for delinquent installments of assessments as provided hereinafter. Guaranty fund warrants shall be a first lien in their order of issuance upon the guaranty fund.
RCW 54.28.060 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 28 / Section 060
RCW 54.28.060: Interest.
Status: in_force

Interest at the rate as computed under RCW 82.32.050 (2) shall be added to the tax hereby imposed from the due date until the date of payment. The tax shall constitute a debt to the state and may be collected as such.
RCW 54.16.032 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 032
RCW 54.16.032: Authority to assist customers in the acquisition of water conservation equipment—Limitations.
Status: in_force

Any district is hereby authorized, within limits established by the Constitution of the state of Washington, to assist the owners of structures in financing the acquisition and installation of fixtures, systems, and equipment, for compensation or otherwise, for the conservation or more efficient use of water in the structures under a water conservation plan adopted by the district if the cost per unit of water saved or conserved by the use of the fixtures, systems, and equipment is less than the cost per unit of water supplied by the next least costly new water source available to the district to meet future demand. Except where otherwise authorized, assistance shall be limited to: (1) Providing an inspection of the structure, either directly or through one or more inspectors under contract, to determine and inform the owner of the estimated cost of purchasing and installing conservation fixtures, systems, and equipment for which financial assistance will be approved and the estimated life-cycle savings to the water system and the consumer that are likely to result from the installation of the fixtures, systems, or equipment; (2) Providing a list of businesses that sell and install the fixtures, systems, and equipment within or in close proximity to the service area of the city or town, each of which businesses shall have requested to be included and shall have the ability to provide the products in a workmanlike manner and to utilize the fixtures, systems, and equipment in accordance with the prevailing national standards; (3) Arranging to have approved conservation fixtures, systems, and equipment installed by a private contractor whose bid is acceptable to the owner of the structure and verifying the installation; and (4) Arranging or providing financing for the purchase and installation of approved conservation fixtures, systems, and equipment. The fixtures, systems, and equipment shall be purchased or installed by a private business, the owner, or the utility. Pay back shall be in the form of incremental additions to the utility bill, billed either together with use charge or separately. Loans shall not exceed two hundred forty months in length.
RCW 54.16.097 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 097
RCW 54.16.097: Actions against officer, employee, or agent—Defense and costs provided by public utility district—Exception.
Status: in_force

Whenever any action, claim, or proceeding is instituted against any person who is or was an officer, employee, or agent of a public utility district established under this title arising out of the performance or failure of performance of duties for, or employment with any such district, the commission of the district may grant a request by such person that the attorney of the district's choosing be authorized to defend said claim, suit, or proceeding, and the costs of defense, attorney's fees, and any obligation for payment arising from such action may be paid from the district's funds: PROVIDED, That costs of defense and/or judgment or settlement against such person shall not be paid in any case where the court has found that such person was not acting in good faith or within the scope of his or her employment with or duties for the district.
RCW 54.24.040 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 040
RCW 54.24.040: Considerations in creating special fund—Status of claims against fund—When lien attaches.
Status: in_force

In creating any special fund for the payment of revenue obligations, the commission shall have due regard to the cost of operation and maintenance of the plant or system constructed or added to, and to any proportion or amount of the revenues previously pledged as a fund for the payment of revenue obligations, and shall not set aside into such special fund or funds a greater amount or proportion of the revenues and proceeds than in its judgment will be available over and above such cost of maintenance and operation and the amount or proportion, if any, of the revenues so previously pledged. Any such revenue obligations and interest thereon issued against any such fund as herein provided shall be a valid claim of the owner thereof only as against such special fund and the proportion or amount of the revenues pledged to such fund, but shall constitute a prior charge over all other charges or claims whatsoever, including the charge or lien of any general obligation bonds against such fund and the proportion or amount of the revenues pledged thereto. Such revenue obligations shall not constitute an indebtedness of such district within the meaning of the constitutional provisions and limitations. Each revenue obligation shall state on its face that it is payable from a special fund, naming such fund and the resolution creating it, or shall describe such alternate method for the payment thereof as shall be provided by the resolution authorizing same. It is the intention hereof that any pledge of the revenues or other moneys or obligations made by a district shall be valid and binding from the time that the pledge is made; that the revenues or other moneys or obligations so pledged and thereafter received by a district shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery or further act, and that the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against any parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against a district irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution or other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.
RCW 54.16.320 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 320
RCW 54.16.320: Assumption of substandard water system—Limited immunity from liability.
Status: in_force

A public utility district assuming responsibility for a water system that is not in compliance with state or federal requirements for public drinking water systems, and its agents and employees, are immune from lawsuits or causes of action, based on noncompliance with state or federal requirements for public drinking water systems, which predate the date of assuming responsibility and continue after the date of assuming responsibility, provided that the public utility district has submitted and is complying with a plan and schedule of improvements approved by the department of health. This immunity shall expire on the earlier of the date the plan of improvements is completed or four years from the date of assuming responsibility. This immunity does not apply to intentional injuries, fraud, or bad faith.
RCW 54.16.130 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 130
RCW 54.16.130: Local districts—Procedure—Financing.
Status: in_force

The commission shall by resolution establish the method of procedure in all matters relating to local utility districts. A public utility district may determine by resolution what work shall be done or improvements made at the expense, in whole or in part, of the property specially benefited thereby; and adopt and provide the manner, machinery and proceedings in any way relating to the making and collecting of assessments therefor in pursuance thereof. Except as herein otherwise provided or as may hereafter be set forth by resolution, all matters and proceedings relating to the local utility district, the levying and collection of assessments, the issuance and redemption of local improvement warrants and bonds, and the enforcement of local assessment liens hereunder, shall be governed, as nearly as may be, by the laws relating to local improvements for cities and towns: PROVIDED, That no protest against a local utility district improvement shall be received after twelve o'clock noon of the day set for hearing. Such bonds and warrants may be in any form, including bearer bonds or bearer warrants, or registered warrants or registered bonds as provided in RCW 39.46.030 . Such bonds and warrants may also be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46 RCW. The commission may determine to finance the project by bonds or warrants secured by assessments against the property within the local utility district: Or it may finance the project by revenue bonds, in which case no bonds or warrants shall be issued by the local utility district, but assessments shall be levied upon the taxable property therein on the basis of special benefits up to, but not exceeding the total cost of the improvement and in such cases the entire principal and interest of such assessments shall be paid into a revenue bond fund of the district, to be used for the sole purpose of the payment of revenue bonds.
RCW 54.28.125 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 28 / Section 125
RCW 54.28.125: Public utility district privilege tax—Tools for administration.
Status: in_force

(1) The following provisions of chapter 82.32 RCW apply with respect to the state taxes administered by the department of revenue under this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise: RCW 82.32.050 , 82.32.060 , 82.32.070 , 82.32.080 , 82.32.085 , 82.32.090 , 82.32.100 , 82.32.105 , 82.32.110 , 82.32.117 , 82.32.120 , 82.32.130 , 82.32.135 , 82.32.150 , 82.32.160 , 82.32.170 , 82.32.180 , 82.32.190 , 82.32.200 , 82.32.210 , 82.32.235 , 82.32.237 , 82.32.240 , 82.32.270 , 82.32.310 , 82.32.320 , 82.32.330 , 82.32.340 , 82.32.350 , 82.32.360 , 82.32.410 , and any other provision of chapter 82.32 RCW specifically referenced in the statutes listed in this subsection (1). (2) Chapter 82.32 RCW also applies with respect to the state taxes administered by the department of revenue under this chapter to the extent provided in any other provision of law. (3) The definitions in this chapter have full force and application with respect to the application of chapter 82.32 RCW to this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
RCW 54.04.180 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 180
RCW 54.04.180: Collective bargaining authorized for districts.
Status: in_force

Any public utility district may enter into collective bargaining relations with its employees in the same manner that a private employer might do and may agree to be bound by the result of such collective bargaining.
RCW 54.48.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 48 / Section 010
RCW 54.48.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

When used in this chapter: (1) "Public utility" means any privately owned public utility company engaged in rendering electric service to the public for hire, any public utility district engaged in rendering service to residential customers and any city or town engaged in the electric business. (2) "Cooperative" means any cooperative having authority to engage in the electric business.
RCW 54.28.080 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 28 / Section 080
RCW 54.28.080: Additional tax for payment on bonded indebtedness of school districts.
Status: in_force

Whenever any district acquires an operating property from any private person, firm, or corporation and a portion of the operating property is situated within the boundaries of any school district and at the time of such acquisition there is an outstanding bonded indebtedness of the school district, then the public utility district shall, in addition to the tax imposed by this chapter, pay directly to the school district a proportion of all subsequent payments by the school district of principal and interest on said bonded indebtedness, said additional payments to be computed and paid as follows: The amount of principal and interest required to be paid by the school district shall be multiplied by the percentage which the assessed value of the property acquired bore to the assessed value of the total property in the school district at the time of such acquisition. Such additional amounts shall be paid by the public utility district to the school district not less than fifteen days prior to the date that such principal and interest payments are required to be paid by the school district. In addition, any public utility district which acquires from any private person, firm, or corporation an operating property situated within a school district, is authorized to make voluntary payments to such school district for the use and benefit of the school district.
RCW 54.16.040 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 040
RCW 54.16.040: Electric energy.
Status: in_force

A district may purchase, within or without its limits, electric current for sale and distribution within or without its limits, and construct, condemn and purchase, purchase, acquire, add to, maintain, conduct, and operate works, plants, transmission and distribution lines and facilities for generating electric current, operated either by water power, steam, or other methods, within or without its limits, for the purpose of furnishing the district, and the inhabitants thereof and any other persons, including public and private corporations, within or without its limits, with electric current for all uses, with full and exclusive authority to sell and regulate and control the use, distribution, rates, service, charges, and price thereof, free from the jurisdiction and control of the utilities and transportation commission, in all things, together with the right to purchase, handle, sell, or lease motors, lamps, transformers and all other kinds of equipment and accessories necessary and convenient for the use, distribution, and sale thereof: PROVIDED, That the commission shall not supply water to a privately owned utility for the production of electric energy, but may supply, directly or indirectly, to an instrumentality of the United States government or any publicly or privately owned public utilities which sell electric energy or water to the public, any amount of electric energy or water under its control, and contracts therefor shall extend over such period of years and contain such terms and conditions for the sale thereof as the commission of the district shall elect; such contract shall only be made pursuant to a resolution of the commission authorizing such contract, which resolution shall be introduced at a meeting of the commission at least ten days prior to the date of the adoption of the resolution: PROVIDED FURTHER, That it shall first make adequate provision for the needs of the district, both actual and prospective.
RCW 54.28.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 28 / Section 010
RCW 54.28.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "Operating property" means all of the property utilized by a public utility district in the operation of a plant or system for the generation, transmission, or distribution of electric energy for sale; (2) "Taxing districts" means counties, cities, towns, school districts, and road districts; (3) "Distributes to consumers" means the sale of electric energy to ultimate consumers thereof, and does not include sales of electric energy for resale by the purchaser; (4) "Wholesale value" means all costs of a public utility district associated with the generation and transmission of energy from its own generation and transmission system to the point or points of inter-connection with a distribution system owned and used by a district to distribute such energy to consumers, or in the event a distribution system owned by a district is not used to distribute such energy, then the term means the gross revenues derived by a district from the sale of such energy to consumers; (5) "Thermal electric generating facility" means a steam-powered electrical energy producing facility utilizing nuclear or fossil fuels; (6) "Placed in operation" means delivery of energy into a transmission or distribution system for use or sale in such a manner as to establish a value accruing to the power plant operator, except operation incidental to testing or start-up adjustments; (7) "Impacted area" for a thermal electric generating facility on a federal reservation means that area in the state lying within thirty-five statute miles of the most commonly used entrance of the federal reservation and which is south of the southern boundary of township fifteen north.
RCW 54.16.142 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 142
RCW 54.16.142: Local utility districts—Notice must contain statement that assessments may vary from estimates.
Status: in_force

Any notice given to the public or to the owners of specific lots, tracts, or parcels of land relating to the formation of a local utility district shall contain a statement that actual assessments may vary from assessment estimates so long as they do not exceed a figure equal to the increased true and fair value the improvement, or street lighting, adds to the property.
RCW 54.16.425 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 425
RCW 54.16.425: Retail telecommunications services—Payment in lieu of property tax.
Status: in_force

(1) Property owned by a public utility district that is exempt from property tax under RCW 84.36.010 is subject to an annual payment in lieu of property taxes if the property consists of a broadband infrastructure used in providing retail telecommunications services. (2)(a) The amount of the payment must be determined jointly and in good faith negotiation between the public utility district that owns the property and the county or counties in which the property is located. (b) The amount agreed upon may not exceed the property tax amount that would be owed on the property comprising the broadband infrastructure used in providing retail telecommunications services as calculated by the department of revenue. The public utility district must provide information necessary for the department of revenue to make the required valuation under this subsection. The department of revenue must provide the amount of property tax that would be owed on the property to the county or counties in which the broadband infrastructure is located on an annual basis. (c) If the public utility district and a county cannot agree on the amount of the payment in lieu of taxes, either party may invoke binding arbitration by providing written notice to the other party. In the event that the amount of payment in lieu of taxes is submitted to binding arbitration, the arbitrators must consider the government services available to the public utility district's broadband infrastructure used in providing retail telecommunications services. The public utility district and county must each select one arbitrator, the two of whom must pick a third arbitrator. Costs of the arbitration, including compensation for the arbitrators' services, must be borne equally by the parties participating in the arbitration. (3) By April 30th of each year, a public utility district must remit the annual payment to the county treasurer of each county in which the public utility district's broadband infrastructure used in providing retail telecommunications services is located in a form and manner required by the county treasurer. (4) The county must distribute the amounts received under this section to all property taxing districts, including the state, in appropriate tax code areas in the same proportion as it would distribute property taxes from taxable property. (5) By December 1, 2019, and annually thereafter, the department of revenue must submit a report to the appropriate legislative committees detailing the amount of payments made under this section and the amount of property tax that would be owed on the property comprising the broadband infrastructure used in providing retail telecommunications services.
RCW 54.08.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 08 / Section 010
RCW 54.08.010: Districts including entire county or less—Procedure.
Status: in_force

At any general election held in an even-numbered year, the county legislative authority of any county in this state may, or, on petition of ten percent of the qualified electors of the county based on the total vote cast in the last general county election held in an even-numbered year, shall, by resolution, submit to the voters of the county the proposition of creating a public utility district which shall be coextensive with the limits of the county as now or hereafter established. A form of petition for the creation of a public utility district shall be submitted to the county auditor within ten months prior to the election at which the proposition is to be submitted to the voters. Petitions shall be filed with the county auditor not less than four months before the election and the county auditor shall within thirty days examine the signatures thereof and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency thereof. If the petition be found to be insufficient, it shall be returned to the persons filing the same, who may amend or add names thereto for ten days, when the same shall be returned to the county auditor, who shall have an additional fifteen days to examine the same and attach his or her certificate thereto. No person having signed the petition shall be allowed to withdraw his or her name therefrom after the filing of the same with the county auditor: PROVIDED, That each signature shall be dated and that no signature dated prior to the date on which the form of petition was submitted to the county auditor shall be valid. Whenever the petition shall be certified to as sufficient, the county auditor shall forthwith transmit the same, together with his or her certificate of sufficiency attached thereto, to the county legislative authority which shall submit the proposition to the voters of the county at the next general election in an even-numbered year according to RCW 29A.04.330 . The notice of the election shall state the boundaries of the proposed public utility district and the object of such election, and shall in other respects conform to the requirements of the general laws of the state of Washington, governing the time and manner of holding elections. In submitting the question to the voters for their approval or rejection, the proposition shall be expressed on the ballot substantially in the following terms: Public Utility District No. . . . . YES □ Public Utility District No. . . . .NO □ Any petition for the formation of a public utility district may describe a less area than the entire county in which the petition is filed, the boundaries of which shall follow the then existing precinct boundaries and not divide any voting precinct; and in the event that such a petition is filed the county legislative authority shall fix a date for a hearing on such petition, and shall publish the petition, without the signatures thereto appended, for two weeks prior to the date of the hearing, together with a notice stating the time of the meeting when the petition will be heard. The publication, and all other publications required by chapter 1, Laws of 1931, shall be in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the district is situated. The hearing on the petition may be adjourned from time to time, not exceeding four weeks in all. If upon the final hearing the county legislative authority shall find that any lands have been unjustly or improperly included within the proposed public utility district and will not be benefited by inclusion therein, it shall change and fix the boundary lines in such manner as it shall deem reasonable and just and conducive to the public welfare and convenience, and make and enter an order establishing and defining the boundary lines of the proposed public utility district: PROVIDED, That no lands shall be included within the boundaries so fixed lying outside the boundaries described in the petition, except upon the written request of the owners of those lands. Thereafter the same procedure shall be followed as prescribed in this chapter for the formation of a public utility district including an entire county, except that the petition and election shall be confined solely to the lesser public utility district. No public utility district created after September 1, 1979, shall include any other public utility district within its boundaries: PROVIDED, That this paragraph shall not alter, amend, or modify provisions of chapter 54.32 RCW.
RCW 54.24.018 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 018
RCW 54.24.018: Acquisition of property—Adoption of plan—Bonds or warrants—Special funds.
Status: in_force

(1) Whenever the commission shall deem it advisable that the public utility district purchase, purchase and condemn, acquire, or construct any such public utility, or make any additions or betterments thereto, or extensions thereof, the commission shall provide therefor by resolution, which shall specify and adopt the system or plan proposed, and declare the estimated cost thereof, as near as may be, and specify whether general or utility indebtedness is to be incurred, the amount of such indebtedness, the amount of interest and the time in which all general bonds (if any) shall be paid, not to exceed thirty years. In the event the proposed general indebtedness to be incurred will bring the nonvoter approved indebtedness of the public utility district to an amount exceeding three-fourths of one percent of the value of the taxable property of the public utility district, as the term "value of the taxable property" is defined in RCW 39.36.015 , the proposition of incurring such indebtedness and the proposed plan or system shall be submitted to the qualified electors of said public utility district for their approval or rejection at the next general election held in such public utility district. Elections shall be held as provided in RCW 39.36.050 . Whenever the commission (or a majority of the qualified voters of such public utility district, voting at said election, when it is necessary to submit the same to said voters) shall have adopted a system or plan for any such public utility, as aforesaid, and shall have authorized indebtedness therefor by a three-fifths vote of the qualified voters of such district, voting at said election, general or public utility bonds may be used as hereinafter provided. The principal and interest of such general bonds shall be paid from the revenue of such public utility district after deducting costs of maintenance, operation, and expenses of the public utility district, and any deficit in the payment of principal and interest of said general bonds shall be paid by levying each year a tax upon the taxable property within said district sufficient to pay said interest and principal of said bonds, which tax shall be due and collectible as any other tax. Said bonds shall be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46 RCW. (2) All bonds and warrants issued under the authority of this chapter shall be legal securities, which may be used by any bank or trust company for deposit with the state treasurer, or any county or city treasurer, as security for deposits, in lieu of a surety bond, under any law relating to deposits of public moneys. (3) When the commission shall not desire to incur a general indebtedness in the purchase, condemnation and purchase, acquisition, or construction of any such public utility, or addition or betterment thereto, or extension thereof, it shall have the power to create a special fund or funds for the sole purpose of defraying the cost of such public utility, or addition or betterment thereto, or extension thereof, into which special fund or funds it may obligate and bind the district to set aside and pay a fixed proportion of the gross revenues of such public utility, or any fixed amount out of, and not exceeding a fixed proportion of, such revenues, or a fixed amount without regard to any fixed proportion, and to issue and sell revenue bonds or warrants bearing interest at such rate or rates, payable semiannually, executed in such manner, and payable at such times and places as the commission shall determine, but such bonds or warrants and the interest thereon, shall be payable only out of such special fund or funds. In creating any such special fund or funds, the commission shall have due regard to the cost of operation and maintenance of the plant or system as constructed or added to, and to any proportion or part of the revenues previously pledged as a fund for the payment of bonds or warrants, and shall not set aside into such special fund or funds a greater amount or proportion of the revenues and proceeds than, in its judgment, will be available over and above such cost of maintenance and operation and the amount or proportion, if any, of the revenues so previously pledged. Any such bonds or warrants, and interest thereon, issued against any such fund, as herein provided, shall be a valid claim of the owner thereof only as against the said special fund and its fixed proportion or amount of the revenue pledged to such fund, and shall not constitute an indebtedness of such district within the meaning of the constitutional provisions and limitations. Each such bond or warrant shall state on its face that it is payable from a special fund, naming such fund and the resolution creating it. Said bonds and warrants shall be sold in such manner as the commission shall deem for the best interests of the district. The commission may provide in any contract for the construction and acquisition of a proposed improvement or utility that payment therefor shall be made only in such bonds or warrants at the par value thereof. In all other respects, the issuance of such utility bonds or warrants and payment therefor shall be governed by the public utility laws for cities and towns. The revenue or utility bonds or warrants may be in any form, including bearer bonds or bearer warrants, or registered bonds or registered warrants as provided in RCW 39.46.030 . (4) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, any of such revenue bonds and revenue warrants may be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46 RCW.
RCW 54.40.040 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 40 / Section 040
RCW 54.40.040: Criteria, election to reclassify as a five commissioner district—Ballot form—Vote required.
Status: in_force

A public utility district that has or had a license from the federal power commission to construct a hydroelectric project of an estimated cost of more than two hundred fifty million dollars, including interest during construction, or has a population of five hundred thousand or more, shall be classified as a five commissioner district if voters of the district approve a ballot proposition authorizing the change. In submitting the question to the voters for their approval or rejection, the proposition shall be expressed on the ballot in substantially the following terms: Shall Public Utility District No. . . . . be reclassified a Five Commissioner District for the purpose of increasing the number of commissioners to five. . . . YES □ NO □ Should a majority of the voters voting on the question approve the proposition, the district shall be declared a five commissioner district upon the certification of the election returns.
RCW 54.40.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 40 / Section 010
RCW 54.40.010: Five commissioner districts—Requirements.
Status: in_force

A five commissioner public utility district is a district that (1) either: (a) Has or had a license from the federal power commission to construct a hydroelectric project of an estimated cost of more than two hundred and fifty million dollars, including interest during construction; or (b) has a population of five hundred thousand or more; and (2) voters of the district approved a ballot proposition authorizing the district to become a five commissioner district as provided under RCW 54.40.040 . All other public utility districts shall be known as three commissioner districts.
RCW 54.52.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 52 / Section 010
RCW 54.52.010: Voluntary contributions to assist low-income residential customers—Administration.
Status: in_force

(1) A public utility district may include along with, or as part of, its regular customer billings a request for voluntary contributions to assist qualified low-income residential customers of the district in paying their electricity bills. All funds received by the district in response to such requests shall be (a) transmitted (i) to the grantee of the department of commerce which administers federally funded energy assistance programs for the state in the district's service area or (ii) to a charitable organization within the district's service area; or (b) retained by the district. All such funds shall be used solely to supplement assistance to low-income residential customers of the district in paying their electricity bills. The grantee, charitable organization, or district is responsible to determine which of the district's customers are qualified for low-income assistance and the amount of assistance to be provided to those who are qualified. (2) A public utility district may include with or as part of its regular customer billings, a request for voluntary contributions to assist qualified low-income residential customers of the district in paying their water and sewer bills. All funds received by the district as a result of these requests shall be transmitted to a charitable organization within the district's service area or retained by the district and distributed solely to assist qualified low-income residential customers in paying their water and sewer bills. The charitable organization or district is responsible for determining which of the district's customers are qualified to receive low-income assistance and the amount of assistance provided to qualified customers.
RCW 54.24.030 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 030
RCW 54.24.030: Revenue obligations—Special fund—Form, term, payment, etc.—Resolution of authority, contents—Contracts for future sale.
Status: in_force

(1) Whenever the commission shall deem it advisable to issue revenue obligations for the purpose of defraying the cost or part of the cost of such public utility or any additions or betterments thereto or extensions thereof, it shall have power as a part of such plan and system to create a special fund or funds for the purpose of defraying the cost of such public utility, or additions or betterments thereto or extensions thereof, into which special fund or funds it may obligate and bind the district to set aside and pay a fixed proportion of the gross revenues of such public utility, and all additions or betterments thereto or extensions thereof, or any fixed amount out of, and not exceeding a fixed proportion of such revenues, or a fixed amount without regard to any fixed proportion, or an amount of such revenues equal to a fixed percentage of the aggregate principal amount of revenue obligations at any time issued against the special fund or funds, and to issue and sell revenue obligations payable as to both principal and interest only out of such fund or funds. Such revenue obligations shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, be in such denominations, be in such form, either coupon or registered, as provided in RCW 39.46.030 , or both, carry such registration privileges, be made transferable, exchangeable, and interchangeable, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption as the commission shall by resolution determine. Any resolution or resolutions authorizing the issuance of any revenue obligations maturing in not exceeding six years from the date thereof (hereinafter in this section referred to as "short term obligations") may contain, in addition to all other provisions authorized by this title, and as an alternate method for the payment thereof, provisions which shall be a part of the contract with the holders of the short term obligations thereby authorized as to: (a) Refunding the short term obligations at or prior to maturity and, if so provided, outstanding bonds by the issuance of revenue bonds of the district either by the sale of bonds and application of the proceeds to the payment of the short term obligations and outstanding bonds or by the exchange of bonds for the short term obligations; (b) Satisfying, paying, or discharging the short term obligations at the election of the district by the tender or delivery of revenue bonds of the district in exchange therefor: PROVIDED, That the aggregate principal amount of bonds shall not exceed by more than five percent the aggregate principal amount of the short term obligations, to satisfy, pay, or discharge said short term obligations for which the bonds are tendered or delivered; (c) Exchanging or converting the short term obligations at the election of the owner thereof for or into the bonds of the district: PROVIDED, That the aggregate principal amount of the bonds shall not exceed by more than five percent the aggregate principal amount of the short term obligations to be exchanged for or converted into bonds; (d) Pledging bonds of the district as collateral to secure payment of the short term obligations and providing for the terms and conditions of the pledge and the manner of enforcing the pledge, which terms and conditions may provide for the delivery of the bonds in satisfaction of the short term obligations: PROVIDED, That the aggregate principal amount of the bonds pledged shall not exceed by more than five percent the aggregate principal amount of the short term obligations to secure said short term obligations for which they are pledged; (e) Depositing bonds in escrow or in trust with a trustee or fiscal agent or otherwise providing for the issuance and disposition of the bonds as security for carrying out any of the provisions in any resolution adopted pursuant to this section and providing for the powers and duties of the trustee, fiscal agent, or other depositary and the terms and conditions upon which the bonds are to be issued, held and disposed of; (f) Any other matters of like or different character which relate to any provision or provisions of any resolution adopted pursuant to this section. A district shall have power to make contracts for the future sale from time to time of revenue obligations by which the purchasers shall be committed to purchase such revenue obligations from time to time on the terms and conditions stated in such contract; and a district shall have power to pay such consideration as it shall deem proper for such commitments. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, such revenue obligations may be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46 RCW.
RCW 54.08.060 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 08 / Section 060
RCW 54.08.060: Special election for formation of district and first commissioners—Terms.
Status: in_force

Whenever a proposition for the formation of a public utility district is to be submitted to voters in any county, the county legislative authority may by resolution call a special election, and at the request of petitioners for the formation of such district contained in the petition shall do so and shall provide for holding the same at the earliest practicable time. If the boundaries of the proposed district embrace an area less than the entire county, such election shall be confined to the area so included. The notice of such election shall state the boundaries of the proposed district and the object of such election; in other respects, such election shall be held and called in the same manner as provided by law for the holding and calling of general elections: PROVIDED, That notice thereof shall be given for not less than ten days nor more than thirty days prior to such special election. In submitting the proposition to the voters for their approval or rejection, such proposition shall be expressed on the ballots in substantially the following terms: Public Utility District No. . . . .YES Public Utility District No. . . . . NO At the same special election on the proposition to form a public utility district, there shall also be an election for three public utility district commissioners. However, the election of such commissioners shall be null and void if the proposition to form the public utility district does not receive approval by a majority of the voters voting on the proposition. No primary shall be held. A special filing period shall be opened as provided in RCW 29A.24.171 and 29A.24.181 . The person receiving the greatest number of votes for the commissioner of each commissioner district shall be elected as the commissioner of that district. Commissioner districts shall be established as provided in RCW 54.12.010 . The terms of the initial commissioners shall be staggered as follows: (1) The person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year or a five-year term if the election is held in an odd-numbered year; (2) the person who is elected receiving the next greatest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year or a three-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year; and (3) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year. The commissioners first to be elected at such special election shall assume office immediately when they are elected and qualified, but the length of their terms of office shall be calculated from the first day in January in the year following their elections. The term "general election" as used herein means biennial general elections at which state and county officers in a noncharter county are elected.
RCW 54.44.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 44 / Section 010
RCW 54.44.010: Declaration of public purpose.
Status: in_force

It is declared to be in the public interest and for a public purpose that cities of the first class, public utility districts, joint operating agencies organized under chapter 43.52 RCW, regulated electrical companies and, rural electrical cooperatives including generation and transmission cooperatives be permitted to participate together in the development of nuclear and other thermal power facilities and transmission facilities as hereinafter provided as one means of achieving economies of scale and thereby promoting the economic development of the state and its natural resources to meet the future power needs of the state and all its inhabitants.
RCW 54.32.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 32 / Section 010
RCW 54.32.010: Consolidation of districts—Property taxed—Boundaries enlarged.
Status: in_force

Two or more contiguous public utility districts may become consolidated into one public utility district after proceedings had as required by *sections 8909, 8910 and 8911, of Remington's Compiled Statutes of Washington, PROVIDED, That a ten percent petition shall be sufficient; and public utility districts shall be held to be municipal corporations within the meaning of said sections, and the commission shall be held to be the legislative body of the public utility district as the term legislative body is used in said sections: PROVIDED, That any such consolidation shall in nowise affect or impair the title to any property owned or held by any such public utility district, or in trust therefor, or any debts, demands, liabilities or obligations existing in favor of or against either of the districts so consolidated, or any proceeding then pending: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That no property within either of the former public utility districts shall ever be taxed to pay any of the indebtedness of either of the other such former districts. The boundaries of any public utility district may be enlarged and new territory included therein, after proceedings had as required by **section 8894 of Remington's Compiled Statutes of Washington: PROVIDED, That a ten percent petition shall be sufficient; and public utility districts shall be held to be municipal corporations within the meaning of said section, and the commission shall be held to be the legislative body of the public utility district: PROVIDED, That no property within such territory so annexed shall ever be taxed to pay any portion of any indebtedness of such public utility district contracted prior to or existing at the date of such annexation. In all cases wherein public utility districts of less area than an entire county desire to be consolidated with a public utility district including an entire county, and in all cases wherein it is desired to enlarge a public utility district including an entire county, by annexing a lesser area than an entire county, no election shall be required to be held in the district including an entire county.
RCW 54.04.060 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 060
RCW 54.04.060: District elections.
Status: in_force

The supervisor of elections or other proper officer of the county shall give notice of all elections held under this title, for the time and in the manner and form provided for city, town, school district, and port district elections. When the supervisor or other officer deems an emergency exists, and is requested so to do by a resolution of the district commission, he or she may call a special election at any time in the district, and he or she may combine or divide precincts for the purpose of holding special elections, and special elections shall be conducted and notice thereof given in the manner provided by law. The supervisor or other officer shall provide polling places, appoint the election officers, provide their compensation, provide ballot boxes, and ballots or voting machines, poll books and tally sheets, and deliver them to the election officers at the polling places, publish and post notices of the elections in the manner provided by law, and apportion to the district its share of the expense of the election. The manner of conducting and voting at the elections, opening and closing of polls, keeping of poll lists, canvassing the votes, declaring the result, and certifying the returns, shall be the same as for the election of state and county officers, except as otherwise provided herein. The district commission shall certify to the supervisor a list of offices to be filled at a district election and the commission, if it desires to submit to the voters of the district a proposition, shall require the secretary of the commission to certify it at the time and in the manner and form provided for certifying propositions by the governing board of cities, towns, and port districts.
RCW 54.16.285 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 285
RCW 54.16.285: Limitations on termination of utility service for residential heating and of electric or water utility service during heat-related alerts.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2575.SL ) ***

(1) A district providing utility service for residential space heating shall not terminate such utility service between November 15 through March 15 if the customer: (a) Notifies the utility of the inability to pay the bill. This notice should be provided within five business days of receiving a payment overdue notice unless there are extenuating circumstances. If the customer fails to notify the utility within five business days and service is terminated, the customer can, by fulfilling the requirements of this section, receive the protections of this chapter; (b) Provides self-certification of household income for the prior 12 months to a grantee of the department of commerce which administers federally funded energy assistance programs. The grantee shall determine that the household income does not exceed the maximum allowed for eligibility under the state's plan for low-income energy assistance under 42 U.S.C. 8624 and shall provide a dollar figure that is seven percent of household income. The grantee may verify information provided in the self-certification; (c) Has applied for home heating assistance from applicable government and private sector organizations and certifies that any assistance received will be applied to the current bill and future utility bills; (d) Has applied for low-income weatherization assistance to the utility or other appropriate agency if such assistance is available for the dwelling; (e) Agrees to a payment plan and agrees to maintain the payment plan. The plan will be designed both to pay the past due bill by the following October 15 and to pay for continued utility service. If the past due bill is not paid by the following October 15, the customer shall not be eligible for protections under this chapter until the past due bill is paid. The plan shall not require monthly payments in excess of seven percent of the customer's monthly income plus one-twelfth of any arrearage accrued from the date application is made and thereafter during November 15 through March 15. A customer may agree to pay a higher percentage during this period, but shall not be in default unless payment during this period is less than seven percent of monthly income plus one-twelfth of any arrearage accrued from the date application is made and thereafter. If assistance payments are received by the customer subsequent to implementation of the plan, the customer shall contact the utility to reformulate the plan; and (f) Agrees to pay the moneys owed even if the customer moves. (2) The utility shall: (a) Include in any notice that an account is delinquent and that service may be subject to termination, a description of the customer's duties in this section; (b) Assist the customer in fulfilling the requirements under this section; (c) Be authorized to transfer an account to a new residence when a customer who has established a plan under this section moves from one residence to another within the same utility service area; (d) Be permitted to disconnect service if the customer fails to honor the payment program except on the days indicated in subsection (5) of this section. Utilities may continue to disconnect service for those practices authorized by law other than for nonpayment as provided for in this section. Customers who qualify for payment plans under this section who default on their payment plans and are disconnected can be reconnected and maintain the protections afforded under this chapter by paying all amounts that would have been due and owing under the terms of the applicable payment plan, absent default, on the date on which service is reconnected; and (e) Advise the customer in writing at the time it disconnects service that it will restore service if the customer contacts the utility and fulfills the other requirements of this section. (3) All districts providing utility service for residential space heating shall offer residential customers the option of a budget billing or equal payment plan. The budget billing or equal payment plan shall be offered low-income customers eligible under the state's plan for low-income energy assistance prepared in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 8624(C)(1) without limiting availability to certain months of the year, without regard to the length of time the customer has occupied the premises, and without regard to whether the customer is the tenant or owner of the premises occupied. (4) An agreement between the customer and the utility, whether oral or written, shall not waive the protections afforded under this chapter. (5) A district providing electric or water utility service to residential customers may not effect, due to lack of payment, an involuntary termination of utility service to any residential user, including tenants of metered apartment buildings and residents of mobile homes, on any day for which the national weather service has issued or has announced that it intends to issue a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area in which the residential user's address is located. (6)(a) A residential user at whose dwelling utility service has been disconnected for lack of payment may request that the district reconnect service on any day for which the national weather service has issued or has announced that it intends to issue a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area in which the residential user's address is located. The district shall inform all customers in the notice of disconnection of the ability to seek reconnection and provide clear and specific information on how to make that request, including how to contact the district. (b) Upon receipt of a request made pursuant to (a) of this subsection, the district shall promptly make a reasonable attempt to reconnect service to the dwelling. The district, in connection with a request made pursuant to (a) of this subsection, may require the residential user to enter into a payment plan prior to reconnecting service to the dwelling. If the district requires the residential user to enter into a repayment plan, the repayment plan must comply with subsection (7) of this section. (7) A repayment plan required by a district pursuant to subsection (6)(b) of this section will be designed both to pay the past due bill by the following May 15th, or as soon as possible after May 15th if needed to maintain monthly payments that are no greater than six percent of the customer's monthly income, and to pay for continued utility service. The plan may not require monthly payments in excess of six percent of the customer's monthly income. A customer may agree to pay a higher percentage during this period, but will not be in default unless payment during this period is less than six percent of the customer's monthly income. If assistance payments are received by the customer subsequent to implementation of the plan, the customer shall contact the district to reformulate the plan. (8) On an annual basis, each district with more than 25,000 retail electric customers or 2,500 water customers in Washington must submit a report to the department of commerce that includes the total number of disconnections that occurred on each day for which the national weather service issued, or announced that it intended to issue, a heat-related alert. Districts with fewer than 25,000 retail electric customers or 2,500 water customers in Washington must provide similar information upon request by the department. (a) Subject to availability, each district must provide any other information related to utility disconnections that is requested by the department. (b) The information required in this subsection must be submitted in a form, timeline, and manner as prescribed by the department.
RCW 54.16.430 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 430
RCW 54.16.430: Electrification of transportation plan—Considerations—Incentive programs.
Status: in_force

(1) The commission of a public utility district may adopt an electrification of transportation plan that, at a minimum, establishes a finding that outreach and investment in the electrification of transportation infrastructure does not increase net costs to ratepayers in excess of one-quarter of one percent. (2) In adopting an electrification of transportation plan under subsection (1) of this section, the commission of a public utility district may consider some or all of the following: (a) The applicability of multiple options for electrification of transportation across all customer classes; (b) the impact of electrification on the district's load, and whether demand response or other load management opportunities, including direct load control and dynamic pricing, are operationally appropriate; (c) system reliability and distribution system efficiencies; (d) interoperability concerns, including the interoperability of hardware and software systems in electrification of transportation proposals; and (e) overall customer experience. (3) A public utility district may, upon making a determination in accordance with subsection (1) of this section, offer incentive programs in the electrification of transportation for its customers, including the promotion of electric vehicle adoption and advertising programs to promote the district's services, incentives, or rebates.
RCW 54.48.040 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 48 / Section 040
RCW 54.48.040: Cooperatives not to be classified as public utilities or under authority of utilities and transportation commission.
Status: in_force

Nothing herein shall be construed to classify a cooperative having authority to engage in the electric business as a public utility or to include cooperatives under the authority of the Washington utilities and transportation commission.
RCW 54.32.001 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 32 / Section 001
RCW 54.32.001: Actions subject to review by boundary review board.
Status: in_force

Actions taken under chapter 54.32 RCW may be subject to potential review by a boundary review board under chapter 36.93 RCW.
RCW 54.16.200 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 200
RCW 54.16.200: Joint exercise of powers and joint acquisition of properties.
Status: in_force

Any two or more public utility districts organized under the provisions of the laws of this state shall have the power, by mutual agreement, to exercise jointly all powers granted to each individual district, and in the exercise of such powers shall have the right and power to acquire jointly all or any part of any electric utility properties which, at *the time of the passage of this act, constitutes an interconnected and physically integrated electric utility system, whether entirely within or partly within and partly without such districts: PROVIDED, That any two or more districts so acting jointly, by mutual agreement, shall not acquire any electric utility distribution properties in any other public utility district without the consent of such district, and shall not exercise jointly the power to condemn any privately owned utility property or any public utility owned by a municipality, to levy taxes or, to create subdistricts.
RCW 54.24.250 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 250
RCW 54.24.250: Local improvement guaranty fund—Subrogation of district as trustee of fund, effect on fund, disposition of proceeds.
Status: in_force

When there is paid out of a guaranty fund any sum on the principal or interest upon local improvement bonds, and/or warrants, or on the purchase of certificates of delinquency, the public utility district, as trustee, for the fund, shall be subrogated to all rights of the owner of the bonds, and/or warrants, any interest coupons, or delinquent assessment installments so paid; and the proceeds thereof, or of the assessment underlying them, shall become a part of the guaranty fund. There shall also be paid into the guaranty fund the interest received from the bank deposits of the fund, as well as any surplus remaining in the local utility district funds guaranteed hereunder, after the payment of all outstanding bonds and/or warrants payable primarily out of such local utility district funds. As among the several issues of bonds and/or warrants guaranteed by the fund, no preference shall exist, but defaulted interest coupons and bonds and/or warrants shall be purchased out of the fund in the order of their presentation. The commissioners shall prescribe, by resolution, appropriate rules for the guaranty fund consistent herewith. So much of the money of a guaranty fund as is necessary and not required for other purposes hereunder may be used to purchase property at county tax foreclosure sales or from the county after foreclosure in cases where the property is subject to unpaid local improvement assessments securing bonds and/or warrants guaranteed hereunder and such purchase is deemed necessary for the purpose of protecting the guaranty fund. In such cases the funds shall be subrogated to all rights of the district. After so acquiring title to real property, the district may lease or resell and convey it in the same manner that county property may be leased or resold and for such prices and on such terms as may be determined by resolution of the commissioners. All proceeds resulting from such resales shall belong to and be paid into the guaranty fund.
RCW 54.24.070 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 070
RCW 54.24.070: Prima facie validity of revenue obligations.
Status: in_force

The state auditor need not register, certify, nor sign revenue obligations after July 26, 1981. These obligations shall be held in every action, suit, or proceeding in which their validity is or may be brought into question prima facie valid and binding obligations of the districts in accordance with their terms, notwithstanding any defects or irregularities in the proceedings for the organization of the district and the election of the commissioners thereof or for the authorization and issuance of such revenue obligations or in the sale, execution, or delivery thereof.
RCW 54.04.070 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 070
RCW 54.04.070: Contracts for work or materials—Notice—Exemptions—Unit priced contracts.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6076-S.SL ) ***

(1) Any item, or items of the same kind of materials, equipment, or supplies purchased, the estimated cost of which is in excess of $30,000, exclusive of sales tax, shall be by contract. However, a district may make purchases of the same kind of items of materials, equipment, and supplies not exceeding $12,000 in any calendar month without a contract, purchasing any excess thereof over $12,000 by contract. (2) Any work ordered by a district commission, the estimated cost of which is in excess of $150,000 exclusive of sales tax if more than a single craft or trade is involved with the public works project, or a public works project in excess of $75,500 exclusive of sales tax if only a single craft or trade is involved with the public works project, shall be by contract. However, a district commission may have its own regularly employed personnel perform work which is an accepted industry practice under prudent utility management without a contract. For purposes of this section, "prudent utility management" means performing work with regularly employed personnel utilizing material of a worth not exceeding $300,000 in value without a contract. This limit on the value of material being utilized in work being performed by regularly employed personnel shall not include the value of individual items of equipment. For the purposes of this section, the term "equipment" includes but is not limited to conductor, cabling, wire, pipe, or lines used for electrical, water, fiber optic, or telecommunications. (3) Before awarding a contract required under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the commission shall publish a notice once or more in a newspaper of general circulation in the district at least 13 days before the last date upon which bids will be received, inviting sealed proposals for the work or materials. Plans and specifications for the work or materials shall at the time of publication be on file at the office of the district and subject to public inspection. Any published notice ordering work to be performed for the district shall be mailed at the time of publication to any established trade association which files a written request with the district to receive such notices. The commission may, at the same time and as part of the same notice, invite tenders for the work or materials upon plans and specifications to be submitted by the bidders. (4) As an alternative to the competitive bidding requirements of this section and RCW 54.04.080 , a district may let contracts using the small works roster process under RCW 39.04.151 through 39.04.154 . (5) Whenever equipment or materials required by a district are held by a governmental agency and are available for sale but such agency is unwilling to submit a proposal, the commission may ascertain the price of such items and file a statement of such price supported by the sworn affidavit of one member of the commission, and may consider such price as a bid without a deposit or bond. (6) Pursuant to RCW 39.04.280 , the commission may waive the competitive bidding requirements of this section and RCW 54.04.080 if an exemption contained within RCW 39.04.280 applies to the purchase or public work. (7)(a) A district may procure public works with a unit priced contract under this section, RCW 54.04.080 , or 54.04.085 for the purpose of completing anticipated types of work based on hourly rates or unit pricing for one or more categories of work or trades. (b) For the purposes of this section, unit priced contract means a competitively bid contract in which public works are anticipated on a recurring basis to meet the business or operational needs of a district, under which the contractor agrees to a fixed period indefinite quantity delivery of work, at a defined unit price, for each category of work. (c) Unit priced contracts must be executed for an initial contract term not to exceed three years, with the district having the option of extending or renewing the unit priced contract for one additional year. (d) Invitations for unit price bids shall include, for purposes of the bid evaluation, estimated quantities of the anticipated types of work or trades, and specify how the district will issue or release work assignments, work orders, or task authorizations pursuant to a unit priced contract for projects, tasks, or other work based on the hourly rates or unit prices bid by the contractor. Where electrical facility construction or improvement work is anticipated, contractors on a unit priced contract shall comply with the requirements under RCW 54.04.085 (1) through (5). Contracts must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder as per RCW 39.04.010 . (e) Unit price contractors shall pay prevailing wages for all work that would otherwise be subject to the requirements of chapter 39.12 RCW. Prevailing wages for all work performed pursuant to each work order must be the prevailing wage rates in effect at the beginning date for each contract year. Unit priced contracts must have prevailing wage rates updated annually. Intents and affidavits for prevailing wages paid must be submitted annually for all work completed within the previous 12-month period of the unit priced contract. (8) For the purposes of this section, "lowest responsible bidder" means a bid that meets the criteria under RCW 39.04.350 and has the lowest bid; provided, that if the district commission issues a written finding that the lowest bidder has delivered a project to the district within the last three years which was late, over budget, or did not meet specifications, and the commission does not find in writing that such bidder has shown how they would improve performance to be likely to meet project specifications then the commission may choose the second lowest bidder whose bid is within five percent of the lowest bid and meets the same criteria as the lowest bidder.
RCW 54.16.180 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 180
RCW 54.16.180: Sale, lease, disposition of properties, equipment, and materials—Procedure—Acquisition, operation of sewage system by districts in certain counties.
Status: in_force

(1) A district may sell and convey, lease, or otherwise dispose of all or any part of its works, plants, systems, utilities and properties, after proceedings and approval by the voters of the district, as provided for the lease or disposition of like properties and facilities owned by cities and towns. The affirmative vote of three-fifths of the voters voting at an election on the question of approval of a proposed sale shall be necessary to authorize such a sale. (2) A district may, without the approval of the voters, sell, convey, lease, or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the property owned by it that is located: (a) Outside its boundaries, to another public utility district, city, town or other municipal corporation; or (b) Within or without its boundaries, which has become unserviceable, inadequate, obsolete, worn out or unfit to be used in the operations of the system and which is no longer necessary, material to, and useful in such operations, to any person or public body. (3) A district may sell, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of items of equipment or materials to any other district, to any cooperative, mutual, consumer-owned or investor-owned utility, to any federal, state, or local government agency, to any contractor employed by the district or any other district, utility, or agency, or any customer of the district or of any other district or utility, from the district's stores without voter approval or resolution of the district's board, if such items of equipment or materials cannot practicably be obtained on a timely basis from any other source, and the amount received by the district in consideration for any such sale, conveyance, lease, or other disposal of such items of equipment or materials is not less than the district's cost to purchase such items or the reasonable market value of equipment or materials. (4) A district located within a county with a population of from one hundred twenty-five thousand to less than two hundred ten thousand may sell and convey to a city of the first class, which owns its own water system, all or any part of a water system owned by the district where a portion of it is located within the boundaries of the city, without approval of the voters, upon such terms and conditions as the district shall determine. (5) A district located in a county with a population of from twelve thousand to less than eighteen thousand and bordered by the Columbia river may, separately or in connection with the operation of a water system, or as part of a plan for acquiring or constructing and operating a water system, or in connection with the creation of another or subsidiary local utility district, provide for the acquisition or construction, additions or improvements to, or extensions of, and operation of, a sewage system within the same service area as in the judgment of the district commission is necessary or advisable to eliminate or avoid any existing or potential danger to public health due to lack of sewerage facilities or inadequacy of existing facilities. (6) A district located within a county with a population of from one hundred twenty-five thousand to less than two hundred ten thousand bordering on Puget Sound may sell and convey to any city or town with a population of less than ten thousand all or any part of a water system owned by the district without approval of the voters upon such terms and conditions as the district shall determine. (7) A district located within a county with a population of from six hundred fifty thousand to less than seven hundred fifty thousand bordering on Puget Sound may sell and convey to any city or town with a population of less than sixty-five thousand which owns its own water system all or any part of a water system owned by the district without approval of the voters upon such terms and conditions as the district shall determine. (8) A district may sell and convey, lease, or otherwise dispose of, to any person or entity without approval of the voters and upon such terms and conditions as it determines, all or any part of an electric generating project owned directly or indirectly by the district, regardless of whether the project is completed, operable, or operating, as long as: (a) The project is or would be powered by an eligible renewable resource as defined in RCW 19.285.030 ; and (b) The district, or the separate legal entity in which the district has an interest in the case of indirect ownership, has: (i) The right to lease the project or to purchase all or any part of the energy from the project during the period in which it does not have a direct or indirect ownership interest in the project; and (ii) An option to repurchase the project or part thereof sold, conveyed, leased, or otherwise disposed of at or below fair market value upon termination of the lease of the project or termination of the right to purchase energy from the project. (9) Districts are municipal corporations for the purposes of this section. A commission shall be held to be the legislative body, a president and secretary shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as a mayor and city clerk, and the district resolutions shall be held to be ordinances within the meaning of statutes governing the sale, lease, or other disposal of public utilities owned by cities and towns.
RCW 54.16.030 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 030
RCW 54.16.030: Water and irrigation works.
Status: in_force

A district may construct, purchase, condemn and purchase, acquire, add to, maintain, conduct, and operate waterworks and irrigation plants and systems, within or without its limits, for the purpose of furnishing the district, and the inhabitants thereof, and of the county in which the district is located, and any other persons including public and private corporations within or without the limits of the district or the county, with an ample supply of water for all purposes, public and private, including water power, domestic use, and irrigation, with full and exclusive authority to sell and regulate and control the use, distribution, and price thereof.
RCW 54.24.060 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 060
RCW 54.24.060: Sale, delivery of revenue obligations.
Status: in_force

(1) Such utility revenue obligations shall be sold and delivered in such manner, at such rate or rates of interest and for such price or prices and at such time or times as the commission shall deem for the best interests of the district. The commission may, if it deem it to the best interest of the district, provide in any contract for the construction or acquisition of the public utility, or the additions or betterments thereto or extensions thereof, that payment therefor shall be made only in such revenue obligations at the par value thereof. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, such obligations may be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46 RCW.
RCW 54.16.340 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 340
RCW 54.16.340: Wholesale telecommunications services—Petition for review of rates, terms, conditions.
Status: in_force

(1) A person or entity that has requested wholesale telecommunications services from a public utility district providing wholesale telecommunications services under this chapter may petition the commission under the procedures set forth in RCW 80.04.110 (1) through (3) if it believes the district's rates, terms, and conditions are unduly or unreasonably discriminatory or preferential. The person or entity shall provide the public utility district notice of its intent to petition the commission and an opportunity to review within thirty days the rates, terms, and conditions as applied to it prior to submitting its petition. In determining whether a district is providing discriminatory or preferential rates, terms, and conditions, the commission may consider such matters as service quality, cost of service, technical feasibility of connection points on the district's facilities, time of response to service requests, system capacity, and other matters reasonably related to the provision of wholesale telecommunications services. If the commission, after notice and hearing, determines that a public utility district's rates, terms, and conditions are unduly or unreasonably discriminatory or preferential, it shall issue a final order finding noncompliance with this section and setting forth the specific areas of apparent noncompliance. An order imposed under this section shall be enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction. (2) The commission may order a public utility district to pay a share of the costs incurred by the commission in connection with adjudicating or enforcing the provisions of this section. (3) Without limiting other remedies at law or equity, the commission and prevailing party may also seek injunctive relief to compel compliance with an order. (4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the commission's authority and jurisdiction with respect to actions, proceedings, or orders permitted or contemplated for a state commission under the federal telecommunications act of 1996, P.L. 104-104 (110 Stat. 56).
RCW 54.36.070 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 36 / Section 070
RCW 54.36.070: Increased financial burden on county or other taxing district—Power to make payments.
Status: in_force

Public utilities are hereby authorized to make payments to a county or other taxing district in existence before the commencement of construction on the construction project which suffers an increased financial burden because of their construction projects, but such amount shall not be more than the amount by which the property taxes levied against the contractors engaged in the work on the construction project failed to meet said increased financial burden.
RCW 54.04.020 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 020
RCW 54.04.020: Districts authorized.
Status: in_force

Municipal corporations, to be known as public utility districts, are hereby authorized for the purposes of chapter 1, Laws of 1931 and may be established within the limits of the state of Washington, as provided herein.
RCW 54.36.040 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 36 / Section 040
RCW 54.36.040: Compensation of school district for construction pupils—Amount to be paid.
Status: in_force

The compensation to be paid per construction pupils as computed in RCW 54.36.030 shall be one-third of the average per-pupil cost of the local school district, for the school year then current.
RCW 54.16.020 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 020
RCW 54.16.020: Acquisition of property and rights—Eminent domain.
Status: in_force

A district may construct, condemn and purchase, purchase, acquire, lease, add to, maintain, operate, develop, and regulate all lands, property, property rights, water, water rights, dams, ditches, flumes, aqueducts, pipes and pipe lines, water power, leases, easements, rights-of-way, franchises, plants, plant facilities, and systems for generating electric energy by water power, steam, or other methods; plants, plant facilities, and systems for developing, conserving, and distributing water for domestic use and irrigation; buildings, structures, poles and pole lines, and cables and conduits and any and all other facilities; and may exercise the right of eminent domain to effectuate the foregoing purposes or for the acquisition and damaging of such property and rights, or property of any kind appurtenant thereto, and for the purpose of acquiring the right to make physical connection with plants and plant facilities of all persons and municipalities. The right of eminent domain shall be exercised pursuant to resolution of the commission and conducted in the same manner and by the same procedure as is provided for the exercise of that power by cities and towns of the state in the acquisition of like property and property rights. It shall be no defense to a condemnation proceeding that a portion of the electric current generated or sold by the district will be applied to private purposes, if the principal uses intended are public: PROVIDED, That no public utility owned by a city or town shall be condemned, and none shall be purchased without submission of the question to the voters of the utility district. In a condemnation proceeding, the court shall submit to the jury the values placed upon the property by the taxing authority for taxation purposes, and in respect to property, plants, and facilities of persons using public highways for furnishing public service without franchises, shall consider in determining the value thereof the fact that the property, plants, and facilities are subject to be removed from the highways by reason of being so operated without a franchise.
RCW 54.16.400 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 400
RCW 54.16.400: Voluntary donations for purposes of urban forestry.
Status: in_force

(1) Public utility districts may request voluntary donations from their customers for the purposes of urban forestry. The request may be in the form of a check-off on the billing statement or other form of a request for a voluntary donation. (2) Voluntary donations collected by public utility districts under this section may be used by the public utility district to: (a) Support the development and implementation of urban forestry ordinances, as that term is defined in RCW 76.15.010 , for cities, towns, or counties within their service areas; (b) Complete projects consistent with the urban forestry management plans and ordinances developed under RCW 76.15.090 ; or (c) Fund a tree planting program for energy conservation that accomplishes the goals established under RCW 54.16.281 . (3) Donations received under this section do not contribute to the gross income of a light and power business or gas distribution business under chapter 82.16 RCW.
RCW 54.16.085 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 085
RCW 54.16.085: Interfund loans.
Status: in_force

A public utility district may make and repay interfund loans between its funds.
RCW 54.16.300 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 300
RCW 54.16.300: Combined utility functions.
Status: in_force

A public utility district by resolution may combine two or more of its separate utility functions into a single utility and combine its related funds or accounts into a single fund or account. The separate utility functions include electrical energy systems, domestic water systems, irrigation systems, sanitary sewer systems, and storm sewer systems. All powers granted to public utility districts to acquire, construct, maintain, and operate such systems may be exercised in the joint acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of such combined systems. The establishment, maintenance, and operation of the combined system shall be governed by the public utility district statutes relating to one of the utility systems that is being combined, as specified in the resolution combining the utility systems.
RCW 54.24.260 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 260
RCW 54.24.260: Local improvement guaranty fund—Rights and remedies of bond or warrant holder which shall be printed on bond or warrant—Disposition of balance of fund.
Status: in_force

Neither the holder nor the owner of local improvement bonds and/or warrants guaranteed hereunder shall have a claim therefor against the public utility district, except for payment from the special assessment made for the improvement for which the bonds and/or warrants were issued, and except as against the guaranty fund. The district shall not be liable to any holder or owner of such local improvement bonds and/or warrants for any loss to the guaranty fund occurring in the lawful operation thereof by the district. The remedy of the holder of a local improvement bond and/or warrant shall be confined to the enforcement of the assessment and to the guaranty fund. A copy of the foregoing part of this section shall be plainly written, printed, or engraved on each local improvement bond and/or warrant guaranteed hereby. The establishment of a guaranty fund shall not be deemed at variance from any comprehensive plan heretofore adopted by a district. If a guaranty fund at any time has balance therein in cash, and the obligations guaranteed thereby have all been paid off, the balance may be transferred to such other fund of the district as the commissioners shall, by resolution, direct.
RCW 54.28.025 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 28 / Section 025
RCW 54.28.025: Tax imposed with respect to thermal electric generating facilities—Rate—Additional tax imposed.
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby levied and there shall be collected from every district operating a thermal electric generating facility, as defined in RCW 54.28.010 as now or hereafter amended, having a design capacity of two hundred fifty thousand kilowatts or more, located on a federal reservation, which is placed in operation after September 21, 1977, a tax for the act or privilege of engaging within the state in the business of generating electricity for use or sale, equal to one and one-half percent of wholesale value of energy produced for use or sale, except energy used in the operation of component parts of the power plant and associated transmission facilities under control of the person operating the power plant. (2) An additional tax is imposed equal to the rate specified in RCW 82.02.030 multiplied by the tax payable under subsection (1) of this section.
RCW 54.40.030 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 40 / Section 030
RCW 54.40.030: Transmittal of copies of federal hydroelectric license to county auditor.
Status: in_force

Within five days after a public utility district shall receive a license from the federal power commission to construct a hydroelectric project of an estimated cost of more than two hundred and fifty million dollars, including interest during construction, or, in the case of a district which on September 21, 1977, is in existence and has such a license within five days of September 21, 1977, the district shall forward a true copy of said license, certified by the secretary of the district, to the county auditor of the county wherein said district is located.
RCW 54.20.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 20 / Section 010
RCW 54.20.010: Statement of operations—Decree of appropriation—Retirement of properties—Accounting—Limitation on new proceedings.
Status: in_force

In any condemnation proceeding heretofore or hereafter instituted or conducted by a public utility district for the acquisition of properties, the district may serve upon the condemnee's attorneys of record and file with the court a notice of its intention to present a decree of appropriation together with a demand for a verified statement showing in reasonable detail the following information with respect to the operation of the properties since the date of verdict, if the case was tried by jury, or since the date of the judgment fixing compensation, if the case was tried by the court, namely: the cost of any improvements and betterments to the properties which were reasonably necessary and prudently made; the gross income received from the properties, betterments and improvements; the actual reasonable expense, exclusive of depreciation, incurred in the operation thereof. If the condemnee fails to serve and file the statement within fifteen days after service of the demand therefor, it may be compelled to do so by contempt proceedings, and the time during which such proceedings are pending shall not be considered in computing the time within which the district may exercise its right of appropriation. After the statement is filed, the district may pay the amount of the verdict or judgment plus (1) accrued interest thereon less the net income before allowance for depreciation, and (2) the cost of such improvements and betterments, all as shown by the sworn statement, and concurrently obtain its decree of appropriation. The condemnee may retire from use after the verdict or judgment such items of the properties as may be reasonably necessary in the ordinary and usual course of operation thereof, in which case it shall show in its statement the reasonable value of such items retired, and the district may deduct such value from the sum otherwise payable by it. If the condemnee fails to file the statement within fifteen days after service of the demand therefor, the district at its option may pay the full amount of the judgment or verdict plus accrued interest thereon and concurrently obtain a decree of appropriation. After payment has been made and the decree of appropriation entered as provided in this section, the district or the condemnee shall be entitled to an accounting in the condemnation proceedings to determine the true amount of each item required to be furnished in the above statement, and to payment of any balance found due in such accounting. Whenever any such condemnation proceedings have been, or hereafter may be abandoned, no new proceedings for the acquisition of the same or substantially similar properties shall be instituted until the expiration of one year from the date of such abandonment, but such proceedings may be instituted at any time thereafter.
RCW 54.04.030 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 030
RCW 54.04.030: Restrictions on invading other municipalities.
Status: in_force

Chapter 1, Laws of 1931, shall not be deemed or construed to repeal or affect any existing act, or any part thereof, relating to the construction, operation and maintenance of public utilities by irrigation or water-sewer districts or other municipal corporations, but shall be supplemental thereto and concurrent therewith. No public utility district created hereunder shall include therein any municipal corporation, or any part thereof, where such municipal corporation already owns or operates all the utilities herein authorized: PROVIDED, that in case it does not own or operate all such utilities it may be included within such public utility district for the purpose of establishing or operating therein such utilities as it does not own or operate: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That no property situated within any irrigation or water-sewer districts or other municipal corporations shall ever be taxed or assessed to pay for any utility, or part thereof, of like character to any utility, owned or operated by such irrigation or water districts or other municipal corporations.
RCW 54.04.120 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 120
RCW 54.04.120: Planning powers.
Status: in_force

In order that the commissioners of a public utility district may be better able to plan for the marketing of power and for the development of resources pertaining thereto, they shall have the same powers as are vested in a board of county commissioners as provided in *chapter 44, Laws of 1935 (sections 9322-2 to 9322-4, both inclusive, and 9322-10 to 9322-11 inclusive, Remington's Revised Statutes, also Pierce's Perpetual Code 776-3 to -7, 776-19 and -21), entitled: "An Act relating to city, town, county and regional planning and the creation, organization, duties and powers of planning commissions." For the purposes of such act, the president of a public utility district shall have the powers of the chair of the board of county commissioners, and a planning commission created hereunder shall have the same powers, enumerated in the above sections, with reference to a public utility district as a county planning commission has with reference to a county. However, this section shall not be construed to grant the power to adopt, regulate, or enforce comprehensive plans, zoning, land use, or building codes.
RCW 54.16.095 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 095
RCW 54.16.095: Liability insurance for officials and employees.
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners of each public utility district may purchase liability insurance with such limits as they may deem reasonable for the purpose of protecting their officials and employees against liability for personal or bodily injuries and property damage arising from their acts or omissions while performing or in good faith purporting to perform their official duties.
RCW 54.04.200 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 200
RCW 54.04.200: Public utility district as captive owner.
Status: in_force

A public utility district may be a captive owner as defined in RCW 48.201.020 .
RCW 54.40.060 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 40 / Section 060
RCW 54.40.060: Division of district.
Status: in_force

If the reclassification to a five commissioner district is approved by the voters, the public utility district commission within sixty days after the results of said election are certified shall divide the public utility district into two districts of as nearly equal population as possible, and shall designate the districts as District A and District B.
RCW 54.16.360 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 360
RCW 54.16.360: Cooperative watershed management.
Status: in_force

In addition to the authority provided in RCW 54.16.030 relating to water supply, a public utility district may participate in and expend revenue on cooperative watershed management actions, including watershed management partnerships under RCW 39.34.210 and other intergovernmental agreements, for purposes of water supply, water quality, and water resource and habitat protection and management.
RCW 54.16.160 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 160
RCW 54.16.160: Assessment roll—Hearing—Appellate review—Expenses.
Status: in_force

Before approval of the roll, a notice shall be published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, stating that the roll is on file and open to inspection in the office of the secretary, and fixing a time not less than fifteen nor more than thirty days from the date of the first publication of the notice, within which protests must be filed with the secretary against any assessments shown thereon, and fixing a time when a hearing shall be held by the commission on the protests. After the hearing the commission may alter any and all assessments shown on the roll and may, by resolution, approve it, but if an assessment is raised, a new notice, similar to the first, shall be given, and a hearing had thereon, after which final approval of the roll may be made. Any person aggrieved by the assessments shall perfect an appeal to the superior court of the county within ten days after the approval, in the manner provided for appeals from assessments levied by cities of the first class. In the event such an appeal shall be taken, the judgment of the court shall confirm the assessment insofar as it affects the property of the appellant unless the court shall find from the evidence that such assessment is founded upon a fundamentally wrong basis and/or the decision of the commission thereon was arbitrary or capricious; in which event the judgment of the court shall correct, change, modify, or annul the assessment insofar as it affects the property of the appellant. In the same manner as provided with reference to cities of the first class appellate review of the judgment of the superior court may be sought, as in other cases, within fifteen days after the date of the entry of the judgment in the superior court. Engineering, office, and other expenses necessary or incident to the improvement shall be borne by the public utility district: PROVIDED, That when a municipal corporation included in the public utility district already owns or operates a utility of a character like that for which the assessments are levied hereunder, all such engineering and other expenses shall be borne by the local assessment district.
RCW 54.04.190 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 190
RCW 54.04.190: Production and distribution of biodiesel, ethanol, and ethanol blend fuels—Crop purchase contracts for dedicated energy crops—Production and utilization of renewable natural gas and renewable hydrogen—Sale of renewable natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, renewable hydrogen, and biogenic carbon dioxide.
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to any other authority provided by law, public utility districts are authorized to produce and distribute biodiesel, ethanol, and ethanol blend fuels, including entering into crop purchase contracts for a dedicated energy crop for the purpose of generating electricity or producing biodiesel produced from Washington feedstocks, cellulosic ethanol, and cellulosic ethanol blend fuels for use in internal operations of the electric utility and for sale or distribution. (2) In addition to any other authority provided by law: (a) Public utility districts are authorized to produce renewable natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, and renewable hydrogen and utilize the renewable natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, or renewable hydrogen they produce for internal operations. (b) Public utility districts may sell renewable natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, or renewable hydrogen that is delivered into a gas transmission pipeline located in the state of Washington or delivered in pressurized containers: (i) At wholesale; (ii) To an end-use customer; or (iii) If delivered in a pressurized container, or if the end-use customer takes delivery of the renewable natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, or renewable hydrogen through a pipeline, and the end-use customer is an eligible purchaser of natural gas from sellers other than the gas company from which that end-use customer takes transportation service and: (A) When the sale is made to an end-use customer in the state of Washington, the sale is made pursuant to a transportation tariff approved by the Washington utilities and transportation commission; or (B) When the sale to an end-use customer is made outside of the state of Washington, the sale is made pursuant to a transportation tariff approved by the state agency which regulates retail sales of natural gas. (c) Public utility districts may sell renewable natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, or renewable hydrogen at wholesale or to an end-use customer through a pipeline directly from renewable natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, or renewable hydrogen production facilities to facilities that compress, liquefy, or dispense compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, or renewable hydrogen fuel for end use as a transportation fuel. (d) Public utility districts may sell green electrolytic hydrogen or renewable hydrogen at wholesale or to an end-use customer in pressurized containers directly from green electrolytic hydrogen or renewable hydrogen production facilities to facilities that utilize green electrolytic hydrogen or renewable hydrogen as a nonutility related input for a manufacturing process. (e) Public utility districts may sell to an end-use customer or at wholesale biogenic carbon dioxide, and other marketable coproducts resulting from the processing of biogas from landfills, anaerobic digesters, and wastewater treatment facilities. (3) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b)(iii) of this section, nothing in this section authorizes a public utility district to sell renewable natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, or renewable hydrogen delivered by pipeline to an end-use customer of a gas company. (4)(a) Except as provided in this subsection (4), nothing in this section authorizes a public utility district to own or operate natural gas distribution pipeline systems used to serve retail customers. (b) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) of this section, public utility districts are authorized to own and operate interconnection pipelines that connect renewable natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, or renewable hydrogen production facilities to gas transmission pipelines. (c) For the purposes of subsection (2)(c) of this section, public utility districts may own and/or operate pipelines to supply, and/or compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, or renewable hydrogen facilities to provide, renewable natural gas, green electrolytic hydrogen, or renewable hydrogen for end use as a transportation fuel if all such pipelines and facilities are located in the county in which the public utility district is authorized to provide utility service. (5) Exercise of the authorities granted under this section to public utility districts does not subject them to the jurisdiction of the utilities and transportation commission, except that public utility districts are subject only to administration and enforcement by the commission of state and federal requirements related to pipeline safety and fees payable to the commission that are applicable to such administration and enforcement. (6) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (a) "Green electrolytic hydrogen" means hydrogen produced through electrolysis, and does not include hydrogen manufactured using steam reforming or any other conversion technology that produces hydrogen from a fossil fuel feedstock. (b) "Renewable natural gas" means a gas consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons derived from the decomposition of organic material in landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, and anaerobic digesters. (c) "Renewable hydrogen" means hydrogen produced using renewable resources both as the source for the hydrogen and the source for the energy input into the production process. (d) "Renewable resource" means: (i) Water; (ii) wind; (iii) solar energy; (iv) geothermal energy; (v) renewable natural gas; (vi) renewable hydrogen; (vii) wave, ocean, or tidal power; (viii) biodiesel fuel that is not derived from crops raised on land cleared from old growth or first growth forests; or (ix) biomass energy. (e) "Gas company" has the same meaning as in RCW 80.04.010 . (f) "Biogenic carbon dioxide" means (i) carbon dioxide produced from the decomposition or oxidation of organic materials from landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, or anaerobic digesters; (ii) carbon dioxide produced from the decomposition or processing of biomass; and (iii) carbon dioxide produced as a byproduct from biological processes in an industrial or manufacturing facility. Biogenic carbon dioxide does not include carbon dioxide produced from the combustion or processing of fossil fuels.
RCW 54.08.070 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 08 / Section 070
RCW 54.08.070: Construction or acquisition of electric facilities for generation, transmission, or distribution of power—When voter approval required—Election.
Status: in_force

Any district which does not own or operate electric facilities for the generation, transmission, or distribution of electric power on March 25, 1969, or any district which hereafter does not construct or acquire such electric facilities within ten years of its creation, shall not construct or acquire any such electric facilities without the approval of such proposal by the voters of such district: PROVIDED, That a district shall have the power to construct or acquire electric facilities within ten years following its creation by action of its commission without voter approval of such action. At any general election held in an even-numbered year, the proposal to construct or acquire electric facilities may be submitted to the voters of the district by resolution of the public utility district commission or shall be submitted to the voters of the district by the county legislative authority on petition of ten percent of the qualified electors of such district, based on the total vote cast in the last general county election held in an even-numbered year. A form of petition for the construction or acquisition of electric facilities by the public utility district shall be submitted to the county auditor within ten months prior to the election at which such proposition is to be submitted to the voters. Petitions shall be filed with the county auditor not less than four months before such election and the county auditor shall within thirty days examine the signatures thereof and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency thereof. If such petition is found to be insufficient, it shall be returned to the persons filing the same, who may amend and add names thereto for ten days, when the same shall be returned to the county auditor, who shall have an additional fifteen days to examine the same and attach his or her certificate thereto. No person having signed such petition shall be allowed to withdraw his or her name therefrom after the filing of the same with the county auditor: PROVIDED, That each signature shall be dated and that no signature dated prior to the date on which the form of petition was submitted to the county auditor shall be valid. Whenever such petition shall be certified to as sufficient, the county auditor shall forthwith transmit the same, together with his or her certificate of sufficiency attached thereto, to the county legislative authority which shall submit such proposition to the voters of said district at the next general election in an even-numbered year according to RCW 29A.04.330 . The notice of the election shall state the object of such election, and shall in other respects conform to the requirements of the general laws of Washington, governing the time and manner of holding elections. The proposal submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection, shall be expressed on the ballot substantially in the following terms: Shall Public Utility District No. . . . . of . . . . . . County construct or acquire electric facilities for the generation, transmission or distribution of electric power? Yes □ No □ Within ten days after such election, the election board of the county shall canvass the returns, and if at such election a majority of the voters voting on such proposition shall vote in favor of such construction or acquisition of electric facilities, the district shall be authorized to construct or acquire electric facilities.
RCW 54.16.050 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 050
RCW 54.16.050: Water rights.
Status: in_force

A district may take, condemn and purchase, purchase and acquire any public and private property, franchises and property rights, including state, county, and school lands, and property and littoral and water rights, for any of the purposes aforesaid, and for railroads, tunnels, pipe lines, aqueducts, transmission lines, and all other facilities necessary or convenient, and, in connection with the construction, maintenance, or operation of any such utilities, may acquire by purchase or condemnation and purchase the right to divert, take, retain, and impound and use water from or in any lake or watercourse, public or private, navigable or nonnavigable, or held, owned, or used by the state, or any subdivision thereof, or by any person for any public or private use, or any underflowing water within the state; and the district may erect, within or without its limits, dams or other works across any river or watercourse, or across or at the outlet of any lake, up to and above high water mark; and, for the purpose of constructing or laying aqueducts or pipelines, dams, or waterworks or other necessary structures in storing, retaining, and distributing water, or for any other purpose authorized hereunder, the district may occupy and use the beds and shores up to the high water mark of any such lake, river, or watercourse, and acquire by purchase or by condemnation and purchase, or otherwise, any water, water rights, easements, or privileges named herein or necessary for any of such purposes, and a district may acquire by purchase, or condemnation and purchase, or otherwise, any lands, property, or privileges necessary to protect the water supply of the district from pollution: PROVIDED, That should private property be necessary for any of its purposes, or for storing water above high water mark, the district may condemn and purchase, or purchase and acquire such private property.
RCW 54.04.037 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 037
RCW 54.04.037: Annexation of territory—Coordination among county officials.
Status: in_force

When territory has been added to a public utility district in accordance with RCW 54.04.035 , the supervisor of elections and other officers of the county in which the public utility district first operated shall coordinate elections, the levy and collection of taxes, and other necessary duties with the appropriate county officials of the other county.
RCW 54.16.310 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 310
RCW 54.16.310: Operation, maintenance, and inspection of sewage disposal facilities, septic tanks, and wastewater disposal facilities and systems—Maintenance costs.
Status: in_force

A public utility district as authorized by a county board of health, may perform operation and maintenance, including inspections, of on-site sewage disposal facilities, alternate sewage disposal facilities, approved septic tanks or approved septic tank systems, other facilities and systems for the collection, interception, treatment, and disposal of wastewater, and for the control and protection, preservation, and rehabilitation of surface and underground waters. Those costs associated with the maintenance of private on-site sewage systems may be charged by the public utility district to the system owner.
RCW 54.16.060 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 060
RCW 54.16.060: Intertie lines.
Status: in_force

A district may build and maintain intertie lines connecting its power plant and distribution system with the power plant and distribution system owned by any other public utility district, or municipal corporation, or connect with the power plants and distribution systems owned by any municipal corporation in the district, and from any such intertie line, sell electric energy to any person, public utility district, city, town or other corporation, public or private, and, by means of transmission or pole lines, conduct electric energy from the place of production to the point of distribution, and construct and lay aqueducts, pipe or pole lines, and transmission lines along and upon public highways, roads, and streets, and condemn and purchase, purchase or acquire, lands, franchises, and rights-of-way necessary therefor.
RCW 54.16.385 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 385
RCW 54.16.385: Appliance repair service—Requirements.
Status: in_force

When a public utility district provides electrical appliance repair services under RCW 54.16.380 , the public utility district shall: (1) Charge customers the true and fair cost for the services; (2) Keep records documenting the revenues and expenditures for the services and make those records available to the public; and (3) Develop measures or benchmarks to track and evaluate the performance of the services.
RCW 54.24.210 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 210
RCW 54.24.210: Local improvement guaranty fund—Duties of the district.
Status: in_force

To comply with the requirements of setting aside and paying into the local improvement guaranty fund a proportion of the monthly gross revenues of the public utilities of a district, for which guaranteed local improvement bonds and/or warrants have been issued and are outstanding, the district shall bind and obligate itself so long as economically feasible to maintain and operate the utilities and establish, maintain and collect such rates for water and/or electric energy, as the case may be, as will produce gross revenues sufficient to maintain and operate the utilities, and make necessary provision for the guaranty fund. The district shall alter its rates for water and/or electric energy, as the case may be, from time to time and shall vary them in different portions of its territory to comply with such requirements.
RCW 54.12.010 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 12 / Section 010
RCW 54.12.010: Exercise of power by commissioners—Number—Districts—Terms—Vacancies—Adjustment of boundaries.
Status: in_force

A public utility district that is created as provided in RCW 54.08.010 shall be a municipal corporation of the state of Washington, and the name of such public utility district shall be Public Utility District No. . . . . of . . . . . . County. The powers of the public utility district shall be exercised through a commission consisting of three members in three commissioner districts, and five members in five commissioner districts. (1) If the public utility district is countywide and the county has three county legislative authority districts, then, at the first election of commissioners and until any change is made in the boundaries of public utility district commissioner districts, one public utility district commissioner shall be chosen from each of the three county legislative authority districts. (2) If the public utility district comprises only a portion of the county, with boundaries established in accordance with chapter 54.08 RCW, or if the public utility district is countywide and the county does not have three county legislative authority districts, three public utility district commissioner districts, numbered consecutively, each with approximately equal population and following precinct lines, as far as practicable, shall be described in the petition for the formation of the public utility district, subject to appropriate change by the county legislative authority if and when it changes the boundaries of the proposed public utility district. One commissioner shall be elected as a commissioner of each of the public utility district commissioner districts. (3) Only a registered voter who resides in a commissioner district may be a candidate for, or hold office as, a commissioner of the commissioner district. Only voters of a commissioner district may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a commissioner of the commissioner district. Voters of the entire public utility district may vote at a general election to elect a person as a commissioner of the commissioner district. (4) The term of office of each public utility district commissioner other than the commissioners at large shall be six years, and the term of each commissioner at large shall be four years. Each term shall be computed in accordance with RCW 29A.60.280 following the commissioner's election. All public utility district commissioners shall hold office until their successors shall have been elected and have qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29A.60.280 . (5) A vacancy in the office of public utility district commissioner shall occur as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW or by nonattendance at meetings of the public utility district commission for a period of sixty days unless excused by the public utility district commission. Vacancies on a board of public utility district commissioners shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW. (6) The boundaries of the public utility district commissioner districts may be changed only by the public utility district commission or by a court order issued pursuant to RCW 29A.92.110 , and shall be examined every ten years to determine substantial equality of population in accordance with chapter 29A.76 RCW. Except as provided in this section, RCW 29A.92.110 , RCW 54.04.039 , or in the case of an intervening census, the boundaries shall not be changed more often than once in four years. Boundaries may only be changed when all members of the commission are present. Whenever territory is added to a public utility district under RCW 54.04.035 , or added or withdrawn under RCW 54.04.039 , the boundaries of the public utility commissioner districts shall be changed to include the additional or exclude the withdrawn territory. Unless the boundaries are changed pursuant to RCW 54.04.039 , the proposed change of the boundaries of the public utility district commissioner district must be made by resolution and after public hearing. Notice of the time of the public hearing shall be published for two weeks before the hearing. Upon a referendum petition signed by ten percent of the qualified voters of the public utility district being filed with the county auditor, the county legislative authority shall submit the proposed change of boundaries to the voters of the public utility district for their approval or rejection. The petition must be filed within ninety days after the adoption of resolution of the proposed action. The validity of the petition is governed by the provisions of chapter 54.08 RCW.
RCW 54.36.080 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 36 / Section 080
RCW 54.36.080: Funds received by school district—Equalization apportionment.
Status: in_force

The funds paid by a public utility district to a school district under the provisions of this chapter shall not be considered a school district receipt by the superintendent of public instruction in determining equalization apportionments under *RCW 28.41.080 .
RCW 54.40.070 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 40 / Section 070
RCW 54.40.070: Special election for commissioners from districts—Terms.
Status: in_force

Within thirty days after the public utility district commission divides the district into District A and District B, the county legislative authority shall call a special election, to be held at the next special election date provided for under RCW 29A.04.321 that occurs sixty or more days after the call, at which time the initial commissioners for District A and District B shall be elected. No primary shall be held and a special filing period shall be opened as provided in RCW 29A.24.171 and 29A.24.181 . The person receiving the greatest number of votes for each position shall be elected. The person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office, and the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office, if the election is held in an even-numbered year, or the person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a three-year term of office, and the other person who is elected shall be elected to a one-year term of office, if the election is held in an odd-numbered year. The length of these terms of office shall be calculated from the first day in January in the year following their elections. The newly elected commissioners shall assume office immediately after being elected and qualified and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29A.60.280 . Each successor shall be elected to a four-year term of office.
RCW 54.16.005 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 005
RCW 54.16.005: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Broadband infrastructure" means networks of deployed telecommunications equipment and technologies necessary to provide high-speed internet access and other advanced telecommunications services. (2) "Commission" means the Washington utilities and transportation commission. (3) "District commission" means the governing board of a public utility district. (4) "Retail telecommunications services" means the sale, lease, license, or indivisible right of use of telecommunications services or telecommunications facilities directly to end users. (5) "Telecommunications" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 80.04.010 . (6) "Telecommunications facilities" means lines, conduits, ducts, poles, wires, cables, crossarms, receivers, transmitters, instruments, machines, appliances, instrumentalities and all devices, real estate, easements, apparatus, property, and routes used, operated, owned, or controlled by any entity to facilitate the provision of telecommunications services. (7) "Wholesale telecommunications services" means the provision of telecommunications services or telecommunications facilities for resale to an entity that provides retail telecommunications services.
RCW 54.16.090 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 090
RCW 54.16.090: Contracts with other agencies or utilities—Gifts, etc.—Employees and experts—Advancements.
Status: in_force

A district may enter into any contract or agreement with the United States, or any state, municipality, or other utility district, or any department of those entities, or with any cooperative, mutual, consumer-owned utility, or with any investor-owned utility or with an association of any of such utilities, for carrying out any of the powers authorized by this title. It may acquire by gift, devise, bequest, lease, or purchase, real and personal property necessary or convenient for its purposes, or for any local district therein. It may make contracts, employ engineers, attorneys, and other technical or professional assistance; print and publish information or literature; advertise or promote the sale and distribution of electricity or water and do all other things necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. It may advance funds, jointly fund or jointly advance funds for surveys, plans, investigations, or studies as set forth in RCW 54.16.010 , including costs of investigations, design and licensing of properties and rights of the type described in RCW 54.16.020 , including the cost of technical and professional assistance, and for the advertising and promotion of the sale and distribution of electricity or water. In accordance with RCW 54.44.020 , districts that operate electric generating facilities or distribution systems shall have power and authority to participate and enter into agreements with each other and with electrical companies which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Washington utilities and transportation commission or the regulatory commission of any other state, and with rural electric cooperatives, including generation and transmission cooperatives, with any other person or entities for the development, use, and ownership of any type of electric generating plants and facilities including, but not limited to, nuclear and other thermal power generating plants and facilities, renewable energy facilities, energy storage facilities, and transmission facilities including, but not limited to, related transmission facilities, hereinafter called "common facilities," and for the planning, financing, acquisition, construction, operation and maintenance thereof. Agreements under this section include, but are not limited to, joint venture agreements and limited liability company agreements. It shall be provided in such agreements that each district shall own a percentage of any common facility at least equal to the percentage of the money furnished or the value of property supplied by it for the acquisition and construction thereof and shall own and control a like percentage of the electrical output thereof.
RCW 54.24.230 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 230
RCW 54.24.230: Local improvement guaranty fund—Certificates of delinquency—Contents, purchase, payment, issuance, sale.
Status: in_force

Within twenty days after the date of delinquency of any annual installment of assessments levied for the purpose of paying the local improvement bonds and/or warrants of a district guaranteed hereunder, the county treasurer shall compile a statement of all installments delinquent together with the amount of accrued interest and penalty appurtenant to each installment, and shall forthwith purchase, for the district, certificates of delinquency for all such delinquent installments. Payment for the certificates shall be made from the local improvement guaranty fund and if there is not sufficient money in that fund to pay for the certificates, the county treasurer shall accept the local improvement guaranty fund warrants in payment therefor. All certificates shall be issued in the name of the local improvement guaranty fund and all guaranty fund warrants issued in payment therefor shall be issued in the name of the appropriate local utility district fund. When a market is available and the commissioners direct, the county treasurer shall sell any certificates belonging to the local improvement guaranty fund, for not less than face value thereof plus accrued interest from date of issuance to date of sale. The certificates shall be issued by the county treasurer, shall bear interest at the rate of ten percent per year, shall each be for the face value of the delinquent installment, plus accrued interest to date of issuance, plus a penalty of five percent of the face value, and shall set forth the: (1) Description of property assessed; (2) Date the installment of assessment became delinquent; and (3) Name of the owner or reputed owner, if known.
RCW 54.16.350 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 350
RCW 54.16.350: Tariff for irrigation pumping service—Authority to buy back electricity.
Status: in_force

The commission may approve a tariff for irrigation pumping service that allows the district to buy back electricity from customers to reduce electricity usage by those customers during the district's particular irrigation season.
RCW 54.24.110 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 110
RCW 54.24.110: Laws and resolutions as contract.
Status: in_force

The provisions of chapter 182, Laws of 1941 and the provisions of chapter 1, Laws of 1931, not hereby superseded, and of any resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of any revenue obligations as herein set forth shall constitute a contract with the holder or holders of such revenue obligations and the agreements and covenants of the district and its commission under said acts and any such resolution or resolutions shall be enforceable by any revenue obligation holder by mandamus or any other appropriate suit or action in any court of competent jurisdiction.
RCW 54.04.160 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 160
RCW 54.04.160: Assumption of obligations of private pension plan when urban transportation system acquired.
Status: in_force

Any municipal corporation which has heretofore or shall hereafter acquire from a private owner any urban transportation system which at the time of such acquisition has or had in effect any pension or retirement system for its employees, shall assume all such obligations with respect to continued contributions to and/or administration of, such retirement system, as the private owner bore or shall bear at such time, insofar as shall be necessary to discharge accrued obligations under such retirement system to beneficiaries who are not thereafter made members of a municipal or state retirement system.
RCW 54.16.410 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 410
RCW 54.16.410: Supply of water to be used in pumped storage generating facilities—Requirements—Contract, resolution.
Status: in_force

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, a qualifying public utility district may supply any water, if authorized by a previously perfected water right under its control, to be used in a pumped storage generating facility to any entity that sells electric energy or water either directly or indirectly to the public. (2) To qualify for the authority under this section, the public utility district must have satisfied all of the following requirements prior to June 7, 2012: (a) Border the Columbia river; (b) Have obtained a water right from an industrial user; and (c) Hold a water right for which power generation is an authorized purpose. (3) Water supplied to an entity under this section must be supplied consistent with a contract that contains the terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the commission of the qualifying public utility district. Contracts under this section must be made pursuant to a resolution of the commission that is introduced at a meeting of the commission at least ten days prior to the date of the adoption of the resolution. However, the commission shall first make adequate provision for the needs of the public utility district, both actual and prospective.
RCW 54.36.060 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 36 / Section 060
RCW 54.36.060: Power to make voluntary payments to school district for capital construction.
Status: in_force

Public utility districts are hereby authorized to make voluntary payments to a school district for capital construction if their construction projects cause an increased financial burden for such purpose on the school district.
RCW 54.04.130 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 130
RCW 54.04.130: Employee benefit plans when private utility acquired—Rights, powers and duties as to existing private employee benefit plans.
Status: in_force

Whenever any municipal corporation acquires by condemnation or otherwise any utility which at the time of acquisition is in private ownership and the employees of such private utility have been for at least two years and are at the time of acquisition covered by any plan for individual annuity contracts, retirement income policies, group annuity contracts, group insurance for the benefit of employees, or any other contract for the benefit of employees, such district shall, when the personnel is retained by the district, assume all of the obligations and liabilities of the private utility acquired with relation to such plan and the employees covered thereby at the time of acquisition; or the municipal corporation may by agreement with a majority of the employees affected substitute a plan or contract of the same or like nature. The municipal corporations acquiring such private utility shall proceed in such manner as is necessary so as not to reduce or impair any benefits or privileges which such employees would have received or be entitled to had such acquisition not been effected. The district may pay all or any part of the premiums or other payments required therefor out of the revenue derived from the operation of its properties.
RCW 54.04.045 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 045
RCW 54.04.045: Locally regulated utilities—Attachments to poles—Rates—Contracting.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section: (a) "Attachment" means the affixation or installation of any wire, cable, or other physical material capable of carrying electronic impulses or light waves for the carrying of intelligence for telecommunications or television, including, but not limited to cable, and any related device, apparatus, or auxiliary equipment upon any pole owned or controlled in whole or in part by one or more locally regulated utilities where the installation has been made with the necessary consent. (b) "Licensee" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, company, association, joint stock association, or cooperatively organized association, which is authorized to construct attachments upon, along, under, or across public ways. (c) "Locally regulated utility" means a public utility district not subject to rate or service regulation by the utilities and transportation commission. (d) "Nondiscriminatory" means that pole owners may not arbitrarily differentiate among or between similar classes of licensees approved for attachments. (2) All rates, terms, and conditions made, demanded, or received by a locally regulated utility for attachments to its poles must be just, reasonable, nondiscriminatory, and sufficient. A locally regulated utility shall levy attachment space rental rates that are uniform for the same class of service within the locally regulated utility service area. (3) A just and reasonable rate must be calculated as follows: (a) One component of the rate shall consist of the additional costs of procuring and maintaining pole attachments, but may not exceed the actual capital and operating expenses of the locally regulated utility attributable to that portion of the pole, duct, or conduit used for the pole attachment, including a share of the required support and clearance space, in proportion to the space used for the pole attachment, as compared to all other uses made of the subject facilities and uses that remain available to the owner or owners of the subject facilities; (b) The other component of the rate shall consist of the additional costs of procuring and maintaining pole attachments, but may not exceed the actual capital and operating expenses of the locally regulated utility attributable to the share, expressed in feet, of the required support and clearance space, divided equally among the locally regulated utility and all attaching licensees, in addition to the space used for the pole attachment, which sum is divided by the height of the pole; and (c) The just and reasonable rate shall be computed by adding one-half of the rate component resulting from (a) of this subsection to one-half of the rate component resulting from (b) of this subsection. (4) For the purpose of establishing a rate under subsection (3)(a) of this section, the locally regulated utility may establish a rate according to the calculation set forth in subsection (3)(a) of this section or it may establish a rate according to the cable formula set forth by the federal communications commission by rule as it existed on June 12, 2008, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the federal communications commission by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section. (5) Except in extraordinary circumstances, a locally regulated utility must respond to a licensee's application to enter into a new pole attachment contract or renew an existing pole attachment contract within forty-five days of receipt, stating either: (a) The application is complete; or (b) The application is incomplete, including a statement of what information is needed to make the application complete. (6) Within sixty days of an application being deemed complete, the locally regulated utility shall notify the applicant as to whether the application has been accepted for licensing or rejected. In extraordinary circumstances, and with the approval of the applicant, the locally regulated utility may extend the sixty-day timeline under this subsection. If the application is rejected, the locally regulated utility must provide reasons for the rejection. A request to attach may only be denied on a nondiscriminatory basis (a) where there is insufficient capacity; or (b) for reasons of safety, reliability, or the inability to meet generally applicable engineering standards and practices. (7) Nothing in this section shall be construed or is intended to confer upon the utilities and transportation commission any authority to exercise jurisdiction over locally regulated utilities.
RCW 54.16.145 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 145
RCW 54.16.145: Local utility districts—Sanitary sewer or potable water facilities—Notice to certain property owners.
Status: in_force

Whenever it is proposed that a local utility district finance sanitary sewers or potable water facilities, additional notice of the public hearing on the proposed local utility district shall be mailed to the owners of any property located outside of the proposed local utility district that would be required as a condition of federal housing administration loan qualification, at the time of notice, to be connected to the specific sewer or water facilities installed by the local utility district. The notice shall include information about this restriction.
RCW 54.24.120 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 120
RCW 54.24.120: Obligations as lawful securities and investments.
Status: in_force

All bonds, warrants, and revenue obligations issued under the authority of chapter 1, Laws of 1931 and chapter 182, Laws of 1941 shall be legal securities, which may be used by any bank or trust company for deposit with the state treasurer, or any county, city, or town treasurer, as security for deposits in lieu of a surety bond under any law relating to deposits of public moneys and shall constitute legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries other than corporations doing a trust business in this state and for savings and loan associations, banks, and insurance companies doing business in this state. All such bonds, warrants, and revenue obligations and all coupons appertaining thereto shall be negotiable instruments within the meaning of and for all purposes of the negotiable instruments law of this state.
RCW 54.16.083 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 083
RCW 54.16.083: Community revitalization financing—Public improvements.
Status: in_force

In addition to other authority that a public utility district possesses, a public utility district may provide any public improvement as defined under RCW 39.89.020 , but this additional authority is limited to participating in the financing of the public improvements as provided under RCW 39.89.050 . This section does not limit the authority of a public utility district to otherwise participate in the public improvements if that authority exists elsewhere.
RCW 54.04.035 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 035
RCW 54.04.035: Annexation of territory.
Status: in_force

In addition to other powers authorized in Title 54 RCW, public utility districts may annex territory as provided in this section. The boundaries of a public utility district may be enlarged and new contiguous territory added pursuant to the procedures for annexation by cities and towns provided in RCW 35.13.015 through 35.13.110 . The provisions of these sections concerning *community municipal corporations, review boards, and comprehensive plans, however, do not apply to public utility district annexations. For purposes of conforming with such procedures, the public utility district is deemed to be the city or town and the board of commissioners is deemed to be the city or town legislative body. Annexation procedures provided in this section may only be used to annex territory that is both: (1) Contiguous to the annexing public utility district; and (2) located within the service area of the annexing public utility district. As used in this section, a public utility district's "service area" means those areas whether located within or outside of the annexing public utility district's boundaries that were generally served with electrical energy by the annexing public utility district on January 1, 1987. Such service area may, or may not, have been recognized in an agreement made under chapter 54.48 RCW, but no area may be included within such service area that was generally served with electrical energy on January 1, 1987, by another public utility as defined in RCW 54.48.010 . An area proposed to be annexed may be located in the same or a different county as the annexing public utility district. If an area proposed to be annexed is located within the boundaries of another public utility district, annexation may be initiated only upon petition of registered voters residing in the area in accordance with RCW 35.13.020 and adoption by the boards of commissioners of both districts of identical resolutions stating (a) the boundaries of the area to be annexed, (b) a determination that annexation is in the public interest of the residents of the area to be annexed as well as the public interest of their respective districts, (c) approval of annexation by the board, (d) the boundaries of the districts after annexation, (e) the disposition of any assets of the districts in the area to be annexed, (f) the obligations to be assumed by the annexing district, (g) apportionment of election costs, and (h) that voters in the area to be annexed will be advised of lawsuits that may impose liability on the annexed territory and the possible impact of annexation on taxes and utility rates. If annexation is approved, the area annexed shall cease to be a part of the one public utility district at the same time that it becomes a part of the other district. The annexing public utility district shall assume responsibility for providing the area annexed with the services provided by the other public utility district in the area annexed.
RCW 54.16.092 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 092
RCW 54.16.092: Employment interview expenses.
Status: in_force

When a district commission finds that a vacancy for a technical or managerial position requires special qualifications or entails responsibilities and duties of such a nature that substantial benefits will accrue to the district from personal interviews of candidates for such a vacancy to be held in the district, the district commission, by resolution adopted at a regular meeting, may authorize the payment of actual necessary travel and living expenses of such candidates incurred while in travel status.
RCW 54.28.011 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 28 / Section 011
RCW 54.28.011: "Gross revenue" defined.
Status: in_force

"Gross revenue" means the amount received from the sale of electric energy, which also includes any regularly recurring charge billed to consumers as a condition of receiving electric energy, and excluding any tax levied by a municipal corporation upon the district pursuant to RCW 54.28.070 .
RCW 54.16.150 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 16 / Section 150
RCW 54.16.150: Procedure when petition is signed by majority of landowners.
Status: in_force

When a petition signed by a majority of the landowners in a proposed local improvement district is filed with the commission, asking that the improvement therein described be ordered, the commission shall forthwith fix a date for hearing thereon after which it shall, by resolution, order the improvement, and may alter the boundaries of the proposed district; prepare and adopt the improvement; prepare and adopt detail plans thereof; declare the estimated cost thereof, what proportion of the cost shall be borne by the local district, and what proportion, if any, shall be borne by the entire public utility district, and provide the general funds thereof to be applied thereto, if any; acquire all lands and other properties therefor; pay all damages caused thereby; and commence in the name of the public utility district such eminent domain proceedings and supplemental assessment or reassessment proceedings to pay all eminent domain awards necessary to entitle the district to proceed with the work, and shall thereafter proceed with the work, and shall file with the county treasurer its roll levying special assessments in the amount to be paid by special assessment against the property in the local improvement district in proportion to the special benefits to be derived by the property in the local district from the improvement: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, No such improvement shall be ordered unless the same appears to the commission to be financially and economically feasible: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the commission may require as a condition to ordering such improvement or to making its determination as to the financial and economic feasibility, that all or a portion of such engineering, legal, or other costs incurred or to be incurred by the commission in determining financial and economic feasibility shall be borne or guaranteed by the petitioners of the proposed local improvement district under such rules as the commission may adopt. No person shall withdraw his or her name from the petition after the same has been filed with the commission.
RCW 54.04.170 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 04 / Section 170
RCW 54.04.170: Collective bargaining authorized for employees.
Status: in_force

Employees of public utility districts are hereby authorized and entitled to enter into collective bargaining relations with their employers with all the rights and privileges incident thereto as are accorded to similar employees in private industry.
RCW 54.24.090 — Washington Code / Title 54 / Chapter 24 / Section 090
RCW 54.24.090: Funding, refunding revenue obligations.
Status: in_force

Whenever any district shall have outstanding any utility revenue obligations, the commission shall have power by resolution to provide for the issuance of funding or refunding revenue obligations with which to take up and refund such outstanding revenue obligations or any part thereof at the maturity thereof or before maturity if the same be by their terms or by other agreement subject to call for prior redemption, with the right in the commission to include various series and issues of such outstanding revenue obligations in a single issue of funding or refunding revenue obligations, and to issue refunding revenue obligations to pay any redemption premium payable on the outstanding revenue obligations being funded or refunded. Such funding or refunding revenue obligations shall be payable only out of a special fund created out of the gross revenues of such public utility, and shall only be a valid claim as against such special fund and the amount of the revenues of such utility pledged to such fund. Such funding or refunding revenue obligations shall in the discretion of the commission be exchanged at par for the revenue obligations which are being funded or refunded or shall be sold in such manner, at such price and at such rate or rates of interest as the commission shall deem for the best interest of the district. Said funding or refunding [revenue] obligations shall except as specifically provided in this section, be issued in accordance with the provisions with respect to revenue obligations in chapter 182, Laws of 1941 set forth.