Preserve low-cost electric power for Washington consumers. Foster real competition and efficiencies in producing and delivering power, with benefits that are fairly distributed across all sectors of Washington consumers. Build into the competitive system shared benefits and responsibilities, such as reliability and safety of electric service, environmental quality, conservation of electricity, encouragement of renewable resources, and affordable service for geographically remote and low-income consumers. These essential elements are all tied to each other, and any comprehensive restructuring must move these elements together in an integrated and balanced way. Achieving balanced, integrated, and comprehensive restructuring is particularly challenging because it requires action and cooperation at the state, regional, tribal, and federal levels.
Electric service is a requirement of modern life.
The development and expansion of Washington's unique electric power system was guided in part by an effort to ensure service in large portions of the state where private markets would not otherwise reach. With competition come some risks that costs and benefits will be unevenly distributed, or worse, that some customers will receive inadequate service. Rural and low-income customers are the most susceptible to these risks. All Washington residents should have access to basic electric service at a reasonably affordable price. Washington's homes and businesses rely on a dependable flow of electricity.