Many federal, state, and regional laws and government agencies affect PUD 3’s daily work. From long-standing, over-arching acts to unexpected legislative bills that change our operations, we keep up to date through our staff, contractors, and member associations. We often share information with lawmakers that show how new laws and regulations will affect our work, our rates, and our communities. Our customers have asked to learn more about how government bodies affect us, and what new bills, laws, or other arrangements could affect them as well. This page is updated regularly with the latest information.

Hydropower

A large majority of PUD 3’s power comes from hydropower – exactly how much varies from year to year, depending on how much water is in the river, and how well other variable resources like wind and solar perform. Either way, hydropower is the backbone not only of PUD 3’s power supply, but of the entire Pacific Northwest. Hydropower is critical for a cleaner energy future.

Hydro 101

In case you’ve never gotten to study how hydropower works, there are great online resources from some of our partner organizations.

• Northwest RiverPartners’ Hydro 101 gives a basic overview of operations, statistics, and the advantages of hydropower.
• The Foundation for Water and Energy Education has downloadable books, as well as maps, virtual tours, and videos to hydropower projects.

Columbia River Treaty

The original Columbia River Treaty was signed in 1961 between the U.S. and Canada to determine water flow for hydropower operations, flood control, and more. Efforts to modernize the treaty began in 2018 but are still underway. Read more about the Columbia River Treaty on the U.S. Department of State’s official webpage.

Lower Snake River Dams

Not all dams are created equal. Some dam removal projects have been of great benefit to the environment and communities they serve – that is not the case with the Lower Snake River Dams. They provide not only critical power supply in the most extreme circumstances such as heat domes and deep cold, but also irrigation, navigation, recreation, and other important economy-building functions that cannot feasibly be replaced. We support the dams AND we support efforts to improve fish passage and habitat restoration in the Columbia River Basin and the Snake River. Fish and dams CAN and DO coexist!

Our partners at Northwest RiverPartners have great resources, including studies, historical background, salmon recovery efforts, and more: Check out Northwest RiverPartners’ Resources page to dig deeper.

State Issues

We stay engaged with our state legislature, especially our 35th District delegates, and provide information on bills, hearings, and other matters that affect us. The 2027 session will run from Jan. 11 to April 26. Here are some of the top issues we follow closely:

Energy

As Washington moves toward a cleaner energy supply, there have been many energy-related bills and laws. Here are some of the biggest laws for which PUD 3 must comply:

• Energy Independence Act – The EIA or I-937 requires electric utilities serving 25,000 or more customers to use clean energy and promote energy conservation – 18 utilities in Washington are subject to EIA, including PUD 3. For renewable energy, we must provide at least 15% of our power from clean sources and most hydropower doesn’t count toward this rule. For energy conservation, we identify conservation potential over a 10-year period and set 2-year targets.
• Clean Energy Transformation Act – In 2019, CETA was approved, which commits Washington to an electricity supply free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The act not only requires us to provide a Clean Energy Implementation Plan every 4 years but also create low-income assistance programs and report on their effectiveness.
• Climate Commitment Act – The CCA caps and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the states emitting sources with a Cap-and-Invest program. Participating entities engage in a periodic “carbon auction” to either sell or buy credits for emissions. Proceeds that the State of Washington’s Department of Ecology receives from the auction by law must be invested in climate projects, environmental justice, and health inequity.

Low-Income Assistance

Part of CETA (see above) is also a requirement to provide energy assistance for low-income households. This has led to the low-income surcharge on our energy bills and adjustments to our Project Share program. During the 2026 legislative session, the legislature passed HB 1903 to create a statewide low-income assistance program but did not fund the program. We are actively involved in providing feedback to help shape the implementation of this program and advocating for funding that could relieve the burden of our customer-ratepayers.

Resource Adequacy

As some power resources go offline, like coal, and new sources come online, all utilities are coordinating and planning to make sure we have enough power to keep everyone’s lights on, even in extreme weather. The state has a few meetings each year to discuss resource adequacy – get the schedule and other background documents and studies on the Department of Commerce Resource Adequacy webpage.

A few other bills to note from the 2026 Washington Legislative session (which ended March 12):

• SHB 2296/SSB 6050: Expanding the use of distributed energy resources. Passed.
• E2SHB 2515/SSB 6171: Addressing emerging large energy use facilities. Not passed, but issue discussion continues.
• SSB6355: Establishing a Washington Electric Transmission Authority. Passed.
• 2SSB 5690: Concerning actions of the department of transportation to notify utility owners of projects and seek
  federal funding for utility relocation costs. Passed.

Federal Issues

Federal issues can get very complicated and can arise suddenly or work very slowly. Through organizations like American Public Power Association (APPA), we do our best to keep on top of the issues that would affect us. Here are a few:

LIHEAP

We support the preservation and expansion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a federal program administered by the Health and Human Services department. LIHEAP has had a couple uncertain years, but efforts are underway to support it. With costs going up, it’s more critical than ever that we have this program that supports our community members who are most in need.

• This funding has been allocated and is being distributed. We continue to advocate for its inclusion in funding and for proper staffing levels.

Special Districts

Federal grant funding often requires very specific types of entities be the applicant. PUDs are “special purpose districts,” and as such often exist in a sort of gray area, where it isn’t clear if we are eligible or not (and depending on who you ask – even in the same federal office – you might get a different answer). HR 2766 Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act will clarify the eligibility of special purpose districts, which will open up more opportunities for federal grant funding that takes the burden off our ratepayers.

FEMA

After a disaster, utilities and other entities need extra financial support to cover the cost of repairs, rather than placing the burden on ratepayers. FEMA plays an important role, and multiple bills address funding reforms, federal disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. We continue to watch the discussion and be engaged as we can both regarding funding and policy changes.