Seattle is one of many areas of the U.S. where this is occurring.
The City of Seattle is expecting rates for City Light customers to rise 5.4% next year due to increasing demand, extreme weather, and impacts of low-water flow on hydroelectric generation capacity, even as the state continues to push for a total transition to clean energy.
A 5.4% increase is about $4.88 more a month for a typical residential bill or $1.95 more a month for a typical residential Utility Discount Program bill.
According to Seattle City Light CEO Dawn Lindell, retail demand from building electrification is growing three times faster than projected in 2022, and transportation electrification demand has increased 70% above 2022 estimates.
Even though Washington's governor, Jay Inslee, signed a bill to consolidate Puget Sound Energy's strategy for both electrical and natural future gas delivery, The Center Square also reports, capacity is still not keeping up with demand and is a prime example of the hurdles Washington is experiencing in its efforts to transition to so-called clean energy.
One policy analyst weighed in on Twitter X:
The Center Square also reveals:
Proponents are working to place Initiative 2066 on the November ballot, which would bar cities and counties from prohibiting, penalizing or discouraging "the use of gas for any form of heating, or for uses related to any appliance or equipment, in any building."
The outcome of voting on the above ballot question is worth watching. If it passes, it can result in putting the breaks on Washington going to 100% renewable energy and state residents would dodge the bullet of higher utility bills and rolling blackouts.
PHOTO CREDIT: Pixabay
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