daily · Energy Policy

Washington expands November hearing for PSE proposed three-year rate plan

An October 5 UTC notice adds November 3 to the evidentiary hearing. PSE requested overall 2027 increases of 15.2 percent for electricity and 14.2 percent for gas; those rates are not approved.

By Greener Numbers Editorial Team · Published October 7, 2026 · Updated 10/7/2026

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission revised the schedule for Puget Sound Energy's rate case on October 5, 2026, adding a third day to the evidentiary hearing. The consolidated proceeding is now scheduled for November 3 through November 5, beginning at 9 a.m. each day.

PSE filed its proposed three-year rate plan on February 27. The utility's current rate-notice page lists requested overall electricity increases of 15.2 percent in 2027, 3.7 percent in 2028 and 8.7 percent in 2029. For natural gas, it lists requested increases of 14.2 percent, 3.2 percent and 3.6 percent respectively.

Those are proposed overall rate changes, not approved rates or a guaranteed increase on every household's bill. PSE says new rates would take effect in early 2027 if the commission approves them, and final approved rates may differ from the request.

PSE says the request supports more than $3.2 billion in infrastructure investments for safety, reliability, growing demand and compliance with Washington clean-energy requirements. That is the utility's explanation, not a finding that one policy alone caused the entire requested increase.

The commission's procedural history separately lists an October 7 virtual public-comment hearing. That public-comment event is distinct from the November evidentiary hearing.

The open issue is what the commission will authorize after reviewing the case. Neither the utility notice nor the revised schedule is a final rate order. Household bills will depend on the final rates and each customer's service and usage.

PSE rate notice: https://www.pse.com/en/pages/rates/news-and-filings

Official source: utc.wa.gov ↗