Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office today recommended that the state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) not approve the acquisition of Puget Sound Energy, Inc., (PSE) by a consortium of private equity investors because the transaction, as proposed, is not in the public interest.
SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office today challenged electric and gas rate increases proposed by Puget Sound Energy (PSE).
SEATTLE – Weeks after Puget Sound Energy informed customers by mail that it wants to raise gas and electric rates, the company is seeking more money – nearly $6 million more than its original request. The Public Counsel Section of the Attorney General’s Office, which represents residential and small business customers, is opposing PSE’s request and today filed a response with the state Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. Two other consumer groups – The Energy Project, an advocacy group for limited-income consumers, and the Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities – have joined Public Counsel’s opposition.
SEATTLE – The Attorney General’s Public Counsel Section, which represents the public in utility rate cases, says Puget Sound Energy customers need to keep an eye out for a special notice in their April/May bills. Bellevue-based PSE, Washington’s oldest and largest energy utility, wants to raise rates for its more than 1 million electric customers and 725,000 gas customers in Western Washington. In addition, PSE’s parent company is proposing a sale of the company to an international consortium of investors from Australia, Canada, and the U.S. in a deal valued at more than $7 billion.
SEATTLE – Simon ffitch, chief of Public Counsel Section within the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, said the office is taking a hard look at Northwest Natural Gas’ new proposal to increase rates for its approximately 66,000 residential customers in Southwest Washington.
OLYMPIA…The Attorney General’s Office filed an amicus,or friend of the court, briefyesterday in the U.S. Supreme Court supporting Snohomish County PUD (PUD) in its dispute with Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc (Morgan Stanley) over its 2001 power contract. 
SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Section of the Attorney General’s Office announced today that is has joined in an all-party settlement of Avista Corp’s pending utility rate case. Avista has proposed to increase its revenues by raising the amount it charges customers for electricity and natural gas.
SEATTLE – Simon ffitch, chief of Public Counsel Section within the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, today issued a statement concerning Puget Sound Energy’s announcement of a merger with a consortium of North American investors. The merger requires approval by the state Utilities and Transportation Commission.
SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office today recommended the state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) reject a request by the Avista Corp. to increase revenues by over $55 million for its electric and natural gas customers.
SEATTLE - Attorney General Rob McKenna is pleased to announce that Simon ffitch, division chief of the Attorney General's Public Counsel office, has been appointed to serve as a consumer representative on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service. ffitch was nominated for the position by the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) and the appointment was confirmed by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin on Friday, Sept. 28.

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