AGO News Releases With Topic: Public Counsel

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown today took another important step in his effort to defend consumers from fast-rising utility bills, arguing against Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) steep price hikes for gas and electric service.

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office is challenging the energy utility Avista’s proposal to increase customer electric rates by 25% and gas rates by 10% over the next four years.

On Friday, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office challenged Northwest Natural Gas Company’s (NW Natural) proposed rate increases and urged the Utilities & Transportation Commission (UTC) to reject a settlement agreement that would allow steep rate increases to go forward. 

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Lumen, formerly CenturyLink, will pay a total of $825,000 to 1,099 Washington telephone customers it disconnected during the pandemic in violation of the emergency health and safety moratorium. The payment resolves two separate investigations by Ferguson’s Public Counsel Unit and his Consumer Protection Division.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s Public Counsel Unit is challenging rate increases proposed by Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and Avista Corporation in testimony filed with the Utilities & Transportation Commission (UTC).

Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued a proposal that calls on the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to, among other protections, ban utility late fees and utility service disconnections until at least April 30, 2021. These protections ensure vulnerable Washingtonians don’t lose the services they need to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and the related economic crisis.

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s Public Counsel Unit today challenged PacifiCorp’s proposed $20 million electricity rate increase over two years, and instead recommended the utility’s rates be reduced as much as $4.5 million. Public Counsel believes the increase for residential customers is unsupported by the evidence. 

“I’m deeply disappointed the UTC has accepted this inadequate settlement. CenturyLink’s error denied 911 service to millions of Washingtonians.  

SEATTLE — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson urges the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to reject a proposed settlement and impose the maximum regulatory penalty of $11.5 million on CenturyLink for a six-hour 911 outage that left the entire state without critical 911 services. The UTC will hold a hearing on Jan. 12 to consider penalties for the telecommunications company.

SEATTLE — The Attorney General’s Office has challenged Avista Corp.’s request to raise rates for its utility customers, instead recommending a reduction for electric rates.