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JLARC: Utility tax credit for home energy assistance is small, declining and likely not an incentive
Summary
JLARC reported the public-utility tax credit that reimburses up to 50% of low-income energy assistance reimburses a shrinking share of utility assistance and likely does not increase assistance levels; Commerce recommended terminating the preference and pursuing a statewide approach to energy burden.
The legislative auditor told the House Finance Committee that Washington’s public-utility tax credit for home energy assistance reimburses a small and declining portion of utilities’ low-income assistance and likely does not drive utilities to provide more assistance.
Pete Van Moorsil, JLARC staff, said the credit reimburses up to 50% of assistance utilities give to low-income customers and is capped at $2.5 million statewide per year. JLARC estimated beneficiary savings of roughly $5 million in the current period and found that utilities’ total energy-assistance payments increased 42% from 2018 to 2023 (from $53.6 million to $76.1 million), while the credit’s share of assistance declined from 4.7% to 3.3%.
Why it matters: JLARC concluded the…
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