19.29A.050 - Annual fuel mix information -- Disclosure label -- Requirements. - Washington Statutes

Annual fuel mix information — Disclosure label — Requirements.

(1) Beginning in 2001, each retail supplier shall provide to its existing and new retail electric customers its annual fuel mix information by generation category as required in RCW 19.29A.060.

     (2) Disclosures required under subsection (1) of this section shall be provided through a disclosure label presented in a standardized format as required in RCW 19.29A.060(7).

     (3) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, each retail supplier shall provide the disclosure label:

     (a) To each of its new retail electric customers at the time service is established;

     (b) To all of its existing retail electric customers, as a bill insert or other mailed publication, not less than semiannually; and

     (c) As part of any marketing material, in paper, written, or other media format, that is used primarily to promote the sale of any specific electricity product being advertised, contracted for, or offered for sale to current or prospective retail electric customers.

     (4) In addition to the disclosure requirements under subsection (3) of this section, each retail supplier shall provide to each electric customer it serves, at least two additional times per year, a publication that contains either:

     (a) The disclosure label;

     (b) A customer service phone number to request a disclosure label; or

     (c) A reference to an electronic form of the disclosure label.

     (5) Small utilities and mutual light and power companies shall provide the disclosure label not less than annually through a publication that is distributed to all their retail electric customers, and have disclosure label information available in their main business office. If a small utility or mutual company engages in marketing a specific electric product new to that utility it shall provide the disclosure label described in subsection (3)(c) of this section.

[2000 c 213 § 3.]

Notes: Finding -- Intent -- 2000 c 213: "(1) Consumer disclosure ensures that retail electric consumers purchasing electric energy receive basic information about the characteristics associated with their electric product in a form that facilitates consumer understanding of retail electric energy service and the development of new products responsive to consumer preferences.

     (2) The legislature finds and declares that there is a need for reliable, accurate, and timely information regarding fuel source, that is consistently collected, for all electricity products offered for retail sale in Washington.

     (3) The desirability and feasibility of such disclosure has been clearly established in nutrition labeling, uniform food pricing, truth-in-lending, and other consumer information programs.

     (4) The legislature intends to establish a consumer disclosure standard under which retail suppliers in Washington disclose information on the fuel mix of the electricity products they sell. Fundamental to disclosure is a label that promotes consistency in content and format, that is accurate, reliable, and simple to understand, and that allows verification of the accuracy of information reported.

     (5) To ensure that consumer information is verifiable and accurate, certain characteristics of electricity generation must be tracked and compared with information provided to consumers." [2000 c 213 § 1.]