WCEC asked the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to improve Puget Sound Energy’s public participation in its long-term resource planning. The letter documents how PSE has progressively narrowed public access since the 2015 IRP and identifies three areas where the company falls short of meaningful engagement.
- PSE’s online-only meeting format replaces in-person and hybrid options that other agencies (including Bellevue, where PSE is headquartered) routinely use.
- The Resource Planning Advisory Group is limited to ~a dozen pre-approved professional representatives, categorically excluding longtime volunteer participants.
- PSE’s use of IAP2 (International Association for Public Participation) standards has weakened: 13 of 28 meeting topics in 2024 received no IAP2 rating at all.
- Public attendance at both RPAG meetings and webinars has declined throughout 2024.
- WCEC asks the UTC to require hybrid meetings, neutral advisory-group selection, and consistent IAP2 use.