Chelan PUD outlines clean energy plan with focus on equity and affordability

WENATCHEE — Chelan County PUD staff outlined new equity and customer-focused targets under the utility’s Clean Energy Implementation Plan (CEIP), a four-year roadmap that defines how the district will continue meeting state clean energy mandates while ensuring benefits reach all corners of the community.

The CEIP, required under Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act, translates long-term policy goals into measurable actions through 2029. It runs in parallel with the district’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which looks at generation and capacity, but adds a social lens, tracking how energy savings, incentives and program benefits flow to vulnerable and highly impacted households.

Staff previewed a new set of metrics built with guidance from the district’s Energy Access Advisory Team, a diverse stakeholder group that includes social service partners and community advocates. The plan proposes to measure and expand benefits such as bill assistance, home weatherization, and indoor-air-quality improvements in homes where residents face higher energy burdens.

One data tool driving that focus is the Washington Department of Health’s environmental-health disparities map, which identified (as an example) a highly-impacted census tract within Chelan County, near Malaga. The district will use that and other data sources to prioritize outreach and track measurable improvement over the next four years.

A key component of the CEIP is an expanded version of Comfort Plus, Chelan PUD’s flagship home-upgrade program that helps income-qualified customers lower energy bills through insulation, heat pumps, and weatherization. Commissioners voted to add $739,000 to the Clear Result contract that administers the program, including both restored state pass-through funds and 2026 program dollars.

Early data show average energy-bill reductions between 10% and 50%, depending on the type of upgrades. The next CEIP cycle also proposes a moderate-income rebate tier, designed for households who don’t qualify for traditional aid but still face high costs relative to income.

Chelan PUD remains far ahead of state requirements on renewable energy content. The CEIP maintains an 80% renewable target through 2029, surpassing the Clean Energy Transformation Act’s 2030 benchmark. Most of the district’s portfolio already consists of hydropower, supplemented by conservation, small solar, and its participation in the Western Resource Adequacy Program (WRAP).

Commissioners are scheduled to provide feedback on the CEIP framework in November, with a public hearing and board action targeted for Dec. 1. If adopted, the new plan will guide program funding and customer outreach through the 2026–2029 compliance period.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media