Carbon Balance is no longer open to new enrollments. PSE natural gas customers interested in renewable energy can sign up for our Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) program to continue their journey to reduce their carbon footprint.

Please visit PSE's Renewable Energy home page to learn more about our renewable energy programs and sign-up!

You can also contact a PSE Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or call 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Existing Carbon Balance participants pay $4.50 per block. However, Carbon Balance is no longer open to new enrollments. PSE natural gas customers interested in renewable energy can sign up for our Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) program to continue their journey to reduce their carbon footprint.

You can view your gas usage online by logging into your PSE account and selecting “my usage.” In the data browser, select “Energy Use.”

You can also contact an Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Yes, you may cancel at any time. You can either cancel online using our online form, or you can contact an Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

PSE sources all of our carbon offsets for the Carbon Balance program from forestry projects in the Pacific Northwest. These forestry projects reduce the amount of harvested timber each year, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released from harvesting trees. Apart from reducing greenhouse gases, these forestry projects can also provide ecological, social, and economic benefits. 

For more information, check PSE’s YouTube video on how Carbon Balance works here

Yes, your Carbon Balance purchase supports carbon reduction projects that wouldn't be financially viable without your participation in the program. These projects will offset the emissions related to your home's natural gas use, so that you can reduce your own carbon footprint. 

Purchasing carbon offsets is an effective and measurable way to counterbalance the carbon dioxide emissions you produce, from natural gas usage, and reduce your carbon footprint. For existing participants, PSE purchases verified carbon offsets on the customer’s behalf from local forestry projects.

The carbon offsets purchased negate greenhouse gases emitted by a home or business’ natural gas usage. Each offset represents a reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2e) from the atmosphere.

Carbon Balance is Green-e® Climate certified. The program and associated offsets are annually audited by the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a nonprofit organization that creates standards for voluntary carbon reduction programs.

No, PSE does not profit from the Carbon Balance program. Customers' Carbon Balance purchases are used to fund carbon offset programs, educate the public about carbon offset programs, and to administer the programs.

Each year, PSE will send you a report on your individual Carbon Balance participation and the related positive environmental impact.

Solar is a long-term investment. An experienced solar installer should be able to estimate what return on investment you can expect based on the size of your installation, sun exposure and other factors. If you’re looking to save money on your electricity bill immediately, there are other low and no-cost options. Learn more here.

If you’re not sure if you’re ready to install your own solar, but you’re still interested in supporting renewable energy, you may be eligible for one of our other renewable energy programs, like Green Power or Solar Choice, which do not require any equipment to install or maintain to participate.

If your property is heavily shaded, solar panels will take longer to pay off than in areas with unrestricted sun exposure. Solar panels perform best when facing south (east and west or a combination is OK, too) and are unshaded between 10 a.m. and 3p.m. year round. There are online resources that can help determine how much sun your property gets on average.

Your solar installation will be shaped by a variety of factors, including your budget, roof space and energy use. Installations are typically sized in kilowatts (kW), the power capacity of the system. An experienced installer should include in your bid the total project cost, the cost per kW and the expected annual energy output of the system based on analysis of your site. On average, 1 kW of solar power in the Puget Sound region can produce about 1,100 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually. Net metering lets you use the energy you generate to offset the cost of energy used from the grid at other times. Net metering does NOT provide any financial benefit to sizing a solar system to generate more energy than you use on an annual basis.

Consider other energy efficiency upgrades first. The lower your electric use, the smaller your investment in solar equipment needs to be to offset it. If you’re adding an electric vehicle or other large electrical appliance to your home in the near future, factor that into the sizing of your solar array. If you need to replace your electrical panel to accommodate solar, a qualified solar installer will review options and likely include it in their bid. If your roof isn’t fairly new, you might consider replacing it before installing solar. Once installed, solar panels should last more than 20 years, so any needed roof work should happen before installation.

Start by selecting an experienced installer. Through PSE Recommended Energy Professionals (REPs), you can find a reliable and qualified solar installer who can help determine if your home or business is ideal for solar. The solar installers in our REP network have high customer satisfaction rates and communicate in a timely manner. When considering solar, don’t feel pressured to sign anything before you fully understand the details and cost; be wary of aggressive sales and marketing tactics promising “free” or “no-cost” solar. We strongly recommend getting at least three bids on your solar project and checking references.

Yes, the Federal Investment Tax Credit may apply to your solar installation. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 increased the Investment Tax Credit from 26 percent to 30 percent for both business and residential projects. This includes systems installed in 2022 and will be available through the end of 2032. Find more information here.

Many solar installers can help you access financing through a local credit union or other financial institution and explain how that impacts the cost, benefits and estimated return on investment from your installation.

Through net metering, PSE keeps track of the energy you use and the amount of excess power your system generates. The renewable energy sent back to the grid is credited against your usage. You only pay for the net amount of energy that PSE provides, plus your basic monthly charge. If you produce more energy than you use within a given bill period, PSE banks the extra net metering credit. Your banked credit will automatically offset energy charges in future bill periods. Per state law, banked net metering credits expire March 31 of each year. This is why we do not recommend sizing your solar array to produce more electricity than you expect to use annually.

PSE Rate Schedule 150 for Net Metering is available to Customers that apply for interconnection of a new or modified solar system until December 31, 2025, or when a new Net Metering rate schedule becomes available, whichever is later. Customers with a solar system that was approved for interconnection under the terms of Net Metering Rate Schedule 150 will be allowed to stay in this program, barring changes to the system.

Yes! While we don’t know yet what future solar rates will be, PSE is committed to the following:

• Schedule 150 Net Metering will remain available until a new rate schedule is in place for customer-connected solar.
• Future solar customers will be able to use the power they generate
• PSE will provide notice before closing Schedule 150 to new applicants and time for applicants to complete their solar installation.
• PSE is participating in state-led efforts to determine the fairest, most equitable approach for future customer-solar rate design.

Batteries add backup power. It is important to know that solar panels on their own cannot produce energy for your home during a grid outage. Solar Energy Systems disconnect automatically from the utility grid in the event of an outage to protect the safety of individuals and restoration crews. However, batteries installed along with solar can be charged from the grid or your solar panels and then can isolate from the grid during a power outage to provide power to some or all of the home's energy loads. The amount of time the batteries can power a home depends on the battery's size and the power used by the house.

Batteries do add to the cost of a system, so it is essential to consider how much value the backup power has to you. PSE is exploring ways to reduce the cost for customers to install a battery through either financial incentives or dynamic rate designs in exchange for customers allowing PSE to utilize a portion of the battery's stored capacity during peak events. One way PSE is doing this is through the Flex Batteries program. Visit the Flex Batteries page to learn more!

Green Power and Solar Choice will no longer be Green-e® Energy certified beginning January 1,2025. These programs will continue to be overseen by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and audited annually by a third party to verify the renewable energy purchased on your behalf. PSE Community Solar, Carbon Balance and Green Power Large Volume will still be certified.

Green-e® Energy is a third-party certification program run by the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a nonprofit organization that creates standards for voluntary renewable energy programs.

The change will take effect on January 1, 2025.

In 2024, the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) implemented changes to their Green-e® Renewable Energy Standard in response to new regulations and rules in the Western region.* As a result of these updates, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from facilities delivering electricity to Oregon are no longer eligible for Green-e® Energy certification. Because we purchase RECs from facilities throughout the Western region and many of those facilities deliver electricity to Oregon, this change affects our programs as well.

In order to remain Green-e® certified, Green Power and Solar Choice would only be able to source RECs from outside of the Western region. To ensure that these programs can continue to provide RECs from Washington and the West and create the regional impact that we know is important to program participants, we decided to decertify the program in 2025.

The State of Oregon and CRS continue to seek solutions to enable programs like Green Power and Solar Choice to return to being certified while purchasing regional RECs, and we will reevaluate Green-e® certification in 2026.

If you would like to share any feedback about this program change, please email us.

*The Western region is defined as OR, WA, CA, ID, UT, AZ, CO, NV; parts of WY, NE, MT, NM, TX and SD; the Canadian provinces of BC and AB; and the northern part of Baja California.

A REC is created every time one megawatt-hour of renewable energy is generated and added to the electric grid. RECs are proof that participants have lowered their carbon footprint and support the development of new renewable energy projects.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission will continue to oversee Green Power and Solar Choice. A third party will also audit the programs annually to verify the renewable energy purchased on your behalf.

You can change or cancel your Green Power or Solar Choice enrollment at any time logging into your account. You can also contact an Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No, you don’t need to take any action. The change will take effect on January 1, and you’ll continue to make a meaningful impact for the environment through your participation.

All PSE electric customers can enroll in Green Power and Solar Choice. Solar Choice is no longer open to new enrollments.

Please visit Green Power to learn more about our Green Power program.

You can also contact a PSE Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or call 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Green Power includes two enrollment options for electric customers:

• Blocks: Purchase renewable energy in 200 kilowatt-hour (kWh) blocks for a fixed cost of $2 per block per month, with a minimum purchase of $4 per month.


• Usage: If you elect the usage option, your renewable energy purchase is based on your total monthly usage. The additional cost is $0.01 per kWh, or about $8 - $10 more per month for the average household (using 1,000 kWh/month).


• The environmental benefit of the renewable energy you purchase is equivalent to not driving approximately 20,212 miles a year (based on the EPA's Green Power Equivalency Calculator).

Customers already enrolled in the program purchase solar energy in 150 kilowatt-hour (kWh) blocks for a fixed cost of $5 per block per month.

If you are a PSE electric customer and your address is not showing up in the online form, contact an Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Yes! Your enrollment increases the amount of power generated from renewable resources by:

• Reducing our region's dependence on fossil fuels
• Helping to build or buy a wider range of renewable energy sources in our region
• Supporting the local economy by helping to create green jobs right here in Washington and in the West

Yes, you may cancel at any time. You can either cancel online using our online form, or you can contact an Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Green Power uses a blend of resource types including wind, solar, low-impact hydro, and landfill gas, while Solar Choice includes 100 percent solar electricity.


• Green Power costs $0.01/kWh while Solar Choice costs just over $0.033/kWh.


• While the price of solar has declined dramatically over the last 10 years, the resource mix in Green Power includes lower cost renewable options like wind energy.

Since PSE's prices are regulated by the Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission (WUTC), we are required to provide the lowest-cost electricity. The company's least-cost plan for power generation includes renewable energy, such as wind generation.

We're always looking to support great solar projects in Washington. If you know of a solar project that would be interested in becoming a program resource, please contact us at renewables@pse.com

PSE has a range of solar options designed to help our customers meet their unique clean energy goals.

Find out more from PSE.

No, PSE does not profit from either of these programs. PSE uses the funds collected from the programs to purchase renewable energy on behalf of program participants, to educate our customers about the programs and to administer the programs.

The electricity generated from the renewable resources that you support is put into the West power-supply grid along with electricity from all of our other resources. Much like water or natural gas, it isn't possible to differentiate the sources at the point of delivery.

By choosing Green Power, you can match up to 100 percent of your standard electric use with renewable energy, reducing our region’s dependence on fossil fuel generated electricity and increasing the proportion of renewable energy that is available to the entire system.

Yes, all across the United States, more than 750 utilities offer similar programs, including 16 programs in Washington State. PSE’s Green Power program is consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 Programs in the country by the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

• Visit the PSEs Recommended Energy Professionals (REPs) page where you can find dependable and qualified solar installers. The installer will help you determine if your property is ideal for solar. PSE recommends you get multiple bids on your project and check their references
• After you have selected an installer, they will guide you through the interconnection process and get your system set up
• You can also email DER@pse.com or contact PSE to help you sign up

Once you have installed your system and are interconnected to the PSE grid, you will start generating your own energy. Any excess energy that you do not use will get sent back to the grid. Your meter tracks this and will determine how much energy is sent back to the grid and how much will be credited to your monthly bill

• The Solar Energy Credit program is for electric customers with a PSE account. You must have a system that has a capacity not exceeding 1,000 kW AC.
• To be eligible, you need an AMI meter, can not be participating in Net Metering (Schedule 150 or 151), or be participating in any electric demand response programs and services

The Solar Energy Credit program reduces the barrier to solar adoption and the ‘break even’ period for owning solar. By taking part in this program, you are contributing to a cleaner, greener future.

The amount of electricity generated by your solar panels fluctuates, depending on the level of sunshine. When it's cloudy or nighttime, accessing power from the local electric grid may be necessary. When it’s bright and clear, your solar panels can generate more energy than you need.

Yes. To be eligible for the Solar Energy Credit program you must have a solar PV system not exceeding 1,000 kW AC. Reach out to PSE's Recommended Energy Professionals (REPs) to get a quote from dependable and qualified solar installers.

• Solar is a long-term investment. An experienced solar installer should be able to estimate what return on investment you can expect based on the size of your installation, sun exposure and other factors. If you’re looking to save money on your electricity bill immediately, there are other low and no-cost options. Learn more here 
• If you’re not sure if you’re ready to install your own solar, but you’re still interested in supporting renewable energy, you may be eligible for one of our other renewable energy programs, like Green Power or Community Solar, which do not require any equipment to install or maintain to participate

• Yes, the Federal Investment Tax Credit may apply to your solar installation. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 increased the Investment Tax Credit from 26 percent to 30 percent for both business and residential projects. This includes systems installed in 2022 and will be available through the end of 2032. Find more information here
• The state of Washington offers Solar Energy System Sales Tax Incentives through the end of 2029. Find more information here
• Many solar installers can help you access financing through a local credit union or other financial institution and explain how that impacts the cost, benefits and estimated return on investment from your installation

• You will receive a Solar Energy Credit rate of $0.067130 / kWh.

• Depends on your situation
• Net metering is for solar projects up to 100 kW-ac in capacity and provide kwh credits
• Projects above 100kw-ac in size are not eligible for net metering
• Find out more by talking to your Contractor about considering Schedule 91 (PPA) and Solar Energy Credit (monthly bill credits)

The Community Solar program is open to PSE electric customers, including renters, homeowners and businesses, who receive their own bill.

• Visit the Community Solar program web page to review options. First choose what type of share you are looking for (general or free income-eligible) to see what is available.
• Click “enroll” to sign in to your online PSE account and choose an available site for your subscription.
• General shares: Calculate your subscription cost and estimated benefits for your selected site, then proceed to confirm your subscription details and submit to enroll.
• Income-eligible customers can subscribe to up to two shares for free.
• If you do not have an online PSE account or are having trouble with our online enrollment system, you can contact a PSE Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or call 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for assistance.

No. The solar panels will be installed on the rooftops of publicly owned buildings and other properties across our service area. As a result, you can share the benefits of 100% local solar energy without having to invest in and install a rooftop solar system on your own. Whether you own or rent, there’s no roof or equipment required to participate.

• The program is voluntary, and enrollment is simple.
• PSE builds solar arrays around our service area and then splits the arrays into small “shares” for subscribing customers, like a garden plot in a pea patch.
• You can subscribe to shares in one or more available sites, up to 120% of your average electricity usage.
• The energy produced by your share(s) results in money back on your bill in the form of a credit.
• The amount of money back on your bill will vary based on real production of the solar energy sites — you may get more money back on your bill during the summer than winter, and the amount may differ depending on the location of the site.
• You can keep your shares for the life of the program, estimated to be up to 15 years or more.
• After a one-year term, you can cancel your subscription at any time, if desired.
• A portion of shares are available for income-eligible customers to participate in the Community Solar program at no cost. This provides a pathway for all customers to share in the financial and environmental benefits of Community Solar.

Subscriptions are just $20 per month per share.

Customers automatically receive money back on their bill for the energy produced, reducing the overall subscription cost.

The amount of money back on your bill will vary by site and month based on the actual energy produced but will not offset the entire monthly subscription cost.

For example:

• Cost per share: $20
• Westside site estimated amount of money back on bills: $10
• Westside site estimated net monthly cost: $9
• Eastside site estimated amount of money back on bills: $16
• Eastside site estimated net monthly cost: $4

Yes! Qualified customers can get up to two free shares of income-eligible Community Solar.

Bill savings range from approximately $10 to $20 per share, per month.

One share is equal to 1.46kW of local solar energy. You can subscribe to one or more shares in any available site. You will receive money back on your bill equal to $0.067 per kWh produced by the share(s) in your Community Solar subscription.

It can take up to two billing cycles to see money back on your bill. That’s because it is based on the energy produced the previous month.

No, it is unlikely that the money back will ever fully cover the subscription cost. The subscription cost helps build new solar sites and administer the program. The money you receive back is for the energy you're replacing with solar power.

Renewable energy costs more because it's a premium service. PSE is required by the Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission (WUTC) to provide the lowest-cost electricity, and our service already includes some renewable energy. Community Solar is a special program that costs a bit more due to the high costs of solar energy in our region.

Each site is different - they're at different locations and get different amounts of sunlight.

Customers may subscribe to a maximum of shares equal to 120% of their average monthly electricity usage over a 12-month period. Individual customers cannot subscribe to greater than 40% of a site’s total available shares.

• PSE has partnered with local communities and organizations to build multiple new solar energy installations located on rooftops of publicly owned buildings and other properties across our service area.
• Please visit our site selection page for more information about Community Solar sites and current availability.
• As new sites are constructed, subscriptions will become available for a limited number of shares per site.

Yes, PSE anticipates developing and subscribing multiple phases of the Community Solar program in the future to further expand access to solar for more customers.

Yes! The energy produced by your share reduces your carbon footprint by replacing some or all your regular electricity use with renewable energy that is added to the grid. Plus, Community Solar benefits everyone by furthering the development of more local renewable energy resources and collectively driving growth in clean energy that otherwise would not be available without the support of subscribers.

Community Solar:

• Subscriptions require a one-year minimum term. Early termination will result in a one-time cancellation fee of $20 per share.
• After a one-year term, you can cancel your subscription at any time, if desired.
• You can cancel your subscription by logging in to your PSE account online, or contacting a PSE Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Income-eligible Community Solar option:

• You can cancel at any time.

• If you move to a new location within PSE’s electric service area and notify PSE at least 30 days in advance, we will make our best attempt to transfer your Community Solar subscription to your new location.
• To move your Community Solar subscription to a new location, contact an Energy Advisor at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• If you move and don’t request to keep Community Solar your subscription will automatically be cancelled with no termination fee.

Community Solar is different from our other voluntary renewable energy programs like Green Power in that the subscribers share the benefits of the solar energy generated exclusively within the communities that PSE serves. Green Power purchases from energy generators across the western US.

Yes, you can participate in any combination of voluntary renewable programs to maximize your support in the growth of renewable energy and further reduce your carbon footprint.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), there are at least 40 states with at least one community solar program. There are many utilities across the country that offer similar programs.

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is available to PSE gas customers – renters, homeowners or businesses – who want to further reduce their carbon footprint by replacing a portion of their conventional natural gas use with renewable natural gas.

Visit the Renewable Natural Gas program web page to review options for enrollment.

Self-enrollment is limited to three blocks; if you’d like more than 3 blocks you can contact a PSE Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or call 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for assistance.

If you don’t have an online PSE account or are having trouble with our online enrollment system, you can contact a PSE Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or call 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for assistance.

Renewable Natural Gas offers any PSE gas customer the option to replace a portion of their natural gas use with renewable natural gas.

• The program is voluntary and enrollment is simple.
• You pay per block RNG, which are added to your monthly bill.
• There’s no equipment to install or maintain.
• You can combine participation in RNG with blocks of Carbon Balance to achieve 100% carbon neutral gas usage, or even go beyond net zero carbon emissions.
• Participating in RNG directly supports the development of locally produced renewable natural gas and drives growth in a cleaner energy supply.
• The renewable natural gas purchased by customers is added to PSE’s entire system. Customers can help accelerate the transition to a clean energy future by directly supporting the development of locally produced renewable natural gas.

One block of Renewable Natural Gas is $5 per month. You’ll receive a small credit on your bill equal to the cost of conventional natural gas that’s been replaced with renewable natural gas.

One block of Renewable Natural Gas is the equivalent of 2.758 therms of conventional natural gas, or about 4% of the average residential customer’s monthly natural gas use.

Renewable natural gas costs more to deliver because it is typically produced at single, smaller locations, using more complicated processing techniques, and requiring the transport of the gas to the main distribution system through smaller pipelines. Conventional natural gas is produced at multiple wells feeding a centralized processing facility and utilizing pipelines with larger volumes.

Currently, PSE gas customers may purchase up to three blocks of Renewable Natural Gas when they enroll online at PSE.com. Customers interested in purchasing more than three blocks can contact a PSE Energy Advisor at 1-800-562-1482 for assistance.

Yes! The renewable natural gas purchased by customers is added to PSE’s entire system. You can help accelerate the transition to a clean energy future by directly supporting the development of locally produced renewable natural gas.

You can cancel your participation in the Renewable Natural Gas program at any time by logging in to your PSE account online, or contacting a PSE Energy Advisor for assistance.

Renewable natural gas is created when the decomposition of plant and animal material at solid waste landfills, water treatment plants, livestock farms, food production facilities and more produces a biogas primarily composed of methane. This biogas is then upgraded to pipeline quality for use in place of fossil natural gas.

Our renewable natural gas is produced by Klickitat Public Utility District at the H.W. Hill Renewable Natural Gas facility in Roosevelt, Wash. At a typical landfill, methane is collected, flared and released into the atmosphere as CO2. Instead, to make renewable natural gas, it is drawn from a Republic Services landfill, upgraded to pipeline quality, and transported to PSE’s system.

Carbon Balance customers offset their use of conventional natural gas by financially supporting projects in the Pacific Northwest that remove or prevent an equivalent amount of CO2 from impacting the environment. Renewable Natural Gas customers replace a portion of their conventional natural gas use with renewable natural gas added to PSE’s entire system.

The Renewable Natural Gas program can make meaningful decarbonization contributions because it results in a net reduction in carbon emissions and replaces fossil fuel use. RNG is a key part of PSE’s proposed pathway to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2045 and helping PSE achieve its aspirational goal of becoming a Beyond Net Zero Carbon energy company by 2045.

• Position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in sustainability and renewable energy.
• Facilitate the transition to more clean energy in our area through the development of local solar arrays and/or storage batteries.
• Help meet community or organizational sustainability goals and provide community members with an opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint.
• Receive yearly compensation for PSE’s use of your property.

• Site hosts receive compensation for the use of their property in the form of yearly lease payments. Lease amounts are determined by a third-party appraisal based on square footage of space used for the project..
• Site hosts will also receive one-time payments for interconnection and temporary construction easements. These amounts are also determined by a third-party appraiser.

• PSE currently accepts applications from public and private entities to host solar energy and/or battery storage projects.
• Either rooftop or ground mount sites (or even a combination of the two).
• An ideal site should have the following criteria:
  • 20,000 square feet (minimum of 10,000 square feet) - rooftop or ground - available for an installation
    • Smaller sites may be accepted after an official review
  • For solar, a southern exposure that is unshaded for the majority of daylight hours (free of walls, trees, buildings, poles and other obstructions)
  • Roofs with a minimum of 25 years of usable life remaining and with structural integrity
  • Easily connectable to PSE’s grid infrastructure - should be within 300 feet of PSE’s distribution system infrastructure such as utility transformer, pole, vault, etc., that provides 3 phase electricity

• PSE will own and be responsible for all maintenance and operations of the project over the duration of the lease.
• PSE will require 24/7/365 access to meters and other equipment, especially during a power outage.

• While there is no financial investment required from site hosts, there will be an investment of time and people resources needed to build the project, including site visits, lease and easement negotiations, and construction coordination.

• A typical lease lasts 15-20 years. PSE will work with the site host to develop a contract that meets the needs of all parties.
• Solar arrays have a useful lifespan of about 25 years. PSE will prioritize sites with a usable life that aligns with the solar array's life.

• PSE’s new online site application provides a centralized place for public and private entities to apply to host an energy project.
• Eligibility criteria is listed on the web page.

• Yes, PSE continues to hear from communities about potential ground or roof sites that they believe would make good locations to host an energy-related project and want to make it easier to partner with us.

• PSE is seeking at least 80 MWs and 25 MWs of distributed solar and storage, respectively, by the end of 2025 to fulfill the Clean Energy Transformation Act (“CETA”) compliance requirements.
• Site solicitation and selection will be ongoing as PSE works to meet the proposed targets identified in the Clean Energy Implementation Plan (“CEIP”) and growing demand for more Distributed Energy Resource (DER) solutions in our service area.

• There is no application fee for potential site hosts.

• To help with evaluating sites, the following documents are optional for submission with the application form:
  • Electrical site plans
  • structural site design
  • property boundary survey
  • current property title insurance company report
  • site construction specifications (if available)
  • geotechnical study and environmental report (ground mount installations only)

• The applicant will immediately receive a confirmation number for their submission and an email explaining that a program manager will contact them within two weeks.
• The program manager will review the application form for completeness and accuracy.
• Once the site has been confirmed and meets site requirements for application submittal, the site will move into an internal desktop review which starts the evaluation stages.

• In previous phases, PSE released a Request for Information (RFI) to acquire and evaluate new sites. With this new site application process, the evaluation criteria will remain the same.
• The evaluation will include a review of the following items but is not limited to:
  • Size/type of solar resource potential (combination)
  • Customer/community alignment (e.g., visibility)
  • Cost/benefit to grid (distance from grid, on summer-peaking circuit)
  • Solar production (shading, azimuth, sq. ft., expected production, etc.)
  • Ground vs. roof
  • Roof suitability (age, material)
  • Ownership (length of ownership and future plans for the site)
  • Presence of zoning/permitting issues
  • Project cost
  • Site access

• PSE will notify applicants whose sites are not selected.

• The application form and intake process will continuously evolve to meet our growing demand for Distributed Energy Resource (DER) solutions.
• As other DER programs begin to be developed, the application form will be updated to incorporate other program requirements for sites.
• If you would like to host an energy project, we are soliciting general interest and site details from property/landowners and other entities for future opportunities. Click here to apply.

Any customer-owned solar project meeting the eligibility requirements can designate electric meters that are on a contiguous or adjacent parcel to the solar array. This includes properties like apartments, townhouses, fourplexes, condominiums, and commercial shopping centers.

A solar project within the boundaries of any Tribal Land is exempt from the contiguous or adjacent parcel requirement.

A property owner is a person or entity that holds the legal title to a property, giving them the right to decide on how to use the property.

Occupants and tenants are people who occupy, rent, lease, or live in a property that is owned by someone else, such as a landlord. They may or may not pay rent and have specific rights and responsibilities related to the property.

Yes, only interconnected solar projects can participate.

If you already have solar panels, contact communitysolar@pse.com to begin the sign-up process. You will be asked to complete an agreement and spreadsheet template with a list of accounts identifying how much, in percentages, will be applied to each address’ electric bill. If you are interested in getting solar, PSE can help you find a qualified installer to work with you.

Start by selecting a qualified installer who can help determine if your property is ideal for solar through PSE Recommended Energy Professionals (REPs). The solar installers in our REP network have high customer satisfaction rates and communicate in a timely manner. We strongly recommend getting at least three bids on your solar project and checking references.

Install your solar system, complete your interconnection to the PSE grid, and complete the sign-up process with PSE. Any excess energy sent back to the grid will be tracked by your meter and converted into solar energy credits which will be applied to your designated tenant’s electric bills.

The surplus electricity generated by your solar panels is measured at the electric service meter. When the panels produce more energy than your property uses at that time, surplus electricity is fed onto the grid. Multi-Occupant Solar projects are often tied to low-usage meters, like the house meter for lobbies and hallways. By doing so, more energy is produced than is used on site, allowing for a greater amount of excess energy to be shared with tenants. The total energy exported will appear on the primary account’s monthly bill as “Energy to PSE”.

Customers with a solar system with capacity not exceeding 1,000 kW AC.

Multi-Occupant Solar is available at no cost. However, projects may incur costs or fees to obtain a Schedule 152 Interconnection Agreement.

Property owners/Interconnected customer

• Provides the ability to disburse bill credits to multiple customers.
• Lowers the cost of operating the property by reducing energy bills for shared spaces and systems usually paid for by the owner.

Occupants/Tenants

• Reduced energy bills.
• Access to solar energy.
• Lower personal carbon footprint.

Designated customers will receive a Solar Energy Credit rate of $0.067130 / kWh.

Credits will appear on monthly bills after the owner completes the sign-up process and after the project has completed interconnection to PSE.

Depends on your situation. With Net Metering, any extra energy your solar project produces are banked as an energy credit that resets annually. If you do not want to lose any banked energy and want to automatically share the benefits of your solar project with your tenants, Multi-Occupant Solar might be a better fit.

No, you must choose a single program to participate in among the following choices: Multi-Occupant Solar, Customer Connected Solar (Net Metering), Solar Energy Credit, Power Purchase Agreement, and Time of Use.

Yes, there are existing public programs that may provide additional financial benefits including the Federal Investment Tax Credit, Washington solar energy sales tax exemption, and Washington State Department of Commerce Solar Grant Programs.

As the interconnected customer, the property owner or project administrator determines how to split exported energy among building occupants and receives monthly details on performance. Please direct any questions to the property owner or project administrator.