Renewable Energy FAQs
Renewable Energy FAQs

Carbon Balance
Who can sign up for Carbon Balance?
All PSE natural gas customers can sign up for Carbon Balance.
How do I sign up?
Click here to see our Carbon Balance webpage, and click “Sign up your home.” You will be prompted to sign in to your online PSE account, then enroll.
You can also sign in to your online PSE account and click on “view my account.” Select “My settings.”
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.
What does it cost to participate in Carbon Balance?
Natural gas customers can purchase offset blocks for $3 each. With each block representing the reduction of greenhouse gases equal to 400 pounds of carbon dioxide. The average customer can be carbon neutral for as little as $6 per month.
Why isn't my address showing up in the online form?
Some addresses are challenging for our online system. Contact an Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Can I learn my exact gas usage?
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.
Can I cancel whenever I want?
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.
Where do the carbon offsets for PSE’s Carbon Balance program come from?
The carbon offsets for PSE's Carbon Balance program are sourced from the Winston Creek Forest Carbon Project in Lewis County, WA, and from the JR Simplot Methane Capture Project in Moses Lake, WA. Winston Creek is an innovative forest management project, the largest forest carbon project on the voluntary market in Washington State. The Simplot Farm captures methane at their facility that had previously been released freely into the atmosphere from an open anaerobic lagoon.
For more information, check PSE’s YouTube video on the Winston Creek project here.
Will my Carbon Balance purchase really make a difference?
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.
How does a carbon offset work?
Carbon offsets are created with the destruction or reduction of harmful greenhouse gases emitted from sources such as fossil fuels, animal waste, landfills or industrial gases.
One carbon offset block represents the reduction of greenhouse gases equivalent to one metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2e).
Are the carbon offsets reviewed by a third party?
Yes. PSE purchases carbon offsets that are verified by Climate Action Reserve. For more information, visit climateactionreserve.org.
Does PSE make a profit off of my Carbon Balance purchase?
No. All customer purchases are used to support individual projects, through the purchase of carbon offsets to help educate the public about greenhouse gas reductions, and to administer the program.
How can I learn more about what happens to my Carbon Balance dollars?
Each year, PSE will send you a report on your individual Carbon Balance participation and the related positive environmental impact.

Green Power Program and Solar Choice
Who can sign up for Green Power and Solar Choice?
All PSE electric customers can enroll in Green Power and Solar Choice.
How do I sign up for Green Power and Solar Choice?
Click here to see our Renewable Energy programs webpage, and click “Sign up your home.” You will then be prompted to sign in to your online PSE account.
Sign in to your online PSE account and click on “view my account.” Select “my settings.”
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.
What does it cost to participate in Green Power?
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).
What does it cost to participate in Solar Choice?
Customers purchase solar energy in 150 kilowatt-hour (kWh) blocks for a fixed cost of $5 per block per month. You can buy as many blocks as you'd like to match a portion or all your electricity usage to solar resources.
Why isn't my address showing up in the online form?
Some addresses are challenging for our online system. Contact an Energy Advisor at energyadvisor@pse.com or at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Will my purchase really make a difference?
Yes! By increasing the amount of power generated from renewable resources you:
• Reduce the region's dependence on fossil fuels
• Help to build or buy a wider range of renewable energy sources in our region
• Raise community awareness about the benefits of renewable energy so that it becomes readily available at a lower cost
• Support the local economy by helping to create green jobs right here in Washington and in the Pacific Northwest
Can I cancel whenever I want?
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.
What is the difference between Green Power and Solar Choice?
- Green Power uses a blend of resource types including wind, solar, low-impact hydro, landfill gas and livestock methane from Washington, Oregon and Idaho, while Solar Choice includes 100 percent solar electricity from Washington and Idaho.
- 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.
Why does renewable energy cost more than basic electric service?
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.
Why doesn't Solar Choice get more of its energy from Washington State?
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 is exploring the possibility of developing a Community Solar offering, which would be centered around new, local resources in our service area. We are still in the early stages of development and design for this offering.
Does PSE profit from Green Power and Solar Choice??
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.
Will renewable energy resources be delivered directly to my home or business?
The electricity generated from the renewable resources that you support is put into the Northwest 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 or Solar Choice, you are matching 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.
Are these programs verified by a third party?
Yes, both programs are certified by Green-e, the nation's leading voluntary certification program for renewable energy. Green-e Energy audits certified programs annually to ensure that they meet the minimum environmental and consumer protection standards established by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions.
For more information on Green-e Energy certification requirements, visit green-e.org
Do other utilities have similar programs?
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).