Drafter
Clerk 08/04/2008
title
A MOTION supporting Puget Sound Energy's long-term plans to meet customer needs.
Body
WHEREAS, King County's economy and quality of life depend on readily available, affordable and clean energy, and
WHEREAS, Puget Sound Energy as the oldest and largest energy utility in King County, has provided readily available, affordable and clean energy to the citizens of King County for more than one hundred years, and
WHEREAS, forty-eight percent of Puget Sound Energy's total electric customers and fifty-nine percent of the utility's natural gas customers reside within King County, and
WHEREAS, Puget Sound Energy employees are committed to the provision of responsive customer service, and
WHEREAS, Puget Sound Energy has been an outstanding corporate citizen and sustaining partner of many not-for-profit arts and human services organizations in King County, and
WHEREAS, Puget Sound Energy has been a strong partner with King County and incorporated cities in developing and implementing effective emergency preparedness programs, and
WHEREAS, Puget Sound Energy has been a strong partner with King County in implementing and promoting alternative energy and energy efficiency programs, and
WHEREAS, updated every two years, Puget Sound Energy's integrated resource plan is an extensive analysis of the expected risks, costs and opportunities associated with procuring future energy supplies. The plan's aim is to help guide PSE's efforts to secure reliable, cost-effective energy resources for serving customers' long-range energy needs, and
WHEREAS, PSE is an ongoing partner with King County's department of natural resources and parks, solid waste division, to save kilowatts and therms of energy at King County treatment plants, and
WHEREAS, Puget Sound Energy is working to consummate a merger with a group of investors to provide for investment of $5 billion over the next five years in infrastructure and renewable energy, and
WHEREAS, as already the Pacific Northwest's largest utility producer of renewable energy, Puget Sound Energy has charted a long-term investment plan to triple the amount of renewable power supply the utility now holds, and
WHEREAS, the merger will provide Puget Sound Energy with access to capital necessary to secure future energy supply and delivery infrastructure for customers in King County and western Washington, and
WHEREAS, with the merger Puget Sound Energy will continue to aggressively pursue the acquisition of environmentally sustainable energy resources, and
WHEREAS, Puget Sound Energy will continue to be headquartered in King County and
WHEREAS, the merger will benefit King County citizens who are customers of PSE through stable rates, improved reliability, aggressive energy efficiency programs and access to environmentally sustainable energy resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The council supports Puget Sound Energy's long-term plan to serve customers, and proposed merger, to meet the needs of King County customers.