If you’re a Puget Sound Energy customer, this is worth paying attention to.
PSE has asked Washington regulators to approve electric rate increases of:
15.15% in 2027
3.74% in 2028
8.70% in 2029
If approved as proposed, that’s a cumulative increase of nearly 30% in three years.
The electricity you buy from the grid is getting more expensive.
What Could That Mean for Your Bill?
A PSE customer paying about $130/month today could be paying roughly $169/month by 2029 if the increases are approved as proposed.
That’s about $39 more every month, or roughly $465 more per year, assuming electricity use stays the same.
What Does That Mean for Solar?
Solar reduces how much electricity you need to buy from the utility in the first place.
Solar energy is an untaxed, stock market return, with no volatility. A sound investment in your home and your future.
The question isn’t just:
“What does solar cost?”
It’s also:
“What could I spend on electricity if I don’t go solar?”
PSE Customers: Today’s Net Metering Rules Won’t Last Forever
California already changed how new solar customers are credited for extra power sent back to the grid. Homeowners who applied before the 2023 deadline were able to keep the older, more favorable rules.
PSE has also said its current net metering program will remain in place only until a new solar rate is ready. No replacement rate or deadline has been announced yet, but a change is coming.
If you’re considering solar, there’s a real reason to understand your options now — while today’s rules are still available.
What About a Battery?
Battery storage can provide backup power during outages and may also qualify for PSE Flex Batteries incentives.
For some homeowners, solar + battery may make more sense than solar alone — especially if future net-metering changes make exported solar less valuable.
A battery lets you store more of your own energy for later, while also providing backup power during outages.
The Bottom Line
Grid electricity keeps getting more expensive.
If you’ve been waiting to go solar, waiting may mean paying more for electricity while having less certainty about future net-metering rules.
Solar gives you a way to produce more of your own power instead of simply absorbing the next utility rate increase.
