Electric disconnections in Washington, 2024
Washington ranks 33rd of 51, 1st being the highest rate. The Washington total is 122,752 disconnections on about 3,323,267 accounts, 5.7 per 100 below the U.S. rate of 9.4. It also counts 927,136 final-notice events. Events, not homes: an account cut off twice counts twice.
Washington month by month
Washington: April peaked at 12,384 disconnections, November bottomed at 6,235. Per 100 Washington accounts the monthly rate ran from 0.19 (November) to 0.37 (April). Washington averaged 0.32 a month in December to February and 0.29 in June to August: nearly level.
Washington disconnections per month, 2024
- 11.4kJan
- 10.5kFeb
- 10.5kMar
- 12.4kApr
- 11.8kMay
- 10.7kJun
- 9.7kJul
- 8.6kAug
- 9.7kSep
- 11.1kOct
- 6.2kNov
- 10.0kDec
| Month | Washington final notices | Washington disconnections | Washington reconnections | Washington accounts | Washington per 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 86,841 | 11,421 | 10,676 | 3,306,972 | 0.35 |
| February | 76,988 | 10,512 | 9,515 | 3,309,451 | 0.32 |
| March | 82,320 | 10,508 | 9,693 | 3,316,599 | 0.32 |
| April | 80,291 | 12,384 | 11,158 | 3,312,095 | 0.37 |
| May | 80,031 | 11,787 | 10,752 | 3,315,416 | 0.36 |
| June | 81,535 | 10,689 | 9,691 | 3,320,259 | 0.32 |
| July | 80,386 | 9,707 | 9,062 | 3,324,585 | 0.29 |
| August | 72,926 | 8,635 | 7,898 | 3,329,541 | 0.26 |
| September | 69,414 | 9,748 | 8,886 | 3,330,750 | 0.29 |
| October | 68,414 | 11,107 | 10,120 | 3,334,651 | 0.33 |
| November | 70,901 | 6,235 | 5,849 | 3,337,945 | 0.19 |
| December | 77,089 | 10,018 | 9,478 | 3,340,944 | 0.30 |
| Year | 927,136 | 122,752 | 112,778 | 3,323,267 (mean) | 3.69 (yearly) |
Scale Washington to your town
Statewide rate for Washington: 3.69 per 100. A single utility can sit far from it.
Washington utilities that reported
Washington: 34 utilities reported. They sum to 116,826 of the 122,752 disconnections in the state total; City of Tacoma - (WA) alone reported 37,882 (31%).
32 Washington utilities have 5,000+ accounts and twelve months of data. Their rates run from 0.2 (PUD No 1 of Klickitat County) to 25.7 (Lakeview Light & Power) per 100.
| Washington utility | Disconnections | Avg accounts | Per 100 | Final notices | Reconnections | Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Tacoma - (WA) | 37,882 | 175,582 | 21.6 | 156,975 | 37,640 | 12 of 12 |
| City of Seattle - (WA) | 14,406 | 424,079 | 3.4 | 69,610 | 14,082 | 12 of 12 |
| Avista Corp | 11,285 | 252,575 | 4.5 | 63,639 | 9,461 | 12 of 12 |
| PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County | 7,774 | 48,267 | 16.1 | 17,245 | 7,722 | 12 of 12 |
| Puget Sound Energy Inc | 7,532 | 1,091,599 | 0.7 | 85,315 | 5,199 | 12 of 12 |
| PUD 1 of Snohomish County | 6,658 | 339,910 | 2.0 | 10,606 | 6,570 | 12 of 12 |
| PUD No 1 of Benton County | 3,627 | 48,263 | 7.5 | 42,648 | 3,289 | 12 of 12 |
| PUD No 1 of Franklin County | 2,857 | 29,025 | 9.8 | 59,174 | 2,744 | 12 of 12 |
| Lakeview Light & Power | 2,684 | 10,457 | 25.7 | 9,775 | 2,437 | 12 of 12 |
| Elmhurst Mutual Power & Light Co | 2,538 | 16,159 | 15.7 | 19,790 | 2,393 | 12 of 12 |
Washington against its neighbours
Washington sits in the Pacific division. Its 4 division peers average 3.4 per 100; the highest is Oregon at 4.5 and the lowest Alaska at 2.5. Washington is 0.3 above the division average.
| Washington borders | Rank of 51 | Per 100 | Gap to Washington | Times Washington | Final notices per 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 20th | 6.3 | +2.6 | 1.71x | 26.1 |
| Oregon | 30th | 4.5 | +0.9 | 1.23x | 42.3 |
Closest in the ranking to Washington: Connecticut 4.3, Wisconsin 4.2, North Dakota 3.7, Illinois 3.6.
How firm the Washington number is
Washington response rate: 96.8% weighted by size, 89.5% by count. Utilities reported 116,826; EIA's adjustment is +5,926 (+4.8% of 122,752). Largest monthly relative standard error, Washington: 7.5%. EIA flags no Washington month. Flag codes and method.
Shutoff rule read for Washington
| Washington rule | What the text says |
|---|---|
| Cold weather | WAC 480-100-143: between November 15 and March 15 an electric utility may not discontinue residential space heating service if the customer notifies of inability to pay, self-certifies household income through a state-funded grantee, applies for energy assistance and weatherization, and agrees to pay by the next October 15 and pay monthly at no more than seven percent of monthly income plus one-twelfth of billings. |
| Hot weather | no hot-weather ban found in the text read, except 128(11) tariff provision on inclement weather events |
| Protected customers | 128(8): medical condition or emergency: postpone or reinstate for a five-business-day grace period on verbal or written notice; utility may require written certification from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or PA within five business days; valid up to 60 days unless renewed; customer may be required to pay 10% of balance and agree to pay the rest within 120 days. |
| Notice before disconnection | 128(4): two separate notices: first in writing (mail or door) at least eight business days before disconnection (11 days if mailed from outside WA/OR/ID); second at least two business days before by door delivery, mailed 3 business days before, or two phone attempts; includes energy assistance info, and between Nov 15 and Mar 15 the winter payment plan. |
| Payment plans | WAC 480-100-143 plan as above (seven percent of income); WAC 480-100-138 payment arrangements referenced but not read. |
| Complaints | Not stated in the text read (UTC). |
Read: WAC 480-100-143 (winter) and WAC 480-100-128 (disconnection), checked 2026-10-02. Electric utilities regulated by the UTC (chapter 480-100); the text says 'an electric utility'; co-ops/munis not addressed.
Not legal advice; check your Washington notice.
Help in Washington
Washington LIHEAP eligibility as listed: Heating & Crisis: 150% Federal Poverty Level Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Level.
Washington benefits as listed: Heating: $250 minimum, $1,250 maximum Crisis: $13,000 maximum Weatherization: $20,000 maximum.
Programs named for Washington: Tacoma Public Utilities; Seattle City Light; AVISTA Utilities.
What this means for you in Washington
- Washington had 927,136 final notices and 122,752 disconnections: 13 disconnections per 100 notices. A notice is not a disconnection.
- Washington reconnections ran at 92 per 100 disconnections. The data give no time to restore.
- Cold-weather rule in Washington, as we read it: WAC 480-100-143: between November 15 and March 15 an electric utility may not discontinue residential space heating service if the customer notifies of inability to pay, self-certifies household income through a state-funded ... April was the busiest Washington month by count.
- To contest a Washington notice: Not stated in the text read (UTC).
- Cannot pay in full? Ask your Washington utility for a payment plan, then the LIHEAP office above.
More
Sources
Form EIA-112, Residential Utility Disconnection Survey, calendar year 2024, EIA release page (released 2026-04-14, file retrieved 2026-10-07). Utility file: electric utility-level workbook; report: 2024 Residential Utility Disconnections Report. Monthly CSV
Questions
How many electric disconnections were there in Washington in 2024?
122,752 in Washington, of which utilities reported 116,826. That is 3.7 per 100 accounts, 33rd of 51.
Does 3.7 per 100 mean 4% of Washington homes lost service?
No. The 122,752 Washington disconnections are events; a home cut off twice counts twice. EIA gives no count of distinct Washington homes.
Which month had the most disconnections in Washington?
April, with 12,384. November had 6,235.
How many Washington utilities have a yearly rate?
34 of 34.