WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION 2SHB 1871

HB 1871: Residential energy storage

Incentivizing grid-connected residential battery energy storage systems.

Summary

  • Requires electric utilities with more than 100,000 electric customers to have a residential battery energy storage program (program) that includes providing battery incentives to customers and establishing either a time-of-use rate or a virtual power plant, and authorizes other electric utilities to participate in the program.
  • Directs the Washington State University Extension Energy Program to administer the program, which extends for 10 years after July 1, 2026.
  • Allows utilities providing battery incentives under the program to receive a tax credit equal to the incentives provided, associated expenses, and upgrades.
  • Requires the Department of Commerce to produce nonbinding recommendations for electric utilities to develop virtual power plants.
  • Requires the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to review the program's tax preferences as part of its 2030 reviews.

From the House Bill Analysis 2025 (HB 1871), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · died in committee
  1. IntroducedFeb 6, 2025
  2. Out of committeestopped here
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Victoria Hunt (D-5)
Introduced
February 6, 2025 in the House
Last action
January 12, 2026
Companion bill
SB 5727
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1871, SHB 1871, 2SHB 1871

AN ACT Relating to incentivizing grid-connected residential battery energy storage systems;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Victoria Hunt (D-5)

6 co-sponsors (5 Democrats, 1 Republican)

Mark Klicker R-16Beth Doglio D-22Lisa Parshley D-22Alex Ramel D-40Janice Zahn D-41Davina Duerr D-1

Votes

No recorded floor votes. This measure never reached a floor vote.

History

  1. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (2SHB 1871)
  2. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (SHB 1871)
  3. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  4. Referred to Appropriations. (2SHB 1871)
  5. Referred to Appropriations. (SHB 1871)
  6. Referred to Appropriations.
  7. Minority; without recommendation. (2SHB 1871)
  8. Minority; do not pass. (2SHB 1871)
  9. FIN - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (2SHB 1871)
  10. FIN - Executive action taken by committee. (SHB 1871)
  11. FIN - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1871)
  12. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1871)
  13. Minority; without recommendation. (SHB 1871)
  14. Minority; without recommendation.
  15. Minority; do not pass.
  16. FIN - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  17. FIN - Executive action taken by committee.
  18. Referred to Finance. (SHB 1871)
  19. Referred to Finance.
  20. Minority; without recommendation. (SHB 1871)
  21. ENVI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1871)
  22. ENVI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  23. Minority; without recommendation.
  24. ENVI - Executive action taken by committee.
  25. First reading, referred to Environment & Energy.

HB 1871 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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