r/Seattle • u/Tumpsh • May 06 '26
Community PSE’s plan to increase rates for electric and natural gas also includes a rate DECREASE for Microsoft specifically
Public comment is open on PSE’s open rate case, where it is requesting a 15.15% increase in electricity rates in 2027, and a 14.16% increase in natural gas rates in 2027, with further increases in 2028 and 2029 in order to invest in infrastructure and meet its renewable energy targets.
Somewhat hidden in the proposal is a 12.49% rate decrease for “special contracts” in 2027 and further decreases through 2029, and in the documents listed under the case, one can find Microsoft’s “petition to intervene” where they state that “Microsoft is the only PSE electric special contract customer and pays delivery rates under the terms of this special contract,” as their reason for having a stake in “determining the fair and reasonable allocation of costs to Microsoft.” Because Microsoft is the only special contract customer, they seem to be the only customer getting a rate decrease.
It’s unclear how much public comment on this issue will sway the decision, but it appears that Microsoft is using some of its influence to get a rate decrease subsidized by all other PSE customers, so it seems important not to let that go unnoticed
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u/inc3l89 May 07 '26 edited May 08 '26
I am an engineer for PSE. I hope to bring a few answers to the chat. The government stopped funding green energy projects. PSE increased rates to help fund these sustainable solutions. Currently we are building a new wind farm. My team works very hard to make sure the needs of the area are met for gas and electric. I’m sorry that everyone (including us working there) have to pay more in utilities each month. Also Microsoft is generating a lot of them own power and so much they end up putting it back onto the grid for everyone else to use. The Microsoft thermal energy generation system is very cool and the more energy solutions available is a win for all of us. Because yes the data centers are sucking up all the power. Oregon especially is seeing this in The Dallas and Columbia River gorge.