Solar in Washington

Solar Landscape in Washington

Washington's electricity market is diverse, with a mix of investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and public utility districts (PUDs). Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is the largest IOU, serving over 1.2 million electric customers across 10 counties in western Washington. Seattle City Light serves approximately 460,000 customers in the Seattle metropolitan area.

Washington's utilities benefit from abundant hydroelectric resources, keeping electricity rates relatively moderate. All utilities are required to offer net metering under state law (RCW 80.60), making the state relatively favorable for solar despite limited direct financial incentives.

Permitting

Solar permitting in Washington is handled at the local jurisdiction level, with requirements varying by city and county. Washington has been actively promoting streamlined permitting through SolarAPP+ adoption, offering grants of at least $20,000 to eligible communities to cover transition costs.

Many Washington jurisdictions have adopted or are in the process of adopting SolarAPP+ for automated residential solar permit processing. For jurisdictions not yet using SolarAPP+, the typical permitting process involves submitting building and electrical permit applications, with review timelines ranging from 1 to 3 weeks depending on the jurisdiction.

Washington's solar access law (RCW 64.38.055) provides strong HOA protections, prohibiting homeowner associations from banning solar installations that meet applicable health, safety, and performance standards established by the National Electrical Code.

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