Washington utility rebates for electrical work, 2026
Which utility serves the building decides what you can claim, not which city it is in. Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County PUD and Tacoma Power run entirely separate programmes with different amounts and rules. Every figure below carries a source link and the date we last checked it.
Which utility serves you?
The four utilities
17 programmes, last verified 5 September 2026. Almost all of them require approval before you buy the equipment.
Seattle City Light SCL
Territory: Seattle, plus parts of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac and Renton · SCL website ↗
| Programme | What it pays | Who qualifies | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business EV charging — Tier 2 Pre-approval required | 100% of cost up to $50,000 per site (Level 2); up to $200,000 for DC fast charging | Small businesses, WMBE-certified firms, tribal organizations and customers in overburdened communities | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| Business EV charging — Tier 1 Pre-approval required | 50% of cost up to $25,000 (Level 2); up to $100,000 for DC fast charging | Commercial customers who do not meet Tier 2 criteria | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| Multifamily EV charging Pre-approval required | 240 V outlets 100% up to $15,000; hardwired Level 2 50% up to $25,000; 120 V outlets 75% up to $13,000. Affordable housing: 100% up to $50,000 | Multifamily properties in SCL territory; minimum two ports; equipment from the EPRI vetted list; apply before construction | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| Commercial lighting and controls retrofit Pre-approval required | $0.28/kWh saved on LED fixtures and standard controls; networked lighting control bonus $25–$50 per fixture; capped at 70% of project cost | Commercial and multifamily buildings in SCL territory | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| HVAC, heat pump, VRF and refrigeration measures Pre-approval required | $0.36/kWh saved; strip curtains $9 per linear foot; ECM motors $55–$140 | Commercial customers in SCL territory | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| Small-business heat pump instant discount Pre-approval required | $5,000 instant discount on heat pumps under 5.4 tons; $1,750 on heat pump water heaters | Businesses with fewer than 50 employees in SCL territory | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| EV Charging Installer Program Pre-approval required | Reimburses EVITP training and exam ($275, up to four staff) and WMBE registration | Electrical contractors installing EV charging in SCL territory; incentives run through 2026-11-30 | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
Puget Sound Energy PSE
Territory: Bothell, the Eastside, most of South King County, Pierce County outside Tacoma, and Whatcom County · PSE website ↗
| Programme | What it pays | Who qualifies | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multifamily EV charging Pre-approval required | Customer-owned 50% up to $2,000 per port; Empower Mobility 100% up to $4,000 per port; PSE-owned turnkey up to $10,000 per port | Multifamily properties in PSE electric territory; ten-year operation commitment | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| Workplace EV charging Pre-approval required | Customer-owned 50% up to $2,000 per port; PSE-owned up to $12,000 per port for up to ten ports | Employers in PSE electric territory | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| Fleet electrification Pre-approval required | Up to $250,000 per site; customer-owned $4,000 per Level 2 port, $60,000 per DC fast charger | Fleet operators in PSE electric territory | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| Commercial lighting incentive Pre-approval required | $0.30/kWh for LED; $0.60/kWh for LED with automatic controls; luminaire-level lighting control bonus $50–$100 per fixture; TLED $4 per lamp. Capped at 70% of cost | Commercial customers in PSE electric territory; program window 2026-04-01 to 2027-04-30; do not install before the agreement is executed | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| PSE Flex Batteries Pre-approval required | $75 per kWh enrollment rebate up to $1,000 per battery, plus up to $500 per battery per year for demand events | Tesla, Enphase, FranklinWH and SolarEdge batteries installed by a PSE Recommended Energy Professional. Standalone batteries qualify. EcoFlow is not on the eligible list. | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| Residential heat pump rebate Pre-approval required | $1,500–$4,400 depending on system type | PSE electric customers. From 2026-04-02 the installing contractor must be a PSE Trade Ally / Recommended Energy Professional. Confidence: medium — secondary source; confirm on pse.com before quoting to a customer | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
Snohomish County PUD SnoPUD
Territory: Everett, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Marysville, Edmonds and the rest of Snohomish County · SnoPUD website ↗
| Programme | What it pays | Who qualifies | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial and multifamily charger rebate Pre-approval required | $1,000 per port at existing sites; $500 per port in new construction; maximum ten ports | Commercial and multifamily sites in SnoPUD territory; chargers from the qualified product list; claim within 90 days | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| Business lighting rebate Pre-approval required | Custom $0.35/kWh on equipment and $0.20/kWh on controls, capped at 70% of cost; T8 and T5 rebates 25% higher from 2026-09-01 | Business customers in SnoPUD territory | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
Tacoma Power Tacoma Power
Territory: Tacoma, Fircrest, University Place, Fife and parts of Lakewood and Steilacoom · Tacoma Power website ↗
| Programme | What it pays | Who qualifies | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community EV charging Pre-approval required | $5,000 per networked port (up to $50,000); $10,000 per port in priority zones (up to $70,000); $2,000 per non-networked port | Commercial and multifamily sites in Tacoma Power territory. Workplace-only sites are excluded from the priority tier. Status: Funding was temporarily paused in 2026; applications were still being accepted as of 2026-09-05. Confirm before relying on it. | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
| Bright Rebates lighting Pre-approval required | Small business $0.19/kWh up to 100% of installed cost; general commercial $0.17/kWh up to 60% | Tacoma Power business customers; DLC or ENERGY STAR products; pre-approval required | 5 September 2026 source ↗ |
Regional and federal programmes
| Programme | Sponsor | What it pays | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighting to Go instant distributor discounts | Seattle City Light and Snohomish County PUD | Troffers $30–$80, linear $30–$80, high bay $25–$120, exterior $10–$175, downlights $10–$40, stairwell $50–$90; capped at 90% of retail | Existing buildings only; 75 fixtures per category per site per day; runs through 2026-12-31Verified 5 September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Section 48E investment tax credit for commercial battery storage | Federal | 30% of installed cost | Commercial energy storage; available through 2033. Ask your tax advisor — HB Power Electric does not give tax advice.Verified 5 September 2026 · source ↗ |
Expired — do not count on these
These programmes are gone. They are listed here because contractors and comparison sites are still advertising several of them, and a quote built on one of them is a quote that is wrong by thousands of dollars.
| Programme | Ended | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Federal 30C alternative fuel refueling property credit (home EV charger) | 30 June 2026 | Do not promise a tax credit on any EV page. |
| Federal 25D residential clean energy credit (home battery and solar) | 31 December 2025 | Expenditures after this date do not qualify. |
| Washington sales and use tax exemption for EV infrastructure, batteries and fuel cells | 1 July 2025 | Ended before HB Power Electric was licensed. Never cited. |
| Snohomish County PUD $50 residential EV charger rebate | 31 December 2025 | Everett, Lynnwood and Marysville pages must not cite it. |
| Section 179D deduction for lighting projects beginning after 2026-06-30 | 30 June 2026 | Not available for new commercial lighting retrofits. |
Codes and deadlines that drive the work
- Washington State Building Code Table 429.2 — EV-ready parking
- New commercial buildings in Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M and S must provide 10% EVSE-installed, 10% EV-ready and 10% EV-capable parking spaces; Group R multifamily must provide 10% EVSE-installed, 25% EV-ready and 10% EV-capable. Sites with fewer than ten spaces are generally exempt except in Groups A, E and M. Confidence: medium — confirm the adopted percentages with your jurisdiction before bidding · Verified 5 September 2026 · source ↗
- RCW 64.90.530 — right to charge
- Since 2026-01-01, condominium and HOA governing documents in Washington may not prohibit a unit owner from installing an EV charging station, subject to reasonable conditions. Verified 5 September 2026 · source ↗
- Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard — Tier 2
- Nonresidential buildings of 20,001–50,000 sq ft and multifamily buildings over 20,000 sq ft must file benchmarking, an energy management plan and an O&M program by 2027-07-01. Penalties up to $0.30 per square foot. Verified 5 September 2026 · source ↗
- Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard
- Verification begins in 2027 for the largest buildings, with emissions targets from 2031. All-electric buildings are exempt from the emissions targets. Verified 5 September 2026 · source ↗
- NFPA 96 — commercial kitchen hood shunt trip
- Commercial cooking equipment under a Type I hood must shut down electrically when the fire-suppression system discharges. That interlock is an electrical scope item on every restaurant tenant improvement. Verified 5 September 2026 · source ↗
- Washington State Energy Code C405 — lighting controls
- Commercial interior lighting must meet lighting power density limits and provide occupancy, daylight and time-switch controls. Control scope is priced into every tenant-improvement lighting bid. Verified 5 September 2026 · source ↗
Washington L&I electrical permit fees
These apply where L&I is the permitting authority — Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville, Issaquah, Shoreline, Edmonds, Kent, Covington, Auburn, Puyallup and unincorporated county land. Seattle (SDCI), Tacoma Power and the self-inspecting cities set their own fees. Effective 1 July 2026.
| Permit item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New commercial service, 0–100 A | $129.40 |
| New commercial service, 101–200 A | $157.60 |
| New commercial service, 201–400 A | $303.60 |
| New commercial service, 401–600 A | $353.90 |
| Circuits, first panel (up to five circuits) | $100.50 |
| Each additional circuit | $8.20 |
| First sign or outline lighting | $59.50 |
| Generator with transfer equipment, up to 100 A | $109.90 |
| Low-voltage thermostat | $59.50 |
| Class 2 or 3 low-voltage system, first 2,500 sq ft | $69.10 |
| Emergency inspection surcharge | $151.10 |
Source: L&I form F500-130-000 ↗, verified 5 September 2026.
How we handle the paperwork
We prepare the application, assemble the equipment specifications, invoices and photographs the programme asks for, and submit on your behalf where the utility allows a contractor to do that. The order matters: get the pre-approval, then buy the equipment, then install. Doing it the other way round disqualifies most projects, and it is the single most common way people lose this money.
Utility incentives are set by Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County PUD and Tacoma Power and change without notice. Figures were last verified on 5 September 2026. Most programs require pre-approval before equipment is purchased; HB Power Electric helps prepare applications but cannot guarantee approval or amounts.
Rebate questions
Which utility serves my address?
Your electricity bill is the fastest answer. Broadly: Seattle City Light covers Seattle plus parts of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac and north Renton. Snohomish County PUD covers Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mill Creek, Marysville and the Snohomish County side of Bothell. Tacoma Power covers Tacoma, Fircrest, University Place, Fife and parts of Lakewood. Puget Sound Energy covers most of the rest, including the Eastside, South King County and Puyallup.
Do I have to apply before buying the equipment?
For almost every programme on this page, yes. Utilities structure these as incentives for a decision you have not yet made, so buying the charger or the fixtures first is the most common way people lose the money. PSE’s lighting programme is explicit that you must not install before the agreement is executed; Seattle City Light and Tacoma Power both require pre-approval. Ask us before you order anything.
Are there still federal tax credits for a home EV charger or battery?
No, and you should be sceptical of any contractor still advertising them. The federal 30C credit for home charging equipment ended on 30 June 2026, and the 25D residential clean energy credit ended for expenditures after 31 December 2025. Washington’s sales-tax exemption for EV infrastructure and batteries ended on 1 July 2025. The one that is still live is Section 48E, a 30% investment tax credit for commercial battery storage — ask your tax advisor, because we do not give tax advice.
Can HB Power Electric handle the paperwork?
We prepare the application, provide the equipment specifications, invoices and photographs the utility asks for, and submit on your behalf where the programme allows it. What we cannot do is guarantee approval or the final amount — those are the utility’s decisions, budgets reset annually and some programmes pause mid-year. Tacoma Power’s EV programme was showing exactly that when this page was last checked.
How current are these numbers?
Every figure on this page carries the date we last read it from the utility’s own page, along with a link to that page. Everything here was verified on 5 September 2026. Utility programmes change without notice, so treat anything more than a few months old as a starting point for a conversation rather than a promise.
Get a rebate-ready proposal
Tell us the building, the utility and roughly what you want to do. We will come back with a scope that lines up with what the programme actually funds, and the pre-approval sequence in the right order.
We reply as soon as we are off the job — usually the same day.