How far back Washington utilities refund overcharges
Utilities must adjust bills for overbilling for up to six years. Here is the rule behind it, what starts or limits the clock, and what it means for a business with a billing error in Washington.
Washington at a glance
| Washington | |
|---|---|
| Rule | WAC 480-90-178 (gas) and WAC 480-100-178 (electric) |
| How far back refunds go | Utilities must adjust bills for overbilling for up to six years |
| What starts or limits the clock | Underbilling can be collected for no more than six months from the error, with a good-cause exception for non-residential accounts |
| Interest | Not stated in the rule text read |
| Regulator | Washington utility commission |
What it means for a refund claim in Washington
- Washington's refund window is among the longest verified here.
- Read the utility's tariff rules on billing and meter error too: tariffs often repeat or extend the commission rule.
- Municipal utilities and cooperatives usually set their own billing rules.
Discovery Energy reviews 36 to 48 months of history on every account and pursues the longest period each jurisdiction allows. See how overcharge recovery works, or compare Washington with every other state.
Sources
- WAC 480-90-178 (gas) and WAC 480-100-178 (electric)
- Pennsylvania PUC national list of utility commissions