Tumwater aims to renew PSE franchise agreement

Tumwater City Council recommended renewing its franchise agreement with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) at a meeting held on July 1. This agreement enables PSE to operate and maintain energy distribution facilities within the city's rights-of-way. According to Transportation and Engineering Director Brandon Hicks, the agreement specifies the operational guidelines for PSE and mandates notification procedures to the city regarding its activities. The council has scheduled the ordinance for final adoption on July 15, which will extend PSE's franchise for an additional five years. The current agreement, initially approved in 2015, is set to expire on September 14, prompting the need for renewal.

PSE, the state's oldest local energy provider, serves approximately 1. 24 million electric customers across ten counties in the Puget Sound region. The renewal is significant as it ensures continued energy service and infrastructure maintenance in Tumwater. The council's decision reflects ongoing efforts to manage local energy resources effectively.