Open PUD grant program to all customers

Regarding “Snohomish PUD reopens appliance upgrade program,” Jan. 15, The Herald:

It’s great that the Snohomish County PUD is funneling Climate Commitment Act funds into new efficient electric appliances. But don’t get excited if you are heating your home or water, drying your clothes or cooking with fossil fuels; in reading the requirements, I see that “You must be replacing an existing electric appliance to qualify.”

Really? Even when using CCA funding? Snohomish PUD has long defended its outdated policy that providing benefits to consumers switching from fossil fuels to electric appliances is legally prohibited. It’s time for the PUD to challenge its legal department to figure out how to make these appliance upgrade benefits available to all customers.

If you currently use fossil fuels or wood for heating and cooking, you may want to check out the Kicking Gas Snohomish program. They provide up to $7,500 grant-funded subsidies for switching to electric heat pumps and $500 to $1,000 subsidies for electric stoves.

Nancy Johnson

Edmonds

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