HomeIncentives by StateWashington
Washington's code requires fixture-level or networked controls in big open offices.
Any open office over 5,000 sq ft needs a networked or fixture-level system, and Seattle City Light, PSE, Snohomish PUD and Avista all pay toward networked controls. We design it, ship it ready to install and test it.
Code and programs as of October 2026. We confirm what your building qualifies for before you buy. Sources
Who pays here.
Washington has no single statewide program. Each utility runs its own, and most of the big ones now pay extra for networked controls. Seattle City Light adds a bonus per fixture for systems on the DesignLights Consortium's networked list, and controls-only projects count. PSE pays more for LED fixtures with controls and adds bonuses for fixture-level and networked systems. Snohomish County PUD and Avista have their own networked lines, and Pacific Power, Tacoma Power and Clark Public Utilities pay through their lighting programs.
Almost every program wants approval before anything is bought, and most check the programming after it's installed. We prepare the application and the sequence of operations, and our test records show the settings. Avista customers should know that 2026 rates need the work installed and filed by December 31, 2026.
Programs as of October 2026. Each utility sets its own terms and changes them yearly.
Upgrading lighting anyway?
Washington's energy code goes further than the national model code on lighting controls. Any open office over 5,000 sq ft needs fixture-level or networked controls, each fixture addressable and trimmed to 85% or less to start. Daylight dimming kicks in at 75 W near windows, half the 2021 IECC threshold. Garages step down when a zone sits empty. A certified commissioning professional leads the testing and gives the owner a certified report, and the owner tells the code official they have it before final inspection.
In an existing building, rewiring or recircuiting the lighting brings these controls rules in, the open-office rule included. A controller in every fixture meets all of them in one system, and it's the setup the utilities pay for.
See how a project runs- Open officesNetworked or fixture-level controls in any open office over 5,000 sq ftCovered
- GaragesDrop at least 30% when a zone sits empty for 20 minutesCovered
- TestingA certified commissioning professional leads the controls testingCovered
Clean Buildings and Seattle's rules.
Washington's Clean Buildings Performance Standard sets energy targets for buildings over 50,000 sq ft. Buildings over 220,000 sq ft were due June 1, 2026, over 90,000 sq ft are due June 1, 2027, and over 50,000 sq ft June 1, 2028. Buildings from 20,000 to 50,000 sq ft, and multifamily over 20,000 sq ft, report by July 1, 2027. Seattle adds yearly benchmarking and an emissions standard for buildings over 20,000 sq ft, with first reports due in 2027. Lighting controls cut electricity use, which helps on every one of these.
Your building can be anywhere in the US.
We design remotely and ship the kit set up and labeled by room. A local electrician installs it, and we test on site or remotely.
Questions owners ask.
Does Washington's code really require networked controls?
In open offices over 5,000 sq ft, yes. Section C405.2.8 of the 2021 Washington State Energy Code requires either luminaire-level controls, with a sensor and controller in each fixture, or a networked system where each fixture is individually addressed. Both start with high-end trim at 85% or less. Smaller spaces follow the usual occupancy, schedule and daylight rules.
Do retrofits have to follow it?
Swapping lamps or ballasts doesn't trigger it. Replacing 20% or more of the fixtures in a space brings in the wattage limits. Rewiring or recircuiting the lighting brings in the controls rules, the open-office rule included, and the controls have to be tested.
Which utilities pay for networked controls?
Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County PUD, Avista, Pacific Power, Tacoma Power and Clark Public Utilities all have lighting programs that pay for networked or fixture-level controls. Most need approval before you buy. PSE doesn't require the DesignLights Consortium list; the others mostly do. As of October 2026.
Is there anything for new construction?
Some. PSE, Pacific Power and Seattle City Light have new construction lighting paths, but controls the code already requires usually don't earn an incentive. Send the project and we'll check what qualifies.
Who does the commissioning?
The code requires a certified commissioning professional to lead it, with functional testing of the lighting controls. We do the startup and functional testing and hand over the records, so your commissioning professional has what they need.
When does the 2024 code take effect?
The State Building Code Council plans to adopt it in November 2026, effective May 3, 2027. As proposed, the open-office rule carries over and occupancy timeouts drop to 15 minutes.
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Networked lighting controls, start to finish.