RCW 43.21F.060 Additional duties and authority of department—Obtaining information—Confidentiality, penalty—Receiving and expending funds.

In addition to the duties prescribed in RCW 43.21F.045, the department shall have the authority to:

(1) Obtain all necessary and existing information from energy producers, suppliers, and consumers, doing business within the state of Washington, from political subdivisions in this state, or any person as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of chapter 43.21G RCW: PROVIDED, That if the information is available in reports made to another state agency, the department shall obtain it from that agency: PROVIDED FURTHER, That, to the maximum extent practicable, informational requests to energy companies regulated by the utilities and transportation commission shall be channeled through the commission and shall be accepted in the format normally used by the companies. Such information may include but not be limited to:

(a) Sales volume;

(b) Forecasts of energy requirements; and

(c) Energy costs.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, information furnished under this subsection shall be confidential and maintained as such, if so requested by the person providing the information, if the information is proprietary.

It shall be unlawful to disclose such information except as hereinafter provided. A violation shall be punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars for each offense. In addition, any person who wilfully or with criminal negligence, as defined in RCW 9A.08.010, discloses confidential information in violation of this subsection may be subject to removal from office or immediate dismissal from public employment notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary.

Nothing in this subsection prohibits the use of confidential information to prepare statistics or other general data for publication when it is so presented as to prevent identification of particular persons or sources of confidential information.

(2) Receive and expend funds obtained from the federal government or other sources by means of contracts, grants, awards, payments for services, and other devices in support of the duties enumerated in this chapter.

[ 1996 c 186 § 105; 1981 c 295 § 6; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 108 § 6.]

NOTES:

Findings—Intent—Part headings not law—Effective date—1996 c 186: See notes following RCW 43.330.904.