Electrification rebate program coming to Tumwater, but first city must nail down details 

Around $400,000 will be available to Tumwater residents as rebates to incentivize them to electrify their homes or upgrade to electric appliances. 

The incentive program will launch in January, and funding has been secured after the Tumwater City Council okayed an agreement with the state to administer the grant. 

The council authorized Mayor Debbi Sullivan to sign a contract with the Washington Department of Commerce (Commerce) on Tuesday, September 17. 

The grant agreement is for $447,540, but only $405,909 will be available as incentive to qualified residents, as the rest will be used to administer the grant. 

The city is not required to match the grant, but it would have to spend the funding quickly, as the contract terminates at the end of June 2025, said Alyssa Jones Wood, Tumwater's sustainability coordinator. 

The program will target low- and moderate-income households and aims to support 20 to 40 households, according to the agreement. Jones Wood said that they plan to reach out to Lifeline customers first, as they are already income-qualified. 

Incentives will be available for those who would like to install the following appliances: 

• heat pump water heaters,  

• heat pump space conditioning, 

• heat pump clothes dryers, and  

• induction kitchen equipment. 

Electrical service, wiring, and associated panel upgrades will be covered by the program. 

The program will also help provide group-purchase discounts. 

Those looking to participate may attend a future workshop to learn more about the program and the appliances that are covered, as well as to ask their questions.  

Alyssa Jones Wood (top left), the sustainability coordinator of Tumwater, briefs the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, September 17, about a home …

Jones Wood mentioned a potential collaboration with Habitat for Humanity to simplify the process and to have one point of contact. The non-profit already helps Olympia with its counterpart program, and having the organization help during the process would allow them to conduct other home repairs as part of their own advocacy. 

Councilmember Joan Cathey inquired if the incentive is available for those living in rentals. 

Jones Wood said that any electrification upgrade would need authorization from the landlord but added that they would need to figure out how to verify eligibility as the improvement would also benefit the property owner. 

“We are not launching the program until January, so we have a little bit of time to work out those particular details,” Jones Wood stated.