(1) Immediately prior to the deadline for compliance for each compliance period, in the event that no allowances remain in the allowance price containment reserve, ecology shall issue price ceiling units for sale at the ceiling price to covered entities that do not have sufficient eligible compliance instruments in their holding and compliance accounts to meet their compliance obligations for that compliance deadline.

(2) Each price ceiling unit covers the compliance obligation for the emission of one metric ton of CO2e.

(3) Only covered entities that do not have sufficient eligible compliance instruments in their holding and compliance accounts to meet their requirements for the immediately upcoming compliance period compliance obligation may purchase price ceiling units. These covered entities may purchase only the number of price ceiling units necessary to meet their compliance obligations for the upcoming compliance period deadline and must use those price ceiling units for compliance at the immediately upcoming compliance deadline.