Showing posts with label seattle city light. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seattle city light. Show all posts

Assessors in Shoreline - follow up

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

After a recently published story about appraisers for the King County Assessor's Office working in Shoreline, a reader asked if appraisers could enter his yard and worried about how his dogs might react.

According to a spokesperson for the Assessor's Office,

"State law authorizes us to enter every property in the state and requires it at a minimum of once every 6 years. We ask our appraisers to use common sense. If they see a threat such as a dog or a potentially dangerous situation they aren't going to approach it."

Another reader asked how to tell the difference between an authorized appraiser and a burglar casing the street.

The spokesperson said to ask them for ID, which all Assessor's office staff carry.

"Burglars are fast. They want to be in and out undetected. Our appraisers aren't nearly as quick. They are slow because they are documenting everything and taking pictures."

Other people who look suspicious but are authorized are City Light meter readers. They are supposed to wear uniforms, but not all do. They are supposed to carry ID. City Light is in the process of installing meters which will be read remotely, from their facilities. This will replace the door to door meter readers.



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Destinations: Historic Georgetown Steam Plant goes Steam Punk

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Steam Punks at Georgetown Steam Plant
Photo courtesy Seattle City Light

The interior of the plant is a fantastical world of delicate brass fixtures and 20th century gauges combined with three large steam generators and a wide variety of equipment considered innovative at the time.

As one of the only intact historical steam plants in the United States, the Georgetown Steam Plant, built in 1906 along the shore of the Duwamish River, is a paradise for engineering aficionados and history lovers, including fans of the steam punk genre.

Steam Punks are invited to wear their gear and add to the Victorian industrial vibe at Seattle City Light’s free October open house at the historic Georgetown Steam Plant this Saturday, October 10, 6605 13th Ave S, Seattle.

The plant will be open from 10am to 2pm with free tours beginning at 11am and 1pm.

No reservations are required.

More information and driving directions can be found at the website.



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No rate surcharge for Seattle City Light customers

Friday, July 25, 2014

Boundary Dam spillway
Photo courtesy Seattle City Light

Improved water conditions in the rivers that power Seattle City Light’s hydroelectric dams are brightening the utility’s financial forecasts and helping to hold down costs for customers.

“While energy markets and hydroelectric power generation can be volatile, these improved conditions should avoid any rate surcharges for our customers for the foreseeable future,” General Manager and CEO Jorge Carrasco said.

The latest federal river flow models project more water being available for City Light’s Boundary and Skagit hydroelectric projects as well as the Bonneville Power Administration dams where City Light gets a slice of the output. More water means more electricity the utility can sell. Even with already low electricity prices dropping a bit recently, the increased power supply should mean more revenue for City Light.

The bottom line is a $2.7 million boost for City Light compared to June forecasts.

City Light now expects to earn $89.4 million from sales of electricity to other utilities, exceeding the amount called for in its 2014 budget. That is a significant change from January, when poor snowpack conditions suggested that City Light might not meet its budgeted revenue, which could have triggered surcharges on our customer-owners.

As a result of the improved conditions, City Light expects to avoid any rate surcharges through October 2017, which is as far as the utility’s forecasts project. Those forecasts are based on average water years in the future.

“To further reduce the risk of customer surcharges, our recently updated Strategic Plan steadily reduces the amount of money we depend on in our budget from sales of electricity to other utilities,” Carrasco said. “The goal is to continue providing low, predictable energy costs for our customers.”

Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States. It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to about 750,000 Seattle area residents. City Light has been greenhouse gas neutral since 2005, the first electric utility in the nation to achieve that distinction.


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Plant the right tree this spring

Thursday, April 3, 2014

From Seattle City Light

The sun is shining (sometimes), the birds are waking you up with the light, and it is the perfect time to plant new trees. If you plan to add one to your yard, please consider where those branches might be in a few years. If your planting site is near or beneath power lines, the right choice of tree will prevent future problems. Our staff arborists have created a guide to help you find the right tree for your situation, available here in the Right Tree Book.

Visit our Vegetation Management webpage for information about tree trimming and electrical safety.


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Give the gift of power - donate to Project Share

Tuesday, November 26, 2013


Imagine turning on a light and nothing happens. Each year there are people in the City Light service territory who suffer from financial distress, leaving them unable to pay their electricity bills. Project Share is a rate-payer funded program that provides one-time emergency utility assistance to families and individuals.

Donating to Project Share supports people in need and may also be tax deductible. You can contribute by making a one-time donation, specifying an amount to add to each bill, or by enrolling in our "round up" program, where we automatically round your utility bill to the next highest dollar amount. For more information or to donate today, visit the Project Share website or call 206-684-3000.


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City Light partners with nonprofits to promote discount program

Wednesday, October 30, 2013



Seattle City Light has partnered with 10 large non-profit affordable housing providers to enroll eligible income-qualified customers in the Utility Discount Program that provides a 60 percent discount off Seattle City Light bills and 50 percent discount off Seattle Public Utilities bills.

The Housing Partnership Program allows the utility to enroll customers through a shortened application process by using information from affordable housing providers rather than requiring the tenants to apply separately for the discount. Simplifying the application process is expected to bring in new customers who were previously unaware of this benefit.

“This program enables City Light to streamline the application process for customers who are most in need, allowing them to apply for the rate discount program at the same time as they apply for affordable housing,” City Light Customer Care Director Kelly Enright said. “This is just one part of the major effort underway as part of our Strategic Plan to assist customers who are having difficulty with their bills. We are also helping them better manage their energy use through home energy visits and other conservation measures.”

The affordable housing providers who have signed agreements with Seattle City Light include Bellwether, Catholic Housing Services, Capitol Hill Housing, Compass Housing, King County Housing Authority, Low Income Housing Institute, South East Effective Development, YWCA, Plymouth Housing Group and Solid Ground. Non-profit affordable housing groups must meet federal and/or state guidelines for low-income operations, each agency must enter into a signed agreement with Seattle City Light, and the program will undergo periodic audits.

“It’s a win-win-win situation for our residents, our organization, and also for City Light,” said Tristan Heart Hunter, Portfolio Manager for Capitol Hill Housing. “It makes sense to enroll our residents into City Light’s Utility Discount Program at the time that they are signing their leases. We have already verified income eligibility at that point, and it allows our families to avoid another lengthy application process. We want people to be financially stable and be able to pay their rent and other bills on time; having access to City Light’s Utility Discount Program helps our residents achieve that.”

For more information on the Utility Discount Housing Partnership Program contact Wendy Johnson at (206) 233-2155 or go online.


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City Light settles energy crisis claim with Powerex for $2 million

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Utility Continues to Pursue Recoveries from Other Power Sellers

Seattle City Light and Vancouver, B.C.-based Powerex filed a $2 million settlement agreement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today to resolve claims relating to high prices for energy that were charged during the West Coast energy crisis of 2000-01.

To date, City Light has recovered a total of $4.6 million in settlements with 14 power sellers, including Powerex. City Light is continuing to pursue refund claims with eight other sellers. Trial on those claims is currently under way at FERC.

“We will continue to fight hard on behalf of our customer-owners to recover those funds,” General Manager and CEO Jorge Carrasco said. “Every dollar we recover helps to hold down costs for our customers. This is a fair and amicable settlement with Powerex.”

Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States. It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents. City Light has been greenhouse gas neutral since 2005, the first electric utility in the nation to achieve that distinction.


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City Light, Seattle Aquarium start work on community solar project

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Seattle Aquarium


Project will be biggest solar array at any West Coast aquarium

Seattle City Light and the Seattle Aquarium announced the start of construction today for the largest solar array at any aquarium on the West Coast as part of the utility’s Community Solar and Green Up programs.

“Part of the vision of the Seattle Aquarium is to invest in alternative energy,” Aquarium President and CEO Robert W. Davidson said. “Operating sustainably will help fulfill our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, and this is an important step in that direction.”

NW Wind and Solar of Seattle is installing the $330,000 system, which will cover a large portion of the south side of the Seattle Aquarium’s roof. The 247 panels for the 49.4 kilowatt system are being purchased from Marysville-based Silicon Energy, promoting more green jobs in Western Washington.

Most of the panels will produce electricity on behalf of City Light customers who want to buy solar power through the utility’s Community Solar program. The rest of the panels are being installed as a demonstration project through the utility’s voluntary Green Up renewable energy program with the electricity produced helping to power the Aquarium’s operations.


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Seattle City Light: When the power goes out

Sunday, September 29, 2013


Seattle City Light serves more than 300,000 customers. Occasionally, power outages occur, caused by storms, lightning, objects touching power lines, cars hitting poles, excavations of underground electric cables and equipment failure. When they occur, crews work around the clock to restore power safely and efficiently. Your service will be restored as quickly as possible.

Power Out?

Do not send email to report outages.

  • Call Customer Service at 206-684-3000. 
  • Or, call the Outage Hotline (recorded message) at 206-684-7400.

The Outage Hotline will start with a list of known outages, so you will know if your area has been reported already.



See an easy-to-understand explanation with graphics that shows how City Light restores power.
How Seattle City Light restores power  (Adobe PDF, 362K) (And note that Shoreline and Lake Forest Park are pretty much at the ends of the lines.)


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Utility discount program can cut winter heating costs by 60 percent

Tuesday, September 24, 2013


City Light Reaching Out to Seniors, Income-Eligible Families

Before cold winter weather returns to the Seattle area and starts driving up heating costs, Seattle City Light is working to help income-eligible customers cut their utility bills by 60 percent.

“It can be tough enough to make ends meet on a limited income,” City Light Energy Delivery Officer Phil West said. “People shouldn’t have to choose between staying warm in the winter and buying groceries. We’re here to help.”

The Utility Discount Program helps seniors and income-qualified families by lowering rates on the electricity provided by Seattle City Light and services from Seattle Public Utilities, including water, sewer and garbage. The average annual savings on electricity for participants is $450.

About 13,500 customers are already participating. An estimated 20,000 others are eligible for reduced rates, but have not yet signed up for the program.

City Light has started several efforts to break down barriers to participation caused by language differences, cultural skepticism and the required documentation. Staff members are available to help customers with their applications. Staff will hold office hours in neighborhood service centers to answer questions, guide people through the process and accept applications. And a pilot program is being developed to reach out to East African communities and seniors.

Additionally, staff will offer home visits to participants to identify opportunities for reducing their energy consumption. Participants will receive energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, outlet gaskets, low-flow showerheads and referrals to the Homewise weatherization program and other resources. Visit the website, call 206-684-3417 or email for more information.


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City Light "advanced metering" forums seek customer comments

Tuesday, August 20, 2013



Seattle City Light will host the first of three community forums Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013 at Northgate regarding the utility’s plans to replace its aging electrical meters with advanced meters that will provide two-way communication.

The forums will be one of the ways customers can share their thoughts and ask questions about the new meters during this early phase of the initiative.

Forums will be held at Northgate, Seattle Center, and NewHolly.

North
Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Northgate Community Center – Multipurpose Room
10510 5th Ave NE

Downtown
Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Seattle Center – Shaw Room
305 Harrison St.
*Shaw Room is located on the corner of 1st Ave N and Republican St. (North of Key Arena)

South
Thursday, Sept. 26, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Seattle Housing Authority NewHolly – Gathering Hall
7054 32nd Ave S

Additionally, a website has been created where visitors can get information about the project and provide comments.

Opponents have expressed concerns about the extent of information gathered and the vulnerability of the system.


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Seattle City Light You Tube Channel now offers closed captioning

Friday, June 28, 2013


They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but Seattle City Light is taking it steps further by making your viewing experience that much better. City Light is offering closed captioning on all 57 videos posted on the Seattle City Light YouTube channel. The utility plans to continue adding closed captioning to all its future videos as well.

The City Light YouTube channel provides valuable information for customers about safety, a cleaner environment, community projects and even how to save money while using less energy. Through its videos, City Light hopes to add value, opportunity and enrichment to the lives of its customers.

“We strive to make changes that create an accepting environment for people of all backgrounds,” said Jorge Carrasco, Seattle City Light General Manager and Chief Executive Officer. “Closed captioning provides those with or without hearing disabilities the opportunity to obtain valuable information with ease.”

Closed captioning for YouTube videos is not a requirement of the American Disabilities Act (ADA).

Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States. It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents. City Light has been greenhouse gas neutral since 2005, the first electric utility in the nation to achieve that distinction.


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Seattle Light warns customers about scam

Friday, May 24, 2013

Seattle City Light is warning its customers to protect themselves against con artists who are using false threats of disconnecting electrical service in attempts to steal money.

Customers reported at least 15 scam attempts to City Light this week and other utilities in the Pacific Northwest have reported similar activity. In Seattle, the scammers appear to be targeting Asian small businesses.

The con works like this: A person claiming to work for the utility calls a customer and claims the account is overdue. The caller then threatens to cut off electricity service unless payment is made immediately.

One new twist in this old scam has the con artists seeking payment by pre-paid debit cards, which might not have the same fraud-detection features as a credit card.

“Awareness is the best defense against con artists,” Customer Service Director Kelly Enright said. “An immediate demand for payment is a red flag for fraud. Anyone who gets a call like this should get contact information then hang up and call the utility and police.”

Seattle City Light customer service representatives are available at 206-684-3000 to advise customers of their account status and answer any questions they might have.

Anyone who believes they have been contacted by a scam artist should report the incident to Shoreline Police at 206-296-3311.

Seattle City Light will not shut off a customer’s electricity for one late payment. Before a shut off is ordered, Seattle City Light will send the customer at least two written notifications.

Additionally, City Light has programs available for customers who are having trouble paying their electric bills, including a low-income rate assistance program where qualifying customers can save up to 60 percent. Information is available at 206-684-3417.


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Seattle City Light offers instant discounts on LED bulbs

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Residential Customers Can Save Up to $10 on Qualified Light Bulbs, Fixtures

Seattle City Light has added several light-emitting diode (LED) products to its Twist and Save discount program for energy efficient light bulbs and fixtures.

Through the program, City Light offers up to a $10 instant discount on select ENERGY STAR® qualified LED light bulbs and fixtures, in addition to discounts already offered on compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL).

ENERGY STAR® qualified LED bulbs are the most energy efficient lights you can buy, using 80 percent less energy while producing the same light output as a traditional incandescent bulb.  Additionally, ENERGY STAR LED bulbs have a life span of about 25,000 hours compared to incandescent bulbs which last only up to 1,000 hours. That translates to more than 22 years for an LED and less than a year for an incandescent, assuming 3 hours of use a day.

“Our customers have been telling us how much they like the new LED bulbs, but the higher initial cost has limited sales,” City Light Conservation Resources Director Glenn Atwood said. “Twist & Save discounts are designed to help people overcome the initial price barriers on emerging energy efficient technologies. We’re happy to now be able to offer them on a select number of LED products.”

There are many LED bulbs out on the market, however Seattle City Light is providing an instant discount only on frequently used bulbs such as the traditional A-lamp, reflector type bulb and PAR bulbs, that have the same brightness (lumen output) of an incandescent and which are dimmable.

Currently, Seattle City Light LED discounts are offered at seven local retailers: Bartell Drugs, Burien Ace, Costco, Home Depot, Mobile Electric, Sam’s Club and Pacific Supply.  Traditional A-lamp 60 watt replacements are carried at Bartell Drugs, Costco, Home Depot and Pacific Supply.  Residential customers may purchase a maximum of 10 LED bulbs and 4 LED recessed can fixtures. Discounted products are designated with the Seattle City Light logo.

The marketplace for LEDs is advancing rapidly. Two years ago there were few LED screw-in bulbs that matched the incandescent for light quality and output. Furthermore, LEDs were expensive – as much as $40 per bulb. This year, the average price of a 60 watt equivalent LED bulb is $25. As quality, variety and costs continue to improve, Seattle City Light expects to add more LED products to the Twist and Save program in upcoming months.

Which bulb should you buy?

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) still offer the most value for the dollar.  The cost of a CFL, after Seattle City Light’s instant discount, is less than $1 per bulb, while an LED is approximately $10 to $15 after the discount.  While an LED lasts much longer, the annual savings over a CFL is marginal.  However, an LED does have a host of benefits that make it superior to a CFL. Those benefits include: no mercury, no ultraviolet output, longer life and therefore fewer bulbs to replace, ability to dim at lower levels, and better performance in cold temperature environments.

Twist and Save discounts are applied instantly at the cash register when a customer makes a purchase. Seattle City Light will be hosting an outreach events at a number of retail partner locations to promote energy-efficient lighting and help answer customer questions about lighting choices. Locally:

    April 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Sam’s Club, 13550 Aurora Ave. N
    
More information about Seattle City Light’s discount and a list of participating retailers.

Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States.  It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents.  City Light has been greenhouse gas neutral since 2005, the first electric utility in the nation to achieve that distinction.


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City Light employees raise money for Project Share

Friday, February 22, 2013

Seattle City Light employees reward donors
with Borracchini's cupcakes
Photo courtesy Seattle City Light

Seattle City Light employees showed they care about those less fortunate in their communities during a Valentine’s Day fundraiser.

Seattle based-employees raised about $3,800 to support Project Share, an emergency assistance fund that provides one-time help paying utility bills for customers in financial distress. Project Share provided one-time emergency assistance to 911 people in 2012 worth a combined $223,000.

Donors who gave at least $5 were rewarded with a delicious cupcake from Rainier Beach-based Borracchini’s Bakery. Borracchini’s provided the cupcakes to the fundraising campaign at cost.

You can join in the 2013 Project Share Warm Hearts – Warm Homes campaign with an individual contribution or by rounding up your electricity bill to the next dollar. Learn more.

Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States. It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents. City Light has been greenhouse gas neutral since 2005, the first electric utility in the nation to achieve that distinction.


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59 utility poles in Lake Forest Park to be replaced

Tuesday, January 22, 2013


Lake Forest Park pole replacement starts February 4th

Seattle City Light’s contractor, Potelco, will be replacing fifty-nine aging utility poles in portions of Lake Forest Park beginning in February. Affected customers will be receiving a letter detailing the work. The project is necessary maintenance and will improve electrical reliability.

Besides installing the new poles, crews will relocate the old pole’s electrical wires to the new poles and replace equipment.

The start date for work is February 4, 2013 and the project should take six to eight weeks. Once the electrical equipment is relocated to the new poles it will take a few weeks for the other utility companies to make their transfer, so City Light can remove the old pole. City Light will monitor the situation to ensure the old poles are removed in a timely manner.


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Power outage in Echo Lake neighborhood

Wednesday, January 9, 2013


Residents of the Echo Lake Neighborhood will be finding out how good their back up batteries are in their alarm clocks Wednesday morning.

Power went out in most of this north - central Shoreline neighborhood about 11:45pm Tuesday night and was out for at least an hour for most residents.

As of 1:15am Wednesday, City Light reported five outages affecting 274 customers.

The cause is unknown at this time.


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Give twice this holiday with a Shrinking Bigfoot calendar

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Calendar cover

All sale proceeds benefit Project Share, an emergency utility fund

Seattle City Light's Shrinking Bigfoot 2013 Calendar is on sale and it is only $10. The best part: all sale proceeds benefit Project Share, an emergency utility fund to help customers in need.

Elementary students in grades 3-6 in the Seattle City Light service territory used their art and ideas to bring the community steps closer to shrinking our carbon footprints.

Calendars are available for $10 and may be purchased at:

  • Seattle City Light’s North Service Center, 1300 N. 97th Street
  • Seattle City Light’s South Service Center, 3613 4th Avenue S.
  • Seattle Municipal Tower, 42nd Floor, 700 Fifth Avenue
  • Seattle City Light’s website
Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States.  It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents.  City Light has been greenhouse gas neutral since 2005, the first electric utility in the nation to achieve that distinction.



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Seattle City Light putting extra crews on standby Sunday night

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Sunday, 10:41pm one outage, by Hamlin Park


Strong winds are predicted to blow through the Puget Sound area late Sunday night and into Monday morning, which could cause power outages.

Seattle City Light encourages its customers to prepare for this possibility. Have flashlights with fresh batteries available, charge cell phones and have extra layers of warm clothing or blankets handy.

If outages do occur, call 206-684-7400 to report them and visit City Light or City Light mobile site  for outage information. Additional preparedness tips are available here.


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City Light has $5 million to help businesses increase their efficiency

Friday, November 23, 2012

Savings from Energy Efficiency Can Make Big Difference in Sluggish Economy

As a sluggish economy grinds along, many businesses that have been monitoring investments closely should take another look at energy efficiency opportunities.

Seattle City Light still has $5 million available to help companies that want to reduce their electricity consumption with efficiency projects they install this year.

“Helping businesses use less electricity to meet their needs, lowers their operating costs and reduces the pressure on Seattle City Light to acquire additional energy resources to meet growing demand,” Conservation Resources Director Glenn Atwood said. “Being more effective with the energy we have is not only good for the environment, it’s more affordable for the utility and its customer-owners too.”

Seattle City Light has energy efficiency incentives for large and small businesses. For medium to large projects, incentives average $22,000. That up-front savings can dramatically shorten the payback time from the energy savings the business will achieve for years to come.

Even small projects can make a big difference.

In Burien, Car Club retrofitted the lighting in its car lot, sales office and detail shop with the help of about $17,000 in incentives from City Light. Those changes cut the auto dealership’s electricity bills in half.

"In this tough economy I had a hard time spending money on a lighting upgrade for our Burien store, but am really jazzed that I did because I am now saving 50 percent on our energy bill," Owner Darren "Buddy" Ryan said.

With winter right around the corner, energy use for heating and lighting is rising. That makes it a good time to improve the efficiency of buildings and equipment. City Light Conservation Resources staff are available to help businesses identify savings opportunities and get those changes made quickly.

An Energy Advisor can help businesses determine if they are eligible for incentives and analysts can estimate what those incentives might be. Contact an Energy Advisor at (206) 684-3800.

Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States. It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents. City Light has been greenhouse gas neutral since 2005, the first electric utility in the nation to achieve that distinction.

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