Powerlines Blog Seattle City Light

Powerlines

News and Updates from Seattle City Light

Seattle City (spot)Light: Casey Langlois, Senior Power Dispatcher

by

The Basics
Years of Service: 10
Division: Utility Operations & Engineering
Role: Currently I am a senior power dispatcher, assigned outage coordinator. I schedule and plan many of the outages associated with the utility’s distribution, transmission and generational facilities. I like my job because I get to be more involved with the field crews daily, from facilitating simple requests to being a voice for the System Operations Center on what is feasible for larger outages and how it impacts system reliability. I also enjoy the fast pace and challenging atmosphere the outage office provides.

Background
Hometown: Renton Highlands, Wash.
Alma Mater: Volunteer Fire Academy at Skyway and Construction Industry Training Council of Washington (CITC)
Discipline/Trade of Study: Initially, I had aspirations to become a firefighter or lineworker. I began by studying for my fire science degree while in the volunteer fire academy at Skyway. My path shifted as I accepted an apprenticeship with Keithly Electric to obtain my electrical license. Before I got into the lineworker apprenticeship at Seattle City Light, I was attending CITC in Bellevue as a part of the apprenticeship. That apprenticeship was cut short as I ventured onto a lineworker apprenticeship at Seattle City Light and eventually became a lineworker in the south end.
Tell us about your family: Both my wife Mariko and I are from the Northwest, born and raised in Washington. We’ve been married going on eight years this August. We share our two-and-a-half-year-old son Leon who keeps us busy with his everyday escapades – and we are expecting another boy in May of 2021! My wife loves her career as a dental hygienist; I’d say we both have careers we really enjoy and that will keep us in the area for a very long time. We both have immediate family in the area that we enjoy spending time with; our roots are very well established here in the Seattle area.

My father worked 30-plus years with Seattle Public Utilities, and I saw the way his job provided for his family…I wanted the same thing for my family and that brought me to the utility.

Just for Fun
Where do you currently live and what’s something you love about the area? I live in in the Renton Highlands with my wife and our son Leon. I love this area because of its central location to everything the Seattle region has to offer, from the snow at Crystal, Snoqualmie and Stevens to the countless hikes, and beautiful scenery and immediate family that still resides here.

What is one of your favorite activities and one you’d like to get out and do more of? My favorite activity by far is being with my family and watching our son learn new things and develop new interests. My wife and I really love to travel. Some of our favorite places are Hawaii and California, really anywhere there’s ocean and sun. We love to stay busy with activities such as hikes, trips to the zoo, snow adventures, and sports events. I also like to get out on the golf course when I have time.

What is something most people don’t know about you? Oh, I don’t know!! Haha…I guess that I enjoy extreme situations. I’ve been skydiving and really loved it, though I don’t think I’d ever try bungee jumping. Something about having big rubber bands strapped to your ankles and jumping off a bridge or a cliff doesn’t appeal to me! I’d rather jump out of an airplane!

What do you enjoy most about working at City Light? I enjoy a lot of things about working at the utility, the friendships between my co-workers and the experiences we’ve shared in the field and in the office. The fact that I am able to provide for my family with my career and the ability to work in the same city that my family has a history of serving in is a great feeling.

Arbor Day in the PNW: Spring Planning, Fall Planting

by

Western Hemlock tree
Western hemlock – Washington’s state tree (photo by Ben Legler)

Happy Arbor Day! Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are fond of trees. The lush greenery all around is one of the reasons we love living here. City Light was even named a 2021 Tree Line USA® utility by the Arbor Day Foundation!

Although the warming temperatures and cloudless skies may have you eager to run out and plant a tree this Arbor Day, did you know that spring is actually NOT a good time for planting trees where we live? Here in the Pacific Northwest temperate region, fall is the best time for planting trees. That’s why the tree experts on our Vegetation Management staff recommend “Spring Planning, Fall Planting.”

Now that the rainy days of winter have passed, this is an excellent time to scope out a prime spot for planting a tree in the fall. There are many factors to consider when assessing the site of a new tree:

  • Consider the proximity of overhead and underground utility lines, along with the room for the tree’s mature size.
  • When looking for a place to plant a tree, look up, down and around. That cute little Douglas Fir tree may eventually grow up to 80 feet tall!
  • If you have the space, there are many benefits to big trees, like increased stormwater retention.
  • Strategically placed deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in the winter) can improve your home’s energy efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, trees can maximize the amount of shade in the summer and sun in the winter.

For more tip-top tree tips from our Vegetation Management folks, visit the Safe Tree Planting and Landscaping Tips page on our website.

Seattle City (spot)Light: Walker Dodson, Energy Management Analyst Assistant

by

The Basics
Years of Service: Five-plus
Division: Energy Innovation & Resources
Role: I work with customers and contractors to make homes and businesses energy efficient by securing rebates and incentives for energy conservation measures. This is a really unique position as it provides an opportunity for a positive interaction with our customer base while working to meet carbon reduction goals and comply with state mandated energy efficiency laws. Another aspect of my work that I enjoy is working in the field, conducting verification site visits where I meet face-to-face with our customers and trade allies. I am also a member of the RSJI Change Team and a shop steward for PTE17. I participated in the collective bargaining negotiation process and recently completed City Light’s Emerging Leaders program.

Background
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Alma Mater: Edmonds Community College and South Seattle College
Discipline/Trade of Study: I studied energy management at Edmonds Community College and earned a bachelor of arts and science degree in sustainable building science and technology from South Seattle College.  
Tell us about your family: My family has strong ties to this region. My maternal great-great-grandmother acquired land on Whidbey Island back in 1943 which is still enjoyed by the seventh generation of extended family members. My wife’s father purchased nearly 40 acres in Oregon back in the 80s, a treasure in the foothills on the outskirts of the Willamette Valley. I’ve inherited the joys and the responsibilities of these lands and never have much problem deciding what to do with my vacation time!

A before-and-after of Walker Dodson’s 2020 hair-growth teleworking journey.

Just for Fun
Where do you currently live and what’s something you love about the area? In October of 2019, my family moved onto 10 acres of forested land on Vashon Island. I love the rural lifestyle of Vashon (but do not recommend moving just before the onset of a global pandemic!) and enjoy driving by livestock, visiting the many farm stands selling fresh produce and eggs, and passing the occasional tractor on the highway on the way to our modest town. The ferry terminals on the north and south end of the island offer easy access to Seattle, Tacoma and the Olympic Peninsula, which are great options for day trips and further exploration of the Northwest.

What is one of your favorite activities and one you’d like to get out and do more of? I am a devout “do-it-yourselfer” and have quite the checklist of completed projects over the past year of social distancing, from replacing a water heater and dishwasher to installing a new fireplace and water softening system. My first COVID project was to punch a hole through our foundation to install an exterior door to our basement. I have kept busy during lockdown! Working from home has eliminated three hours per day of commute time, which has given me more time for projects and to spend with my family. Also, we love the outdoors and take advantage of the many state parks, campgrounds, and national forests, camping with our two dogs. In the past, I was an avid whitewater rafter, having floated the Grand Canyon and many of the rivers of the Northwest, but it has been a few years, so I intend to get back on the water in 2021!

What brought you to City Light? I guess you could say, it’s in my blood. Both my grandfather and great-grandfather were City of Seattle employees. My great-grandfather was active in politics and helped form Local 17, the same union that represents most City employees today. My grandfather built many of the roads that run through this great city, working for SDOT in the 1960s. My wife and I are the keepers of my family archives and recently discovered numerous city artifacts documenting my forebears’ fingerprints left on the history of the city as it grew from a young town.

Escalent Names Seattle City Light a 2021 Environmental Champion

by

Each Earth Day, Escalent, a top human behavior and analytics firm, evaluates and ranks utilities on Environmental Dedication, determining which utilities are considered Environmental Champions. This year, Seattle City Light joined 31 utilities recognized as 2021 Environmental Champions. City Light, one of eight western electric utilities recognized, scored 726 points out of a 1,000-point maximum scale. These and other findings are based on the Cogent Syndicated 2021 Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential study.  

“Utilities are raising the bar on being champions of the environment as their customers learn more about climate change,” said Chris Oberle, senior vice president at Escalent. “Consumer demand for utility efforts and offerings that help protect the environment is increasing every year. Our Environmental Champion utilities are proving to customers they are up to the challenge.”  

According to the study, consumers cited significant improvements from utilities nationally to support environmental causes and dedication to clean energy resources. City Light Chief Environmental Officer Tom DeBoer believes that this support is critical to the future of the utility industry itself. 

“City Light’s commitment to providing its customers with affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy has been a cornerstone of our utility for more than a century,” said City Light Chief Environmental Officer Tom DeBoer. “In addition to direct impacts on health and quality of life, the effects of climate change are detrimental to how utilities operate and our ability to maintain safe, affordable and reliable service. We are proud to be recognized as an example of how utilities can serve, while also protecting and preserving the environment for future generations.”   

Escalent conducted surveys among 74,224 residential electric, natural gas and combination utility customers of the 140 largest US utility companies (based on residential customer counts). The sample design uses a combination of quotas and weighting based on US census data to ensure a demographically balanced sample of each evaluated utility’s customers based on age, gender, income, race and ethnicity. Utilities within the same region and of the same type (e.g., electric-only providers) are given equal weight to balance the influence of each utility’s customers on survey results. The Environmental Dedication index score is a composite based upon consumer ratings provided across five survey questions. 

About Escalent 
Escalent is a top human behavior and analytics firm specializing in industries facing disruption and business transformation. As catalysts of progress for more than 40 years, we tell stories that transform data and insight into a profound understanding of what drives human beings. And we help businesses turn those drivers into actions that build brands, enhance customer experiences and inspire product innovation. Visit escalent.co to see how we are helping shape the brands that are reshaping the world. 

About City Light   
Seattle City Light, one of the nation’s largest publicly owned utilities, generates and delivers affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible power to the homes, businesses, and communities we serve. We provide carbon-neutral electricity, generated primarily from carbon-free hydropower, to over 900,000 residents in Seattle and the surrounding areas.    

We Power Seattle – Stewards of Our Planet

by

For more than 50 years people around the globe have celebrated Earth Day on April 22. Today, we celebrate with more than a billion people in nearly 200 countries, highlighting the environment and the importance of building a healthy, sustainable planet. 

While City Light has delivered renewable hydropower for more than a century and we have the longest-running energy conservation program in the nation, our stewardship of the environment requires a daily focus. Our commitment is reflected in our core values and honored through the City of Seattle’s Resolution 30144, enacted in 2000 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Earth Day. It is our duty and our greatest source of pride to provide our customers with clean, affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy services. And that duty continues to test us in new ways, from the economic impacts of the pandemic to the environmental and socio-economic challenges posed by climate change.

We protect and improve the environment by producing clean renewable energy and through programs targeted at salmon recovery and wildlife habitat enhancement along our power lines. And our stewardship extends beyond the natural environment to include preserving cultural resources and legacies, ensuring equity in our energy planning, and addressing environmental justice by identifying and targeting benefits to underserved communities.

Last week, City Light earned a spot on the nonprofit Smart Electric Power Alliance’s (SEPA) 2021 Utility Transformation Leaderboard for our efforts to embrace the transition to a clean and modern energy future.

We must build on this record through key activities such as transportation electrification to decarbonize the transportation sector and grid modernization to build the grid as a platform to enable sustainable energy choices in partnership with our customers and communities.

Our transportation system is responsible for 60% of Seattle’s climate pollution. Last fall, the Seattle City Council passed City Light’s Transportation Electrification Strategic Investment Plan (TESIP) – an important step in committing resources and making investments to enable a once-in-a-century transformation of the Seattle area’s transportation ecosystem.

Based on community feedback, the plan sets the priorities for future transportation electrification programs and services and describes how the utility will bolster and modernize our electric grid to enable public transit charging, support freight and commercial fleets, and provide flexibility for personal mobility.

For instance, City Light is working with key partners such as King County Metro and Washington State Ferries to study, plan for, and build the necessary electrical infrastructure to support public transit electrification. Accessible electrified public transit was identified as a top priority for both community leaders and stakeholder groups. Electrifying buses will benefit communities that rely most on public transit and will reduce air and noise pollution where impacts are greatest.

In the last year, we’ve installed several new public electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers in the city and opened an EV charging station in Tukwila in January. By the end of the year, City Light will have more than 26 EV fast chargers operating throughout our service area, delivering community-focused transportation solutions that meet customer needs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease air pollution.

Finally, with a focus on grid modernization, City Light is preparing the grid for a fully electrified future—including the electrification of transportation and buildings—and helping position the region to withstand growing climate impacts. We are focused on technology investments that enable our energy generation, transmission, and distribution systems to automatically adjust to changing conditions—whether for outage response, the utilization of distributed energy resources, or enhanced power management.

Thanks to your commitment and contributions, we are redefining electricity services. With your help we will continue to lead the way to a healthy future that is pollution-free, equitable, and sustainable, protecting and preserving the environment for today and for future generations!

April is Native Plant Appreciation Month

by

April is Native Plant Appreciation Month, so to help celebrate, here are some quick facts about native plants and why they deserve your attention.

What is a native plant?

According to the National Wildlife Federation, native plants are plants that “occur naturally in a particular region region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.” Native plants are uniquely adapted to the temperature, humidity, soil, and weather of the region where they originated.

Sword fern (Photo by Ben Legler)

Why are native plants important?

Because native plants are designed to thrive in our region, they benefit the entire ecosystem. They attract and sustain animals that are also native to the area, providing them with food and shelter. They help prevent flooding, drought, and erosion of the land, as they slow runoff and their root systems hold the soil.

Red huckleberry (photo by Ben Legler)

Why should I garden with native plants?

Native plants are beautiful and tough, and they bring the sights and sounds of wildlife to your garden. They have a better chance of thriving with less labor. Native plants require fewer pesticides than non-native plants and need less fertilizer and water than lawns do.

Camas (photo by Walter Siegmund via Wikimedia Commons)

What is “Native Plant Appreciation Month”?

Native Plant Appreciation Month is a yearly opportunity to educate the community about the benefits of cultivating and preserving native plants. Washington State celebrates Native Plant Appreciation Month in April, and this year’s theme is “Native Pollinators Need Native Plants.”

In 2021, the U.S. Senate passed Resolution 109 proclaiming April 2021 National Native Plant Month. According to this Resolution, “more than 200 of the native plant species in the United States are estimated to have been lost since the early 19th century” due to “habitat loss and degradation, extreme weather events, and invasive species.”

Western hemlock – Washington’s state tree (photo by Ben Legler)

What are some examples of plants native to the Puget Sound region?

Camas, cedars, huckleberries, monkey flowers, ocean sprays, Pacific yews, sword ferns, and western hemlocks, just to name a few.

Where can I learn more about native plants?

5 Tips to Combat Climate Change

by

At Seattle City Light, combating the climate crisis starts with delivering carbon-neutral, renewable energy while protecting the environment. City Light is engaged in preparing for climate change to ensure that we can continue to provide safe, reliable, affordable and clean electrical services to our customers. Here are some ways that customers can prepare to be climate-resilient.

  • Home Energy Solutions: City Light offers energy and money-saving tips for homeowners and renters that help you reduce electricity, lower your bills and protect the environment. Saving energy at home also allows the utility to save from building new energy generation, which helps keep your electricity rates low.
  • Drive an Electric Vehicle: Electric vehicles (EVs) are available with the same features and accessories as gas-powered cars but use electric motors with rechargeable batteries freeing your drive from fossil fuels. They are a critical step toward reducing carbon emissions and are particularly popular in the Seattle area because EV owners benefit from City Light’s clean, affordable electricity. City Light is also installing fast public charging stations across the utility’s service area to provide access to charging infrastructure in our communities.
  • Plant a Tree: Trees provide shade, absorb water and stabilize the soil. Make your neighborhood healthier and more beautiful by planting a tree.
  • Make an Emergency Plan: Weather can be unpredictable, so be ready for an emergency with a kit and a plan.
  • Renewable Energy Credits: Join our voluntary Green Up program that supports Pacific Northwest wind, solar and other renewable energy projects generating carbon-free energy. When you participate in Green Up, we purchase regional renewable energy credits (RECs) on your behalf and fund local projects (like rooftop solar) hosted by not-for-profits and public organizations like affordable housing, schools and parks.

City Light cares about the environment and is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and preserving it for future generations. Read more on our latest efforts:

Seattle City Light Recognized for Progress toward Clean Energy Future

by

Today, the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), a nonprofit organization that envisions a carbon-free energy system, announced that Seattle City Light has earned a spot in its 2021 Utility Transformation Leaderboard. The recognition results from City Light’s participation in SEPA’s Utility Transformation Challenge—a comprehensive, honest assessment of U.S. electric utilities’ efforts to embrace the transition to a clean and modern energy future. 

The evaluation framework analyzed six individual surveys designed to capture meaningful utility progress across key areas covering transformation in infrastructure, programs, strategy and operations. SEPA received survey responses from 135 individual utilities, representing more than 83 million customer accounts, or approximately 63% of all U.S. electric customer accounts.  

“Seattle City Light stands out due to its comprehensive efforts to transition to a carbon-free energy future, and most importantly, its results,” said SEPA President and CEO Julia Hamm. “The transformation to a clean and modern energy system involves much more than clean energy generation; it will require changes to almost every part of a utility’s business. We applaud Seattle City Light for its progress and recognize that much work remains. The world does not have the luxury of time on carbon reduction.”  

“We are honored to be a part of SEPA’s Utility Transformation Challenge,” City Light General Manager and CEO Debra Smith said. “I think we all recognize the need to transform is a constant in our lives, businesses, and society. Creating a carbon-free energy system is never truly complete. City Light will continue to lead these efforts as our region moves toward a cleaner energy future.”  

City Light continues to develop and implement large-scale projects to curb the region’s carbon emissions, leveraging the utility’s carbon-neutral electricity while increasing the reliability and resilience of the grid itself. Current key efforts include:  

Transportation Electrification Strategic Investment Plan (TESIP): Last fall, Seattle City Council passed City Light’s TESIP, an important step in committing resources and making investments to modernize its electric grid and enable a once-in-a-century transformation of the Seattle area’s transportation ecosystem. The plan uses feedback we have received from the communities we serve to set the priorities for future transportation electrification programs and services and describes how the utility will bolster and modernize our electric grid to enable public transit charging, support freight and commercial fleets and provide flexibility for personal mobility. The TESIP  was created with a focus on and will remain centered on three key values: equity, environment and the grid.  

Grid Modernization Plan: City Light recently finalized its Grid Modernization Plan and Roadmap to support the key operational objectives of affordability and reliability, while developing the skills and technologies necessary to enable increased customer electrification and improve grid resiliency and security. The plan showcases and identifies specific grid modernization work for the next two years, as well as laying the foundation of five-year and 10-year goals. The projects span across planning, operations, supporting technologies, and physical infrastructure upgrades and will prepare the grid for our electrified future 

 The 2021 Utility Transformation Profile report and Utility Transformation Leaderboard are available here. Download the executive summary here. View frequently asked questions here. Watch a recording of the launch event here. 

About City Light  
Seattle City Light, one of the nation’s largest publicly owned utilities, generates and delivers affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible power to the homes, businesses, and communities we serve. We provide carbon-neutral electricity, generated primarily from carbon-free hydropower, to over 900,000 residents in Seattle and the surrounding areas.  

Seattle City Light Named 2021 Tree Line USA Utility by Arbor Day Foundation

by

The Arbor Day Foundation has named Seattle City Light a 2021 Tree Line USA® utility in honor of its commitment to proper tree pruning, planting and care in the provider’s service area.

Tree Line USA, a partnership between the Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, recognizes public and private utilities for pursuing practices that protect and enhance America’s urban trees. Tree Line USA promotes the dual goals of delivering safe and reliable electricity while maintaining healthy community forests.

“Trees are a critical part of urban landscapes all across the United States,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “They provide important benefits to residents, including clean air, clean water and a tolerable climate. Service providers like Seattle City Light demonstrate that it’s possible for trees and utilities to co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens.”

Seattle City Light achieved Tree Line USA by meeting five program standards. Utilities must:

  • Follow industry standards for quality tree care;
  • Provide annual worker training in best tree care practices;
  • Sponsor a tree planting and public education program;
  • Maintain a tree-based energy conservation program; and
  • Participate in an Arbor Day celebration.

More information about Tree Line USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeLineUSA. Learn more about City Light Vegetation Management on our website.

Virtual Town Hall: City Light 2022-2026 Strategic Plan

by

Seattle City Light’s Strategic Plan is a comprehensive roadmap that plots a course from where we are today to where we want to be in the future. To adjust for changes to the landscape along the way, we update the Strategic Plan every two years to ensure that the plan stays relevant.

City Light leadership has been working with our City Light Review Panel to shape five high-level Business Strategies that will provide the structure for our 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. On Thursday, April 15, we are holding a Virtual Town Hall meeting to present these priorities for the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan and hear your input on where you think we should focus our efforts in the future.

The Town Hall will begin with a presentation led by Debra Smith, City Light General Manager and CEO, and then we will open up the floor for questions and conversation with the audience. To get a preview of the plan, view our 2022-2026 City Light Strategic Plan Executive Summary.

Event Details

WHAT: Virtual Town Hall: City Light 2022-2026 Strategic Plan
WHEN: Thursday, April 15, 2021 | 6:00-7:30 pm
WHERE: Join online via Webex

To join the event on the 15th, click the link in the box above or use one of these other ways of joining:

Join by event number
Event number (access code): 187 270 6754
Event password: s4FJWbF5yj5

Audio conference information
To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the event, or call the number below and enter the access code.
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

Join from a video system or application
Dial 1872706754@seattle.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.