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News and Updates from Seattle City Light

5 Ways City Light Goes Green

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With more than 40 years of conservation programs, a long history of producing clean hydropower and a zero-carbon footprint, City Light strives to be the Nation’s Greenest Utility.  In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here are five ways our utility and customers go green!

1. Weatherizing Homes to Save Energy

For low-income families living in older homes, money could be leaking out of the cracks. To help support these families, we’ve partnered with the Seattle Department of Housing for the HomeWise Weatherization Program which provides free energy efficiency improvements to qualified homes, increasing comfort and saving money. Before we go green, we have to go a little blue with Seahawks super fan Mama Blue! Last year, we helped weatherize our favorite fan’s home. Check out our video featuring the legend herself!

2. Supporting Businesses with Green Up

City Light’s Green Up program gives our customers the opportunity to help grow the renewable energy market in our region, by supporting the businesses who provide that energy. Your participation also supports local renewable energy education and demonstration projects. By simply add $3, $6 or $12 to your bill per month, you can help us create a cleaner, greener world for the next generation. Click here to learn more about Green Up!

3. We Love Hydropower!

Diablo Dam in the Skagit Hydroelectric Project

City Light has generated hydroelectricity for more than 100 years starting with our first facility in Cedar Falls in 1904! Since then, we have expanded our facilities throughout Washington state from the robust Boundary Hydroelectric Project in the northeast to the three power-generating dams of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project nestled under the peaks of the North Cascades National Park. In fact, 91 percent of the power used by City Light customers is generated by hydro.

Did you know that you can even tour our hydroelectric facilities? Click here to learn more!

4. Rebates and Incentives

Regardless of whether you rent or own your home, City Light provides multiple incentives and rebates to keep you and your family energy efficient. City Light offers instant discounts on LED lightbulbs (at participating retailers across our service area) and rebates on appliances including water heaters and heating and cooling systems, just to name a few. Find out more about our energy saving incentives on our Energy Solutions site!

5. Protecting Vital Habitats

Salmon along the banks of the Skagit River

In keeping with our value of environmental stewardship, we are committed to enhancing, protecting and preserving the environment in which we operate. As part of the Puget Sound Chinook Recovery Plan, City Light has purchased nearly 1,200 acres of land near and along crucial watersheds and wetlands to revitalize these habitats to protect Chinook salmon spawning areas

Most properties need some initial work, such as removing invasive species and planting in areas that should have a denser canopy cover. Once the work is complete, nature takes over. Through the acquisition of these critical areas, particularly those that include spawning and rearing habitat, City Light preserves these lands and keeps crucial streams and rivers clean and cool for years to come.

In 2018, City Light, in partnership with the Skagit Land Trust, received a $1.6 million grant to purchase 100 acres to continue this important work. Last month, City Light’s efforts were highlighted by the American Public Power Association. Click here to read the article. 

 

To learn more about City Light’s efforts to go green, visit seattle.gov/light/enviro.

Seattle City (spot)Light: Meghan Pinch

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Meghan Pinch has been at City Light for seven years. She’s part of Customer Energy Solutions (CES) where she works as a Business Transformation Strategic Advisor. “I’m helping reposition CES to be more nimble, agile and responsive to emerging energy efficiency technologies and evolving customer needs,” Meghan explained. “I’m also leading the CES culture change initiative – a multi-year effort that will enable us to fulfill our division’s Mission Vision and Values.”

Meghan grew up in Spokane and came to Seattle to pursue her undergrad in Jewish Studies at the University of Washington (UW). After college, she lived in the Bay Area, Whitefish and Jackson Hole before returning to UW to receive a master’s degree in Urban Planning. She lives in Rainier Beach with her husband and two children – her daughter Addie (four-years) and son Oren (18-months).

In this week’s (spot)Light, Meghan talks about life in Rainer Beach, her interests and what she enjoys about City Light.

Meghan with her family

“I love Rainier Beach – its history, sense of community, diversity and plentiful open space! We live next to the Chief Sealth Trail, a beautiful pathway (under City Light power lines!) with great views of Mt. Rainier and downtown. We take family walks along the trail; it’s a great way for my kids to explore! Before I had children, I helped launch the Rainier Beach Urban Farm, and now Addie attends pre-school next door. They often go on exploratory adventures to the farm. There is also a horse farm behind us, and we see people riding horses on the trail. Oren loves airplane spotting at Boeing Field just over the hill.”

“I love to ski and ride bikes. Before I had children, I did cyclocross and mountain bike racing as a member of a local cycling team. These days I’m busy teaching my kids to ski. I also sneak in knitting and quilting when I can. In warmer months, we do a lot of outdoor activities like camping and fishing. I also love to garden but am figuring out how to fit it in with the general chaos of our kids and pets!”

“My CES colleagues are fantastic and are a favorite part of my job. In the past two years, we’ve better aligned our programs with our strategic goals. We’ve also designed and implemented a new framework to govern program development, portfolio decisions and resource allocation. We spent the last year developing a Blueprint for Culture Change and held training practice to create a more respectful workplace. This year, we’re implementing the Blueprint. So far, we’ve engaged our leadership team with training in conflict management, inclusive leadership and have put a strong focus on effective performance reviews. Looking ahead, we plan to conduct training and practice in conflict management.”

“There is so much I value working at City Light. I appreciate the family friendly culture. I also love the people. I’m continually amazed by my colleagues, their commitment and how we work together to do new, innovative things. City Light has been a great place for career growth. I’m not sure I would have seen myself in my current role 7 years ago; it wasn’t really on my radar. However, I’ve really enjoyed this job and have been given a great opportunity to develop the skills required to do this work.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Robert Mahoney

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Robert Mahoney started his City Light career in 2013. From consultant role to temporary position, he’s now a full-time employee in the Power Supply business unit. “I’m the Operational Technology Program Manager for the Power Systems Automation Group,” Robert explained. “I manage the scope, schedule and budget – for most of the projects that come out of our group.  Right now, we’re implementing the Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) and working on new trading and risk management systems, business processes and training employees on the new tools. We’re currently   focused mostly on software.”

Rob grew up in the Boston area where he pursued his education at local institutions. He graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering and later earned an MBA on organizational behavior from Suffolk University in Boston.

Rob lives in Bothell with his wife Erica and their two daughters, Emily (five years old) and Makenna (two years old). In this week’s (spot)Light, Rob talks about his hometown, hobbies and life in the Northwest.

Rob with his family

“I interned at my local utility during my sophomore year of college and it just kind of stuck. I enjoy knowing how much work goes into something simple as turning the lights on. At utilities we figure out how to generate, transmit and distribute electricity especially around certain constraints and congestion. It’s a fun, complex problem to solve.”

“I grew up in Rockland, Massachusetts which is halfway between Boston and Cape Cod. I lived there for 27 years and met my wife in Boston. At the time I was working at National Grid during the day and the door at comedy club at night. She grew up near Portland but went to school in upstate New York. She always wanted to move back to the Northwest.  We’ve been here for about 8 years but enjoy traveling back east as often as we can.

“I enjoy the Northwest. The views here are amazing. The mountains, the trees, the ability not to have snow, but have the option to experience it in the winter whenever you want. That’s something I don’t miss about New England – the frigid cold temps. The weather here is great. I don’t think there is a better place to be than Seattle in the summertime. But even though I live here, I still root for my Boston teams. I’m a total Red Sox, Bruins and Patriots fan.”

“We have two kids and do a lot of hiking and exploring different parks. I think that’s another thing that’s unique to the Northwest. Our kids keep us busy; there is always gymnastics, soccer or some activity going on. Something that most people don’t know about me is that I love musicals, if I’m working with my headphones it is it probably Wicked or Hamilton. I also enjoy archery, it’s something I tried it as a team building activity when I was consultant and I really liked it! I’ve been doing it for nearly four years. It’s fun, precise and incredibly calming to me. I never thought it would be something that I do in life, but I’ve completely taken to it. My oldest daughter also enjoys it, so we do that together in our backyard.”

Seattle City Light Contact Voltage Survey Results

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In late 2018, Seattle City Light completed its ninth consecutive year conducting contact voltage testing. With the help of Power Survey Company, City Light was able to identify and repair 17 instances, 10 City Light-owned and seven privately-owned systems, where metal structures or equipment were improperly energized with at least 30 volts of electricity. These instances were responded to and repaired immediately after being discovered. Power Survey Company supports the testing by calculating survey routes to ensure area coverage and using their mobile detection program to detect and log the events. This year’s findings were slightly fewer than those in 2017, when 18 instances were discovered by this survey testing. Testing in 2018 also identified 12 instances of contact voltage of less than 30 volts, which were also responded to and either repaired or de-energized. Over the nine years of survey testing, no accidents or injuries have resulted from this method of testing.

Contact voltage events can be the result of many factors, including weather, improper installation, aging infrastructure and corrosion. City Light’s contact voltage testing and response is a demonstration of the utility’s commitment to safety, both for the public and for its employees. Surveying for contact voltage events can also help increase power quality and decrease vault fires. To continue to address these matters, City Light is working to strategically refurbish and replace infrastructure as outlined by a 10-year horizon plan.

With Seattle’s recent weather, it is important to note that most cases of contact voltage occur in the winter months when weather can be a factor. You can keep yourself and your loved ones safe by taking these tips into account:

  1. When walking your pet, be aware if your pet acts strangely around any potentially energized metal equipment.
  2. Don’t tie your pet’s leash to a streetlight or near a handhole.
  3. Avoid contact with metal equipment that could be energized.
  4. Report any streetlights that remain on during the day or that are flickering during the evening. This could indicate a problem.
  5. To report a malfunctioning streetlight or a streetlight that is out, go to seattle.gov/light/streetlight.

You can read the full report here.

City Light’s Wildlife Research Program Recognized for Research on the American Pika

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The American Pika (credit J.D. Anderson)

City Light’s Skagit River Hydroelectric Project Wildlife Research Program is producing new information on a species in the North Cascades: the American Pika. The American Pika (pictured above), a diurnal species closely related to rabbits, is found in the mountains of western North America and lives in the boulder fields and talus near the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project. Pikas eat grasses and herbs that grow along the edges of these rocky areas and cut and stockpile plant material in rock crevices by “haying” during the summer and then eat it during winter. They are arguably one of the cutest (if not the cutest) mammals in Washington. If you are ever hiking near talus slopes, listen for their distinctive “Eeeep” alarm call. They also use snow to protect themselves from cold.

Wildlife researchers have focused much recent attention on this species because they are sensitive to climate change effects on temperature and winter precipitation patterns—unlike other species of wildlife that adapt to warming by moving northward or to higher elevations, pikas have minimal options. A recent research project funded by the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project Wildlife Research Program is helping shed more light on how this species is being affected by climate change. Researchers with the U.S. Geologic Survey and the National Park Service just had their research entitled “Snow Drought and Pikas: Ecological Consequences of Anomalies in Atmospheric Moisture and Snowpack” accepted for publication in the prestigious scientific journal “Ecology.” Their study looked at more than eight years of data collected in the North Cascades.  The study found that extreme events such as snow drought resulting from climate change have effects and that the pika population response to snowpack drought varied among different elevation bands. Pikas were affected by cold stress without snowpack at mid-elevations, whereas a change to their food was influential at high and low elevations.

The WRP is an element of City Light’s federal license for operating the Skagit River Project that calls on the utility to collaborate with resource and land management agencies to select and fund original wildlife research projects in the North Cascades to improve the information available for future management. Since 1999, City Light has awarded 54 different grants, totaling more than $2 million.

In addition to several Pika research projects, the Wildlife Research Program has funded research on elk, deer, mountain goats, bears, cougars, Canada lynx, wolverines, wolves, terrestrial and aquatic insects, salamanders, frogs and cottonwood ecology. The program is a prime example of how City Light strives to be a good steward of the natural resources that our electricity generation effects.

Seattle City (spot)Light: Brynne Taylor

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Brynne Taylor will celebrate one year at City Light on Feb. 26. As part of the Transmission & Distribution Operations unit, Brynne manages electronic equipment for our field workers. “I work in the radio shop and maintain all the radios and accessories for the big trucks at our North and South Service Center,” Brynne explained. “I also perform manual labor, work on fiber optics and troubleshoot issues – anything that has to do with monitoring equipment and transporting it back to the System Operations Center (SOC).”

Brynne was born and raised in Georgia. She ended up in Washington after serving six years in the U.S. Navy as an electronic technician. “I always tell people that this is where the ship dropped me off,” she said with a laugh. She lives in Bothell where she’s resided more than 20 years.

In this week’s (spot)Light, Brynne talks about her hobbies and what sparked her interest in this field.

Brynne sportin’ her scooter collection

“I’ve always been kind of a tomboy and have liked electronics. I was the one who took the radio or TV apart to see what was inside. I wanted to know how things worked. It was interesting to pull things apart and see how these devices talk to each other from miles away. I wouldn’t want to do anything else and I’m not sure anything else would interest me as much. I would miss it. Even when I leave work, I go home and tinker with electronic things around the house. I love it.”

“Most people at the shop know this, but I’m big into scooters. I own five. I get a little bummed when the winter comes, and it rains because I have to ride in a car! It’s just a love of scooters. People tell me that I could buy a motorcycle with what I’ve spent on scooters and that’s just missing the point. It’s not a matter of being on two wheels – it’s the scooter itself. I’ve always been in love with the old British movies and watching people zip around – especially with a guy and a girl off on some great adventure. I always thought it was romantic. I’m not into big motorbikes and things that are tough. It’s just the cuteness of scooters.”

“Growing up in Atlanta, I was a Falcons fan, but I also loved the Seahawks. I think it was the colors and the helmets! I decided that my favorite vacation would be to take a train to Seattle and watch the Seahawks play. Little did I know that I would be living here 20 years later, cheering them on. Maybe it was fate and somehow, I knew that I was going to end up here. This is my home now. I love Seattle.”

“I pinch myself every day. This is a job of a lifetime for me and I’ve never been happier. I love City Light; especially the camaraderie we have in the shop. We all pull together as a team. Some of my favorite moments are when we’re fiber slicing in the back of the truck and we’re joking with one another, having fun on-the-job. As the only woman in the group, they’ve all accepted me and that’s important. To have those guys take me in and embrace me the way they have, has just been incredible.”

Take Action Now to Lower Your Winter Bill

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Early February’s cold snap—and the snow that accompanied it—drove residents throughout our service area to spend more time indoors, running their heat to stay warm and engaging with electronics to stay amused. An unusual peak in City Light’s electrical load during that time reflects this fact; the week that ended on Feb. 11 was the fifth-highest average weekly load since we began keeping electronic records in 1998, and was the highest ever weekly load for a week in February. It’s safe to say that many City Light customers will see an increase in their next bill.

A City Light truck en route to make repairs during one of the snowstorms of February 2019.

Multiple factors contribute to higher winter energy costs, especially as the shorter days result in longer hours inside the home. While heating continues to be the leading use of energy in the home, electronics have overtaken water heating as the second largest block of energy consumption. Large LED TVs, game consoles, space heaters and hair dryers can really add to your bi-monthly electric bill.

For instance, using a space heater costs on average of $1 a day, but that’s $60 to a bi-monthly bill. Using your hair dryer more frequently could tack on an extra $10. Even when electronics are turned off but plugged in, they may be consuming electricity.

You have the power to reduce your energy consumption and save money for the remainder of the winter. You can get information and tools to help you save energy and money—and even take a quiz on your energy knowledge—here. Or, read on to see how you can take your power back.


If You Rent Your Home

If you’re living in a rental, you’re not alone. In fact, our survey data shows us that 52 percent of our customers are renters. It also tells us that 98 percent of customers living in multifamily buildings are using electric heat.

Save money by making sure to proactively turn off lights and electronics when they aren’t in use, by replacing incandescent bulbs with energy-saving LEDs and by taking shorter showers. Play a game of Uno or read a book instead of playing Xbox. Use more energy-efficient cooking methods and stop drafts in your home by making a DIY draft-stopper.

Not which electronics are drawing the most power? Use the table below or check out a Kill-A-Watt from the Seattle Public Library to test your devices yourself.

Electric item kWh x rate (annual consumption) Cost for annual consumption Bi-Monthly Bill
Video Console Xbox one) 360.93 x .12 $43.32 $7.22
Cable Box w/ DVR 213.40 x .12 $25.61 $4.27
Hair Dryer 477.49 x .12 $57.30 $9.55
Toaster w/ slots 201 x .12 $24.12 $4.02
Coffee maker single cup 730 x .12 $87.60 $14.60
Microwave 54.31 x .12 $6.52 $1.09
Slow Cooker 24 x .12 $2.88 .48
Laptop with charger (macbook) 46 x .12 $5.52 .92
Printer 66 x .12 $7.92 $1.32
Space heater 542 x .12 $65.42 Winter months ($60)
Blu-ray player 18.44 x .12 $2.21 .37
Electric toothbrush 14.18 x .12 $1.70 .28
Electric blanket 288 x .12 $34.56 $5.76
Vacuum 298.57 x .12 $35.83 $5.97
Air Conditioner (stand-up) 365 x .12 $43.80 Summer ($40)
Popcorn maker 42 x .12 $5.04 .84
Television 69.74 x .12 $8.36 $1.39
Refrigerator 387 x .12 $46.44 $7.74
Dishwasher w/ electric water heat 270 x .12 $32.40 $5.40
Washing Machine w/ electric water heat 286 x .12 $34.32 $5.72
Dryer 769 x .12 $92.28 $15.38
Electric heat
Electric water heat 1906 x .12 $228.72 $38.12
Nintendo Wii (2006) 104.36 x. 12 $12.52 $2.08
iPad 7.10 x .12 .85 .14
iPhone 2.79 x. 12 .33 .06$
Oven 355 x .12 $42.6 $7.10
Cooktop 121.20 x .12 $14.54 $2.42
VCR 18.60 x .12 $2.23 .37


If You Own Your Home

If you own your home, all of the above applies to you, but you also have other options to increase your energy conservation. You can run a DIY Energy Audit to identify where you can save electricity, or you can talk to an expert by getting in touch with one of our Energy Advisors. If you are income qualified, you can apply for free weatherization through Homewise. And for longer-term energy savings, you can always invest in new tech with an opportunity for rebates from City Light.


If You Need Assistance With Your Bill

If you are having trouble paying your City Light bill, there are three programs that might help.


Federal Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The first program for customers that need help is the Federal Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP offers assistance with paying bills along with budget counseling and weatherization services. Depending upon where you live, you can sign up for LIHEAP online or via phone.

City Light has instructions on how to sign up for LIHEAP here.


Utility Discount Program (UDP)
The City of Seattle also offers the Utility Discount Program (UDP) for income-qualified customers of Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities. In 2016, changes to the program’s auto-enrollment were projected to double enrolled households to 28,000 by 2018. That goal has been exceeded already, but tens of thousands of households that might be eligible have yet to enroll.

Customers enrolled in UDP receive 60 percent off their City Light bills, so if you need help check to see if you meet income requirements and enroll here.


Emergency Low Income Assistance (ELIA)
City Light offers its own program for customers who have received an “Urgent” or “Shut-Off” notice on balances of $250 or more. The Emergency Low Income Assistance (ELIA) program offers up to $200 every 12 months for customers who make the minimum payment to avoid disconnection and payment arrangements for the balance.

To get more information or sign up for ELIA, call (206) 684-3688 or email SCL_InfoELIA@seattle.gov.

 

If You Want to Help Your Neighbors


If your finances aren’t impacted by a higher energy bill, you might be interested in giving back to your community. There is a program available for LIHEAP or ELIA participants which is funded by donations from City Light employees, customers and other supporters.

Project Share takes donations and disburses the money to those in need. In a typical year, Project Share provides assistance to about 1,000 people, and the average benefit for recipients is $250.

Project Share’s one-time emergency assistance grants can make a huge difference in the lives of your friends and neighbors. If you are financially stable, please consider making a donation here.

Superstar Gymnast Linked to City Light

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Last month, gymnast Katelyn Ohashi took the world by storm with her gymnastics routine — a perfect ten! But did you know that the viral sensation has a connection to City Light? Her father Richard Ohashi is an Electrical Service Representative at the South Service Center. A 44-year veteran of the utility, Richard chatted with us about his daughter’s many talents and what the future might hold for her.

The UCLA gymnast has garnered more than 33 million views on YouTube for her floor routine

From Good Morning America to Access Hollywood, what has it been like to see your daughter receive a flurry of national attention?
“It has been an exciting time.  I’m very happy and proud that she is getting recognition for all the hard work she has put in over the years.  She first missed the Olympics when she was at her prime because she was not quite 16 years of age.  She was injured the next time the Olympics came around.”

What has been your proudest moment thus far?
“I am so proud to see the young woman she has become.  Not only for her gymnastic skills, but for her blog ‘Behind the Madness,’ her poetry, her composure during interviews, knowing what she wants to do in life and the role model she is for all the young kids that follow her.”

What advice have you provided to her along the way?
“I just tell her to be herself.”

What’s next for Katelyn?
“Hopefully, ‘Dancing with the Stars’! She plans to intern at Players Tribune in New York this summer after graduation. She also wants to write a couple of books. One of them will be on her poetry. She has also been approached about an autobiography.”

Richard and Katelyn in New York

Thank you, Richard, for chatting with us and congrats on your family’s success. We’ll keep an eye out for Katelyn on “Dancing with the Stars”!

Seattle City (spot)Light: Cintia Luna-Villasana

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Cintia Luna-Villasana will celebrate four-years at Seattle City Light in March. She started on the Talent and Acquisition team, but after three years, transitioned to Power Supply as the Administrative Specialist for Officer Mike Haynes. “I’m better known as Mike’s conscience,” Cintia joked. “I also support Generation Operations and Engineering Director Faz Kasraie. I handle travel requests, training contracts, budget information, HR processes – a variety of things.”

Cintia was born in Wenatchee where she lived until she was about eight years old. “My parents had a business and decided to move to western Washington,” Cintia shared. “They have a Mexican restaurant in Everett, El Pollo Rico. I still help out with bookkeeping on the weekends.” Cintia attended Western Washington University on a full-ride scholarship and received a degree in business administration with a focus in human resources.

In this week’s (spot)Light, Cintia talks about public service and the family vacations that sparked her interest in utilities.

Cintia at Bonneville Powerhouse

“Growing up, my parents took me to Rocky Reach Dam every Easter because it had an egg hunt and real bunnies! I also went there on a school field trip. I remember visiting the fish ladder and viewing area and thinking that it was the greatest place. Ever since then, I’ve always liked generation and developed an interest in utilities.”

“Visiting dams and learning about power is something I enjoy. It was part of my childhood. Whenever people visited, we took them to Rocky Reach. It has a cool visitor’s center and was something neat to see. So, in a way, I grew up with dams. And I’ve kept it up! In 2008, I went to Grand Coulee Dam. That was something since it’s the mightiest hydroelectric plant in the United States. I’ve visited Chief Joseph Dam, Bonneville Dam and on a recent trip to Palm Springs, I toured the windmill farm. It was super interesting and gave me a greater appreciation for hydro. This June, I plan to check out the Hoover Dam. I’ve been to our dams in Boundary, Skagit, Lucky Peak as well as Masonry Dam in Cedar Falls. I’m hoping that one day I can visit BC Hydro – I just need access. If you know someone, let me know!”

“I like to go on road trips – even if it’s just for a day. I’m the person who won’t have anything planned and will spontaneously say ‘Let’s go!’ Depending on the weather, it could be Portland or Vancouver, BC., but honestly, my favorite getaway is Skagit. It’s so close and just beautiful. I also like summer road trips to eastern Washington, particularly Wenatchee because it’s home. I like being away from the city. I’m a country girl at heart.”

“I got into public service because both my brothers are Marines. It’s my way of giving back; we’re all public servants, in a way. One of my brothers is deployed and on his second term, and the other is about to finish his term. I love my parents and am very close to them. I have so much to be thankful for. When my family arrived in the United States, they were apple pickers in Wenatchee and saved money to make their dreams come true. My siblings and I are living our American dream and it’s great for my parents to see.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: David Wyland

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David Wyland has been at City Light for more than four years. As part of the Asset Data Services group, David works within the Technology & Engineering Innovation business unit. “People don’t realize that data is an asset that needs to be managed to support sound decision-making practices at the utility,” David explained. “If the data is weak, decisions based on the data aren’t as strong as they should be. We provide relevant and timely asset information to the right people at the right time. It’s a coordinated effort with many work areas – across various business units – but it’s rewarding when the best decisions are made.”

David is originally from Spokane, but thanks to his father’s service in the Air Force, he’s lived in Japan, Nevada and Oklahoma. He attended school at Gonzaga University where he graduated with a degree in Finance and Economics. He lives in Seattle with his partner of 19 years and together they care for David’s 96-year-old-mother. “My dad passed away nine years ago, but my mom lives with us,” David shared. “She took care of me for 20 years; now it’s my turn!”

In this week’s (spot)Light, David talks about his career path, including his time at City Light.

David with his partner Marc

“The economy wasn’t very strong when I graduated from college. So, I decided to continue my education and pursue an MBA. I was one semester short of completing the program when I received a full-time job offer in Portland. The job was a bill collector for Sears – dialing for dollars. It was a strange choice to make, but it also gave me the opportunity to leave Spokane and experience life in a bigger city. It set me up well for my move to Seattle.”

“I ended up spending 27 years in banking. The stress of climbing the corporate ladder – with all the political infighting – was taking its toll on me. I didn’t like what I was becoming. I left to work for Keiro NW, a non-profit that provides services for elderly Japanese and Asian-Pacific Islanders. I was there for a year and it helped me become grounded again. Since my mother is Japanese it gave me a great chance to see and understand more of my heritage through interactions with the Japanese community. Of course, non-profit work doesn’t pay well, but it allowed for a smooth transition into City Light because as a public utility we are held accountable to the ratepayers in providing a service to the community.”

“I have a weak spot for helping to make our community stronger. Being part of a public utility allows me to officially do so, and it also exposes me to other community-minded coworkers. We recently did a team-building exercise at Mary’s Place, and it was an incredible experience for all of us. We also have our annual ‘I Swear…It’s for the Children’ campaign which benefits Treehouse for Kids. This year, we blew past our $1,000 goal and were able to raise $1,700! Being with coworkers who share a passion for the community is incredibly satisfying and one of the main reasons I enjoy working at City Light.”