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Seattle City (spot)Light: Maneet Jain

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Maneet Jain has been at City Light for 14 years but began his City career 23 years ago. “When I started working at the City, I was in the Parks department. I really enjoyed it; in fact, that’s where I met my wife!” Maneet shared. “Opportunity brought me to City Light. I wanted to apply my degree and there was room for growth.” Maneet is part of Transmission and Distribution Operations (T&D Ops.) where he manages two work groups: field operators and planning and scheduling.

Maneet was born and raised in Seattle. “My family lived in Licton Springs, right by the North Service Center,” Maneet said. “I have fond memories walking to the service center and paying the bill with my dad.” He graduated with a degree in business management from the University of Washington and lives in Edmonds with his wife Kelly and their two daughters, Meena and Nyla.  

In this week’s (spot)Light, Maneet talks about his career at the City and family time.

Maneet with his family

“We’re a big Husky family. We go to lots of games and events – trying to breed that pride young! We keep busy on the weekends with all sorts of activities. There’s always something to do! I coach my daughter’s basketball team. We get outdoors and try new hikes. Our favorite getaway is the Oregon coast, particularly Manzanita and Cannon Beach. We love to hang there and just veg out. I also want to take them up to Skagit and check out that north loop.”

“My dad worked for Parks. He retired last year after 20+ years of service. I’ve always been around public service. I was part of the City’s summer youth employment program. I worked at the community centers and helped run the basketball and youth programs. I later moved on to grounds maintenance – that helped me pay for college! After that, I joined City Light’s Customer Care team where I worked for twelve years in different capacities. Things like credit and service representative (both electrical and customer), meter reading, technical metering operations, streetlights, LED engineering and capital improvement projects.”

“The last two years I’ve managed three groups in T&D Ops. The field operators at the System Operations Center are our first responders; the eyes and ears for our dispatchers. They let the dispatchers know what’s going on and troubleshoot things like flickering lights and car pole accidents. I also managed civil construction for the utility, both in the city and at our hydro facilities. Basically, any infrastructure that needs to be put in place. Lastly, I manage planning and scheduling. We plan and schedule work load, so we can meet our customers’ demands and expectations.”

“I fell into management. I attended UW as a civil engineering student but switched majors after taking a few business classes. I like being part of the solution, but I also like working with others and getting their perspective. I do a lot of that at City Light. I work with cross-functional teams and gather input from different backgrounds and disciplines. I really like our service work and problem solving. It’s been amazing to have had a variety of roles and responsibilities. I’ve enjoyed it. Not to mention, the camaraderie you build working with different people across the organization.”

New and Improved Online Payment Makes eBilling Easier Than Ever

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Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities are always looking for ways to make life easier for our customers. Today we are excited to announce a new and improved online payment experience. With a better user interface, better accessibility and new ways to get notified of your bill, going paperless for your utility bill has never been easier.

Watch the videos below to learn how to use the new features. If you already have an eBilling account, your credentials will still work with the new system. And if you haven’t signed up for eBilling yet, make the switch to paperless today! City Light sent out over 1.7 million paper bills in 2018. Going paperless saves trees and helps us to keep your rates affordable.


Information On the Home Page and What It Means


Enroll in eBilling


Add a Payment Method


Delete a Payment Method


Turn Auto Pay On


Turn Auto Pay Off


Turn Text Notifications On/Off


Making a One-Time Payment


Seattle City (spot)Light: Kyler Flores

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Kyler Flores has been at City Light for more than five years. He first joined the utility as an intern and was later recruited by his former colleagues to return as part of the Distribution Mapping Team. “I supervise the Looped Radial Distribution Mapping Team,” Kyler said. “There are eight people on my team. They’re located at our service centers, Seattle Municipal Tower and the System Control Center.”

Born and raised in Washington state, Kyler attended Edmonds Community College and the Universal Technical Institute for Automotive Technology before graduating from Seattle University with a degree in civil engineering. “At Seattle University the motto is to develop the whole person, because of that, it is required to take courses on Ethics, Philosophy, and Theology,” Kyler shared. These courses gave me a broader perspective on how my actions affect the environment, people, and communities and I’m grateful I had to take them.

In this week’s (spot)Light, Kyler talks about his family and life at City Light.

Kyler with his family

“I live in Everett with my wife Kirn and two children Mata (two years old) and Suhavee (five months old). I like to enjoy the moments I have with my family, especially my kids since they grow and change so quickly. I play soccer on Sundays in a league in Everett. I actually played soccer for two years at Edmonds Community College. I also love to read and watch anything Sci-Fi. Frank Herbert is my hero.”

“An internship is what first attracted me to City Light. It was posted as an electrical, mechanical and civil co-op. A year into it, I found out there were no mechanical or civil aspects! What kept me around were my colleagues and the challenge of learning about the utility and its systems, applications and procedures. The same notion brought me back to City Light, but the second time around there was an updated Geographic Information System (GIS). There were opportunities to streamline processes and supply our internal and external customers with information they had been needing and requesting.”

“My team has many responsibilities. We maintain the as-built electrical model of the Looped Radial Distribution System in GIS; maintain overhead and underground structures and transformers in Work and Asset Management (WAMS); maintain transformer to customer connectivity and underground drawings and respond to general requests for maps. The data we maintain is seen in City Light’s quarter section maps, Advanced Grid Analytics, Outage Management System, CurrentView, WAMS, and Customer Care and Billing. Currently, I’m reviewing our processes and focusing on improvements and efficiencies, so we can meet customer needs.”

“I enjoy the people at City Light. I believe people are genuine about their commitment to provide a quality product to our customer-owner and it’s contagious. I also enjoy the challenge. Things have been done a certain way at City Light for many, many years – no matter the division. With new technology, there’s an opportunity to change our processes, to maintain data that has not been previously maintained, and to provide additional information in a user-friendly way to our internal and external customers. It’s challenging to reach across well-established silos to convince others to do things differently. But I believe it’s worth the effort because in the long run, we’ll be able to provide a higher quality product to our customer-owners.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Hillary Winchester

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Hillary Winchester celebrates five years at City Light this month. She has always been part of the Joint Use Engineering group, but recently started a new role as a Strategic Advisor on the Customer Experience Improvement Team. “In Joint Use I was an Associate Electrical Engineer where I reviewed and engineered application requirements, handled process updates and consultant work,” Hillary explained. “I loved it but am also excited to support the utility’s strategic initiative in my new role; something different!”

Originally from Virginia Beach, Hillary graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science in engineering and a minor in mathematics. “I mostly studied design and environmental engineering, but also took classes that had a sustainability focus,” Hillary said. “In 2018, I completed an MBA with an emphasis in Project Management from City University of Seattle.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, learn about Hillary’s family, her hobbies and her work at City Light.

“I met my husband in college. He was stationed in Virginia but got transferred to Washington state. We had a long-distance relationship and got married two weeks after I graduated! I moved here right away and love it. We live in Lynnwood with our kids, cat and dog and enjoy that we can easily be in the city or the mountains depending on which direction we drive. We do a fair amount of hiking and camping, so it’s nice to be so close to such gorgeous scenery.”

“I love to bake, cook and spend time with my family. My daughters are at an age (3.5 and 1.5 years) where we can play outside, so this year we’ve been visiting new parks every weekend. It’s been a lot of fun. We love being outdoors, even if it’s a quick neighborhood hike or working in our garden. This year we tried cabin camping and my girls had a blast. I also bake cookies for CLEA and often bring treats into the office…if my husband doesn’t claim them all first! I like to bake cakes and macarons but I’m always trying new recipes.”

“Joint Use is a unique body of work. Every job was different and often a challenge. Over the last five years, our program has grown exponentially due to the introduction of 5G to our city. We play an integral role in the implementation process and are constantly evaluating how to make our processes better and more efficient. I’m excited for my new role because I’ll get to work with a part of the utility that is important to me: our customers. The challenge of delivering better experiences for our customers and leveraging new technology will be rewarding.”

“When I moved to Seattle, I kept a close eye on city and county engineering jobs because I liked the idea of working for a public entity. I didn’t know much about City Light before I started working here. I love City Light for a variety of reasons: the people, the emphasis on excellence and the environment, and our commitment to our community. Everyone I meet is passionate about making the utility better and serving our customers in new ways. During my time here, I’ve realized that being part of a public utility is incredibly fulfilling.”

Electrical Reliability Work Planned in Beacon Hill

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Starting in early July 2019, Seattle City Light crews will replace aging electrical infrastructure in the Beacon Hill area. Crews will replace aging utility poles, overhead wire and equipment to help upgrade the existing electrical system.

The project will replace aging electrical infrastructure and upgrade the existing electrical system. The electrical upgrades will reduce unplanned power outages.

Crews will begin replacing utility poles, overhead wire and equipment in the following areas:

  • Phase 1: South Massachusetts Street
  • Phase 2: 13th Avenue South
  • Phase 3: 13th Avenue South & South Bayview Street
Construction Work Areas

Crews will reduce traffic and parking impacts by working one area at a time. However, traffic will be restricted. “No Park” signs will restrict parking in work zones. “No Park” signs will be removed once work has been completed.

This project is scheduled to start in early July 2019 and last approximately five months. Daily work hours are Mondays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nights and weekend work may be required to complete the work.

For more information, customers can contact Chau Luu, Senior Electrical Service Representative at (206) 386-1671 or chau.luu@seattle.gov.

Visit Seattle City Light’s “At Work in Your Neighborhood” website for the latest updates on this project and others in your neighborhood.

City Light shares potential transportation electrification strategies with stakeholders

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The market and policy landscape for transportation electrification is changing rapidly. Every month, automakers are announcing new electric models. Private developers are investing heavily in charging stations. In the heavy-duty sector, improving technologies and government targets are accelerating the electrification of buses, ferries, freight, and fleets.

With such rapid change in this space, Seattle City Light worked with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to develop recommendations for a comprehensive transportation electrification strategy to identify how the utility can best enable and respond to opportunities as they emerge, while aligning with organizational priorities and the broader mobility goals of the City of Seattle.

On Friday, June 14, 2019, City Light and RMI hosted a transportation electrification workshop to inform key stakeholders of priorities identified in the recently completed Transportation Electrification Strategic Plan. About 60 attendees representing public agencies, local non-profits, members of the electric vehicle (EV) industry and various City departments, among others, participated in the event.

Transportation electrification workshop participants
Nearly 60 stakeholders attended the June 14 transportation electrification workshop.

Based on market conditions RMI recommends that City Light focus on programs in three core areas:

  • Invest in charging infrastructure with an emphasis on universal access and expanding coverage.
  • Develop new rates and improve customer service for the transportation market.
  • Prepare for heavy-duty electrification.

These priorities will guide City Light’s investment in customer products and services for the transportation market under the expanded authority of HB 1512, which provides clear authority to utilities like Seattle City Light to invest in the electrification of transportation infrastructure.

One highlight of the workshop was a feedback activity that encouraged group engagement and sharing of ideas around how City Light can work to ensure equitable outcomes in its future transportation electrification programs. Robust, direct community engagement was a common theme voiced during the activity.

Next steps

Over the next several months, City Light will develop a Transportation Electrification Action Plan, which requires City Council approval, that will outline City Light’s approach to programs that respond to the three priority areas. The action plan will also define the framework City Light will use to develop future transportation electrification programs.

Over the coming months, City Light will conduct research and hold workshops with opportunities for public input to inform the program portfolio selection process. City Light is specifically interested in learning more about the needs and barriers to electric mobility for multifamily residential customers, underserved communities, mobility service providers and urban delivery fleets. We aim to have an approved plan by the end of the year; however, the action plan, and the proposed timeline, is still in the draft planning phase.

Seattle City Light awards contract for solar microgrid that will provide emergency backup power to Miller Community Center

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Seattle City Light has awarded a $1.8 million contract to a team led by Worley to design and construct a solar microgrid at Miller Community Center, located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The public is invited to attend an informational meeting on July 10.

Miller Community Center – Seattle, WA

The solar microgrid project will include the installation of a battery energy storage system, solar panels and microgrid controls. Once installed, the microgrid will provide backup power storage for the community center during emergency events, such as a windstorm or unplanned power outage.

City Light and Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) selected Miller Community Center to host the $3.3 million demonstration project, after a careful assessment of sites. The project is funded through a $1.8 million investment from City Light and a $1.5 million state Clean Energy Fund grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Design and construction of the new microgrid is scheduled to occur in early 2020. The University of Washington will gather analytics on the microgrid after it has been installed.

City Light and SPR are hosting an informational meeting to discuss details about the microgrid project on Wednesday, July 10 from 4-6 p.m. at Miller Community Center (330 19th Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98112). Project staff will be available to answer questions about the project.

For more information about this project, please visit seattle.gov/light/atwork.

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.

Will Seattle’s Summer Be Smoky Again?

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This is a guest post authored by Climate Change Research and Adaptation Advisor Ronda Strauch as part of a quarterly new series called Climate Connections.

Last year, Seattle denizens experienced multiple days in a haze of smoke. Whirling winds pulled in smoke from wildfires burning outside of Puget Sound and even as far away as Siberia. And when there was no wind, smoke settled over the area like a blanket. Only the return of Seattle’s typical westerly winds allowed the smoke to clear. Will we be smoked out in Seattle again this summer? Many factors make it seem likely.

To begin with, we had a cold, dry winter. Spring kicked off with March precipitation at 37% of normal levels and days near 80°F, matching temperatures in Tucson at the time. The official start of the 2019 Washington wildfire season began in March, a very early onset. That month, 54 wildfires ignited in Washington and all but one were west of the Cascade Mountains, according to Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Smoke from wildfires blanketed the Seattle area in the summer of 2018.

This year’s weather so far has left us with a water deficit—and that means dry soils and dry forests. We are looking at a thirsty kickoff to the summer season. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a warm, dry summer, consistent with a weak El Niño. The National Interagency Fire Center has issued an outlook for “above normal significant wildland fire potential” for Western Washington. Conditions are ripe for wildfire and smoke close to home, portending a possible repeat of a smoky Seattle summer.

Climate Change’s Connection to Smoke

While we can’t attribute a single smoke event to climate change, over the long-term, climate change can increase the odds of smoky conditions. As the climate continues to warm, the total area burned in Washington’s forests is estimated to increase fourfold by the 2040s. This is primarily because warming temperatures can lead to drier conditions and drier vegetation that easily ignites. These conditions will lengthen the fire season and thus, the duration of smoke production.

Declines in forest health linked to climate change can also increase the intensity of a fire, which in turn affects the chemistry, quantity and distribution of its accompanying smoke. There is uncertainty if smoke will impact Seattle, particularly coming from out of state.

Of course, there is a chance we may see no smoke this summer. Let’s hope for that.

How Smoke Affects City Light

Smoke can have numerous impacts on people and business, including City Light. Smoke leads to poor air quality, reduced visibility and damaged equipment.

Particles found in smoke make it difficult for City Light employees and contractors to breathe, particularly for those who live with asthma, chronic bronchitis or reduced lung functions. Reduced visibility due to smoke can also challenge inspections of City Light facilities, including transmission lines and dams, where clear visibility is required.

Also, here’s a little-known fact: heavy smoke can conduct electricity. Therefore, dense smoke near a transmission line can create a conductive path that can increase the potential for a “flashover.” Flashover or arc flash can occur with ionization of the air as voltage jumps across air gaps between powerlines or to the ground. Smoke is attracted to high voltages and can build fragile carbon bridges that conduct leakage currents.

Finally, smoke can settle on equipment and lead to reduced efficiencies or failure. A recent study of residential energy use during years with and without smoke in Seattle found that City Light’s load during summer was better predicted when considering air quality. This suggests that our customers might be buying air conditioners and purifiers when they can’t open their windows because of smoke.

City Light is Adapting

One positive effect of our recent smoky summers is that City Light now has some experience dealing with these smoke events. We have learned from them and can continue to implement adaptations to better cope with smoke. As a utility, there are actions we can take to reduce our vulnerability and prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Adaptation includes using personal protective equipment (PPE) per guidance from our Safety, Health, and Wellness Division to minimize employee exposure to smoke. We can increase flexibility in our inspections to accommodate smoke delays. The advanced education of emergency responders on needed precautions while working near electrical equipment during dense smoke provides greater capacity for handling smoky conditions.

Additional preparation includes retrofits or adjustments to equipment that might be sensitive to smoke exposure. Securing contracts from our suppliers prior to needing materials will also better prepare us for potential smoke conditions.

As the public adapts to smoke through air conditioners and purifiers, City Light prepares through our long-term planning for shifting energy demand. Proactive planning and flexibility can reduce our vulnerability and minimize risks from smoke… Kind of like having a “plan B” vacation spot this summer. (Maybe one that’s less smoky.)

Resources for More Information

Washington Department of Ecology – Smoke & Fire Management and
Washington Air Quality Advisory

Washington State Department of Health – Smoke from Fires Q&A and Toolkit (many languages)

Washington Smoke Information –blogspot

Ronda Strauch joined Seattle City Light in July 2018 as a Climate Change Research and Adaptation Advisor in the Science Policy Unit of the Environment, Land and Licensing Business Unit. She recently obtained her PhD from the University of Washington in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, specializing in landslide and hydrologic modeling. When time allows, Ronda enjoys gardening, hiking, kayaking, and mountain climbing.

Seattle City (spot)Light: Len Kannapell

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Energy Management Analyst Len Kannapell has been at City Light for four and a half years. “I work in Customer Energy Solutions and help commercial customers cut their utility costs and energy use, which reduces their environmental impacts. We also provide incentives to complete energy efficiency upgrades,” Len explained. “What could be better?”

Len grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and earned a B.S. in physics with a minor in journalism from Marquette University. He moved to Seattle in 1985 to work for Boeing, and after 12 ½ years, he became a technical writer. He received a certificate in Energy Accounting from Edmonds Community College. He lives in the Bryant neighborhood with his wife Vera and their two children Berto (15) and Stephanny (12).

In this week’s (spot)Light, Len talks about how he got started in the energy industry, his volunteer work, and his love for Olympic National Park.

Len with his family at Buckhorn Mt.

“My father was a civil engineer. He designed sulfur dioxide scrubbers for coal plants, which got me thinking about energy use. I clearly remember the long waits for gas during the 1973 oil crisis. Fast-forward to nine years ago, when I had a one-man business called Starving Marmot. I did carpentry, including deck building and home remodeling. There were always electrical issues and wiring to sort out, which was my favorite problem. I was looking for a way to transition to the energy sector.”

“I live ten blocks north of U-Village. Ten years ago, I noticed that the traffic circle was completely devoid of flowers – and had excellent sun exposure. The neighbors agreed to let me grow corn. Since then, the circle has evolved into a community garden for mostly geraniums and black-eyed susans. The point is that we have community within our neighborhood: neighbors help each other with babysitting, pet sitting/dog walking and moving furniture. We provide a cup of sugar for those time-dependent baking activities. I even showed a desperate neighbor how to tie a tie.”

“Volunteering is very important to me. There are three causes I focus on. I lead an annual fundraiser climb of Mt. Rainier or Mt Baker for the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children. I also organize a bi-monthly effort to sort and pack produce at the Food Lifeline Food Bank. Lastly, I perform in a two-man theatre piece called ‘Two Faces in the Shadows’ at churches and prisons. A friend and I started doing this 23 years ago at Faith United Methodist Church. We added prisons a couple years later, including McNeil Island Corrections Center and Monroe Correctional Complex. We’ve been to almost every prison in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Kentucky, and British Columbia. This year, we went to California, doing five shows at four prisons. The best part is Q&A afterward with the inmates.”

“I also enjoy writing, playing tennis, and mountain climbing/backpacking. Olympic National Park, with its solitude, abundant wildlife, and vibrant, moody colors is relatively close to an obsession. I want to reach the obscure places while I have knees and motivation. I blame my parents for this addiction. A family road trip in 1978 to the Pacific Northwest was seminal; the beauty and gloom of the Hoh River trail in the Olympics left an indelible impression on me.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Casey Rood

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Casey Rood has been part of City Light’s Customer Energy Solutions team since 2016 though he’s been at the City since 2014.  “I interned at Parks and Recreation where I worked on environmental records,” he explained. “I expressed an interest in energy-related activities and through those opportunities, I got to work with City Light colleagues. Through luck, timing and hard work, I ended up at City Light and am now an Assistant Energy Management Analyst.”

A native Washingtonian, Casey grew up in Lacey. He attended school at Western Washington University where he double majored in economics and political science. “After college, I lived in Portland but after five years I pivoted up to Seattle and started working for the City.” He now lives in University Place with his wife Leanne and their Pitbull boxer Baxter.

In this week’s (spot)Light, Casey talks about his hobbies and work at City Light.

Casey with Leanne and Baxter

“We have many programs and projects that focus on energy conservation, so our customers call us when they’re looking to conserve energy.  I’ve worked on the small business team and completed projects in Shoreline and Columbia City. Parks is another one of my accounts, so I still work very closely with my old manager which is nice. Seeing the customer reaction when we help them save energy and money is extremely rewarding because you know it makes a real difference in their life. Our programs are shifting as energy savings become harder to come by; it’s an exciting time to be at City Light and work in the energy industry.”

“I really enjoy the seasonality that Washington offers. I appreciate that I get to be an unapologetic cave troll during the winter months, playing games with my wife and friends and doing home projects. During the summer, we’ll enjoy the evenings with barbecues and biking. I’m your prototypical flannel-wearing PNW stereotype who roasts his own coffee beans and brews his own beer. I also spend a lot of time in the yard and have a unique hatred towards invasive species. My write often gives me funny looks when I go to great lengths to eradicate them. I have a personal vendetta with Japanese Knotweed.”

“I’ve always had an analytical mind and liked to tinker and build things growing up. My parents thought I would make a wonderful engineer. But I got a D in calculus my first quarter of college which helped me discover the social sciences. I studied environmental policy, environmental economics, resource economics – all kinds of cool stuff. It instilled the environmental ethos in me. When I graduated, I knew that I wanted to deal with energy and climate change on some level.”

“What I really love about my work is that it holds real tangible results. You can see what you did and how your influence assisted your customers. The results of my work are quantifiable and that has a positive feedback loop. Most importantly, I know the work we do makes a difference in the world. City Light is easily the best place I’ve worked. It took me extra time to find the job and career I wanted, but it was worth it because I never wake up in the morning thinking that I have to make it through another day at work.”