SCAMMERS ARE PREYING ON OUR REGION. HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
Each year, scammers take deceitful and aggressive measures to target our customers. They are even taking advantage of the heightened stress caused by the pandemic to demand financial and personal information in addition to threatening to shut off power.
Here are a few tips to help you spot a potential scam and what you can do to make sure you and your family don’t fall victim to these schemes.
Scammers may:
- Pose as a City Light employee and contact you by phone.
- Threaten to shut off power if a payment is not made immediately.
- Pressure you to obtain pre-paid credit cards or third-party digital apps to make immediate payments.
- Target businesses, customers with limited English proficiency, and elderly customers.
- Use phone numbers closely resembling a City Light or City of Seattle number.
Remember, we will never call, e-mail, or visit your home demanding immediate payment to avoid a shutoff. If someone calls you demanding payment, rather than seeking to work with you to establish a payment plan, that person is a scammer. Hang up on them right away and call (206) 684-3000.
Let’s work together to end the threat of scammers in our community!
SKAGIT TOURS ARE BACK!
We are excited to once again invite you to escape to the beauty of the North Cascades with Skagit Tours this summer. Our tours comply with current health and capacity guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable tour experience for all.
Not able to join a tour this summer? Explore the historic community of Newhalem and nearby attractions including Ladder Creek Falls and the Trail of the Cedars. You can also visit the Skagit Information Center starting in June. Visit our Skagit Tours webpage for more information on tours for the 2021 season.
MANAGE YOUR UTILITY SERVICES IN ONE PLACE
Moving and need to start or stop your utility service? Curious how much electricity or water you’re using? You can do all these things and more on the City of Seattle’s new and improved Utility Services Website. In addition to existing online account capabilities, enhanced account management and self-service features include:
- Start or stop service
- Enroll in autopay
- Request a payment plan
- View energy or water usage over time
- Turn paperless billing on or off
- Co-browse with a customer service agent
Log in or set up your profile today at myutilities.seattle.gov.
THIS SPRING, PLAN FOR THE TREES YOU’LL PLANT THIS FALL
Now that the rainy days of winter have passed, this is an excellent time to plan 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 for a big tree, there are many benefits to big trees, like increased stormwater retention.
Here in the Pacific Northwest temperate region, 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 information, visit the “Temperate Region” section of the Department of Energy’s Landscaping for Energy Efficient Homes webpage.
When a metallic mylar balloon touches a power line or electrical equipment, it can cause a surge of electricity which leads to a power outage and might even ignite a fire. If you are celebrating an occasion with metallic mylar balloons, remember to keep them safely tethered and dispose of the balloons properly.
Seattle City Light crews are in these neighborhoods, working to provide reliable service:
- Arroyo/South Arbor Heights: installing new underground cables and streetlights to replace aging infrastructure
- Atlantic/Chinatown-International District: replacing utility poles, overhead wires and equipment on South Weller Street
- Brace Point: installing underground conduits, vaults and streetlights to improve the underground electrical system
- Capitol Hill: installing a microgrid system at Miller Community Center
- South Lake Union: installing an underground duct bank and vault on Thomas Street
For a detailed list of City Light construction projects, please visit the Current Projects section of our website.
Questions, comments or suggestions?
Email us at SCL_ExternalComms@seattle.gov.