For 45 years, Seattle City Light has had the longest continually running conservation program in the country. Since its inception in 1977, energy efficiency measures supported by the utility have been installed in residential, commercial, and industrial facilities throughout our service territory. As a result of this legacy and current programs, City Light’s annual load was reduced by over ~1,224,000 megawatt-hours which is the equivalent annual electricity usage of more than ~146,700 average Seattle homes. In 2021, we supported our customers’ projects with more than $12.2 million in energy efficiency incentives. City Light’s suite of energy conservation programs has cumulatively saved customers more than $196 million on their energy bills.
Conservation is a win-win for our customers and City Light. Helping our customers use less electricity is the most cost-effective way to keep bills low and meet the growing energy needs of our communities. Using our electricity supply more efficiently means we do not have to acquire additional energy resources to power our region, even as demand increases.
In addition to having the longest-running conservation program in the country, City Light is also the first utility in the nation to be carbon neutral and accomplished this in 2005. This achievement is a result of City Light generating hydroelectricity for 118 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, 86% of the power used by City Light customers is generated by hydropower.
We are proud of our 45 years of conservation efforts and want to thank our customers who are committed to conserving and preserving our environment. Let’s continue to uphold this commitment together for the next 45 years and beyond.