Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell is releasing the 2023-2024 Proposed Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments. This budget reflects Mayor Harrell’s continued commitment to and investment in bold actions that address the urgent needs of our communities and advance our One Seattle priorities. Mayor Harrell’s proposal continues work initiated in the 2023 Adopted Budget to invest in creating safe, healthy, and thriving communities. This budget continues supporting efforts to deliver effective public safety, build affordable housing and address the homelessness crisis, activate our downtown, and advance opportunity and equity for all.
With the investments in this budget proposal, we can work together to advance our shared One Seattle vision and an agenda that will inspire the best in our city and keep us moving forward.
For Seattle City Light, the Mayor’s proposed budget supports our core work and priorities as outlined in our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan Update and its five business strategies:
1. Improve the Customer Experience
We are making investments to better meet our customers’ diverse needs. The proposed budget funds improvements in customer programs to reduce customers’ energy costs through financial assistance and energy efficiency, solar and electrification offerings.
2. Create Our Energy Future
Creating our energy future means supporting electrification, procuring low-cost carbon-free renewable power, and building and maintaining a smart, resilient, and reliable grid infrastructure. The proposed budget includes funding for electrification and grid modernization in anticipation of federal and state infrastructure grant opportunities and supports increased participation in emergent regional energy market efforts.
3. Develop Workforce and Organizational Agility
Our industry is transforming quickly, and so are our customers’ needs. City Light is building an organization that is nimble, adaptive, and responsive by investing in change management, workforce development, and new technology resources.
4. Ensure Financial Health and Affordability
To deliver rates that are affordable for all, City Light is continuing our practice of strong fiscal management and will be offering new pricing options to help customers manage their energy bills. This proposed budget includes funds and resources to support the rollout of a new Time of Use rate option in 2024.
5. We Power
“We Power” refers to our central mission as a utility – to provide our customers with affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy services. Among many investments in core services and infrastructure, this budget increases investment in physical and cyber security, and supports relicensing and meeting license commitments for our legacy hydroelectric projects.
As the second year of a biennial budget, the 2024 proposed budget for City Light is largely unchanged from what was endorsed last year. The following is a summary of City Light’s key changes in the 2023-2024 Proposed Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments:
- Increased funding ($1.7 million) for cyber and physical security, offset by corresponding reductions to existing budgets for various services and consulting.
- Adding three staff positions to operate a new hatchery at Boundary Dam, fulfilling a commitment under our Federal Energy Regulatory Commission operating license.
For more information on the proposed budget, read the Mayor’s budget speech here: One Seattle Budget Proposal 2024 Speech Text.
Over the next two months, the City Council will review the Mayor’s 2023-2024 Proposed Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments. Public hearings are on October 18 and November 13. Final adoption of the budget is expected on Tuesday, November 21. Read more about the Mayor’s proposed budget here, and you can also direct any questions to MOS_COMMS@seattle.gov.