Each year, during the first full week of October, we join other public power utilities across the country to celebrate our collective mission: to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power to the communities we serve.
From our field crews and engineers to our essential teams in customer service, finance, utility technology and beyond, each plays a vital role in keeping our homes, schools, businesses, and public spaces powered year-round.
To honor Public Power Week, we’ve invited several City Light employees to share what powers them in their work.
Aditi Duggal, Business Relationship Manager | Utility Technology
What is a moment at City Light that made you feel proud of your work to public power?
I’m proud of leading the integration effort for implementing our new billing system. I was responsible for coordinating and managing connections across more than 40 internal and external applications. It was a highly complex, mission-critical project that required cross-functional collaboration, technical planning, and constant communication. Knowing that this system directly affects how we serve our customers — improving billing accuracy, transparency, and overall service experience — made the work especially meaningful. It felt great to contribute to a public utility that prioritizes accountability and reliability for the Seattle area.
Mike Fiola, Physical Security Program Manager | Workplace Logistics
What inspired you to pursue a career in public service, specifically at City Light?
I believe that public service is a virtue and a career path that matters. I chose SCL because the mission, vision and core values aligned with my professional values. Plus, getting to help keep the lights on is kind of a big deal! If someone is considering a career in public power, I just want to say that by giving back to your community, you will fulfill not only a need, but provide a service you can be proud of.
Stephanie Gibbons, Electrical Service Representative | Customer Engineering
What inspired you to pursue a career in public service, specifically at City Light?
My husband has worked for City Light for over decade, and hearing about his experiences and sense of comradery within the utility helped to guide me to apply within the utility as well. Finding a place of employment that also makes you feel like an important member of a team is very rare and so very important.
Brandt March, Generation Supervisor | Skagit Hydroelectric Project
How do you feel your role contributes to the overall mission of safely providing reliable power to our communities?
As a Generation Supervisor, I help oversee the daily operations of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project, which has been providing reliable power to our community for more than a century. My role contributes directly to continuing that legacy — making sure the power keeps flowing safely, affordably, and with care for the environment we all depend on. I’m proud to work alongside a dedicated team of public power professionals who share the same commitment: keeping the lights on today while protecting resources for future generations.
Brandon Melland, Lineworker Apprenticeship Craft Instructor | Transmission and Distribution Operations
How do you feel your role contributes to the overall mission of safely providing reliable power to our community?
In my role, I help train and prepare the next generation of lineworkers through our Apprenticeship Program. The work we do in the training yard and classroom ensures apprentices develop the skills, safety practices, and confidence they need before they step out into the field as journey-level lineworkers. That preparation directly supports our mission—because when our crews are well-trained, they can deliver reliable, safe service to our service area every day.
Kelvin Moore, Chief Warehouser | Transmission and Distribution Operations
How do you feel your role contributes to the overall mission of safely providing reliable power to our community?
I believe my role is instrumental to the overall mission of providing reliable power to our community. The work we do in the warehouse directly supports the field crews, enabling them to carry out their jobs efficiently and safely. But our impact extends far beyond just field crews here at North Service Center. We also supply materials to the entire North Service Center, parts of the South Service Center, Substations, Boundary Dam, Skagit Dam, and the Seattle Municipal Tower. Through special projects, we also collaborate with other City departments, including Seattle Public Utilities and the Seattle Fire Department. The broad scope of our work means we serve a wide range of internal and external customers. Contributing to such a vital network of support is by far the most rewarding part of the job.
Edward Park, Day Ahead and Forward Trading Supervisor | Power Operations and Marketing
What specific moment at City Light made you feel proud of your work to public power?
I’m proud when we see prices in the electric market as volatile and we steer ourselves through choppy waters. Last winter in mid-January, prices in the energy market exceeded $1,000/MWh (average prices over the last 10 years is ~$40/MWh), various utilities in the Northwest were declaring energy emergencies (shortages) and City Light recorded its highest ever hourly load (energy use). On the trade floor, we saw a cold snap coming weeks ahead and coordinated across the various trading desks led us to make a small profit from the event without risking any of our reliability.
Chris Robertson, Senior Transportation Electrification Projects Coordinator | Electrification & Strategic Technology
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in the public power sector?
Public power attracts some of the brightest and most welcoming professionals I’ve ever met. Employees are empowered to improve the utility together and take pride in their work. There is a place for all types of people here and I’ve found that the diverse group of people here are inspirational. I’ve found I’ve become a better version of me surrounded by people I revere. As someone considering entering a career at City Light, you can feel confident that your colleagues and leaders support you and your work benefits the residents of Seattle and customers of City Light.
Jason Timothy, Underground Residential Distribution and Overhead Line Supervisor | Transmission and Distribution Operations
What specific moment at City Light made you feel proud of your work to public power?
One of the moments that stands out most in my time at City Light was supervising during the last major storm, the “bomb cyclone.” I saw the dedication of our line crews as they worked tirelessly through long hours and severe weather to restore power to every customer as quickly and safely as possible. Not once did I hear complaints about the conditions or the workload. What struck me most was the way the team treated each other like family and how they treated every customer with that same level of care. Seeing that commitment and teamwork made me extremely proud of everyone involved, and it reinforced how meaningful it is for me to be part of the City Light family.
Amy Wheeless, Regional Affairs Strategic Advisor | Power Supply
What inspired you to pursue a career in public service, specifically at City Light?
I’ve been working and around electric utilities my entire life, starting as the daughter and a niece of long-time electric utility employees on the East Coast. While I knew early on I liked working in the energy space, I wasn’t sure where I would land. Over my career so far, I’ve worked in consulting—including for electric utilities on customer-facing programs, for a non-profit working in the energy and utility space, and for the state of Washington on energy policy and funding. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to start with City Light, and am excited to help tackle some of the opportunities we have ahead of us, especially how we implement clean energy policy on the ground.
A public power utility is owned and operated by the government, as opposed to private, investor-owned utilities. This structure ensures that City Light serves the public interest, rather than focusing on profit. We answer to you, offering transparency, accountability, and direct benefits to the community. This relationship ensures that your needs and interests are always at the forefront, safely providing you with affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible power.