As we look back on 2025, City Light reached an important milestone. This year, we created our 10-Year Strategic Roadmap. This plan gives us a clear vision that connects our daily work to what our customers, workforce, and communities need. It helps us prepare for future challenges and opportunities.
The energy world is changing fast, and we are working on key priorities to keep up. We are replacing aging infrastructure, finding new power sources, and updating our processes. We remain committed to safely providing reliable, clean, and affordable energy. Our 10-Year roadmap focuses on six areas: reliability, customers, power supply, sustainability, workforce, and technology. This ensures every action we take has purpose and makes a difference.
This year, we took on meaningful work by:
- Improving the reliability and resilience of our systems.
- Engaging with our customers to support the trust you put in us.
- Partnering with you to take care of the environment and our communities.
Going forward, we are guided by our strategic vision and our commitment to our service area. We are committed to excellent service, new ideas, and building trust with the people we serve. Together, we are creating a utility that meets today’s challenges and succeeds in tomorrow’s energy future.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s look back on what we accomplished and the foundation we’ve built for the next decade.
We are improving the reliability and resilience of our systems.
In 2025, we continued to enhance the reliability and resilience of our power systems to meet the growing needs of our community.
- Storm response:
- Crews restored power to 98% of customers within 24 hours after a February windstorm impacted 64,000 customers. A complex repair to a high-voltage transmission line near Bothell Substation showcased teamwork and innovation.
- In December, atmospheric rivers caused record-breaking water levels on the Skagit River, prompting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assume control of Ross Dam to manage water flows at our Skagit Hydroelectric Project. Through close collaboration with the Army Corps, the dam held back 99% of reservoir inflows, minimizing downstream flooding and safeguarding local communities.
- Underground cable replacement: Progress continued on our Underground Cable Replacement Program, with projects in Hurstwood, Brace Point, and View Ridge/Aviation Heights improving reliability for thousands of customers.
- East Pine Substation upgrades: The multi-year reliability project at East Pine Substation was completed, including the installation of a third 150-ton transformer to enhance capacity, safety, and monitoring capabilities.
- LiDAR technology: Our Vegetation Management team used LiDAR to precisely map and manage vegetation along 600 miles of transmission lines, improving grid safety and wildfire prevention. Their innovative work earned them national recognition in October, when they received the Francis Upton Top Innovator in Analytics in Utility Service award.
These efforts reflect our commitment to delivering reliable, sustainable, and innovative energy solutions for the greater Seattle area’s future.
We value the trust you put in us.
We continued to prioritize exceptional customer service and engagement, earning recognition and expanding programs to better serve our community.
- Award-winning business customer service: For the fourth year in a row, we ranked #1 in customer satisfaction for midsize business electric utilities in the West, according to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study™. We were also named a 2024 Business Customer Champion by Escalent for our strong relationships and reliable support for businesses.
- Enhanced outreach: Through a partnership with the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, we’ve expanded outreach to underrepresented communities, connecting more customers with utility bill assistance programs and ensuring equitable access to energy solutions.
- Energy Heroes reaches record numbers: Our Energy Heroes program delivered educational workshops to 190 classes, reaching 5,185 students across 47 schools during the 2024-2025 school year. The program continues to prioritize equity, delivering 34% of workshops to schools serving historically under-resourced communities.
- Improved accessibility: In partnership with Seattle Public Utilities, we launched a new Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system for our customer contact center, featuring in-language options at the start of calls to better serve our diverse community.
These efforts reflect our dedication to making energy services accessible, equitable, and customer focused.
We are ensuring we can meet our growing demand.
- Clean energy policy challenges: We hosted a roundtable at the Denny Substation with Senator Patty Murray to discuss federal policy changes, including cuts to clean energy tax credits. These cuts could cost Washington over $8.7 billion in clean energy investments, raise electricity costs by 12%, and lead to job losses. Even with these challenges, City Light will continue to expand clean energy resources to meet growing demand and keep Washington leading in clean energy innovation.
- Securing reliable and affordable power: In December, City Light executed a 16-year “Provider of Choice” contract with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to secure access to the Federal Columbia River Power System. As a public preference customer within the BPA system, City Light has access to the lowest cost rates in the region. Historically, we have received approximately 45-50% of resource needs from BPA. The new contract, which begins in October 2028, is expected to provide a similar amount of energy with a higher degree of flexibility.
- Renewable Plus: 2025 was an exciting year for Renewable Plus, City Light’s program that offers a 100% renewable power source option for eligible large load commercial customers. In April, Seattle City Council approved the program’s rate charge that will take effect January 1, 2026. Renewable energy partner NewSun is nearing completion on the solar assets in Central Oregon, and the team signed three participation agreements with prominent commercial customers.
- Large Industrial Curtailment Program: City Light launched a voluntary demand-response program inviting eligible large customers to temporarily reduce energy use during high-demand periods. When an event occurs, participants commit to reducing at least 1 megawatt (MW) of usage over 24 hours, which allows City Light to avoid costly market purchases and receive higher prices for surplus energy sales. This program delivers value to the utility, participants, and the broader community by helping keep electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible.
We partner with you to take care of the environment and our communities.
We continued to lead the way in sustainability, electrification, and environmental stewardship through innovative programs and partnerships.
- Electrification milestones: The Seattle City Council adopted our updated 2025-2030 Transportation Electrification Strategic Investment Plan (TESIP), which outlines priorities for expanding EV charging infrastructure, supporting transit electrification, and preparing the grid for growing demand. We launched a Public Charging Incentive Program, helping businesses and communities install EV chargers with up to $280,000 in financial incentives.
- Expanding Electric Vehicle engagement: Through partnerships with the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and community leaders, we expanded outreach to overburdened communities, ensuring equitable access to EV charging and workforce opportunities. Events like the Electric Car Guest Drive allowed participants to test drive EVs and learn about incentives, charging options, and the benefits of electrification.
- Building a skilled EV workforce: Our Electric Vehicle Charging Installer Program is helping women- and minority-owned (WMBE) electrical contractors thrive in the emerging EV charging market. In 2025, we supported 15 WMBE firms with tools, training, and mentorship. Through the program, participants expanded their expertise, earned certificates, and secured 46 bid opportunities with City Light customers.
- Environmental sustainability and stewardship:
- We celebrated the first year of success at the Native Salmonid Conservation Facility, where we completed the full lifecycle of Westslope cutthroat trout, preserving genetic diversity and supporting recreational fishing. Collaborative efforts with the Kalispel Tribe and local agencies have strengthened ecosystems and community ties.
- We opened Metaline Falls Portage Park, a 10-acre day-use park in Metaline Falls, Washington. Located on a historic power plant site, the park honors its cultural significance and features accessible amenities, picnic spots, and a 1,600-foot paved portage trail.
- Sustainability events: At the “Earth Day, Every Day” event in Shoreline, we showcased four new EV fast chargers and shared energy-saving tips with over 160 attendees. Events like these inspire sustainable practices and connect communities with resources to live greener lives.
- Making progress on our Clean Energy Implementation Plan: In September 2025, the Seattle City Council approved our 2026-2029 Clean Energy Implementation Plan, which was shaped by extensive customer engagement over the course of several months. The plan emphasizes equity, reduced energy burden, improved community health, and access to green jobs.
We are looking forward to powering you in the new year!
As we move forward, we remain powered by building a brighter, more resilient future for everyone we serve. We are committed to providing you with excellent service, finding innovative solutions to our energy challenges, and building and keeping your trust.
Together, we are creating a utility that meets today’s challenges and succeeds in tomorrow’s energy future. Thank you for being part of this journey!