
Discover ways to save on your electric bill.

Utility Discount Program
The Utility Discount Program offers income-qualified customers a 50% discount on their Seattle Public Utilities bill and a 60% discount on their Seattle City Light bill. With the discounts, customers save an average of $1,200 a year.
2020 UDP Eligibility
- You are the Seattle City Light primary account holder
- Your total household pre-taxed income from the prior month is lower than:
Household Size | Monthly Income | Yearly Income |
1 | $2,966 | $35,592 |
2 | $3,879 | $46,548 |
3 | $4,791 | $57,492 |
4 | $5,704 | $68,448 |
5 | $6,617 | $79,404 |
6 | $7,529 | $90,348 |
7 | $7,700 | $92,400 |
8 | $7,872 | $94,464 |
9 | $8,043 | $96,516 |
10 | $8,214 | $98,568 |
Each Person Past 10, add: | $171 | $2,052 |
For more information, visit Human Services.
Emergency Low Income Assistance
The Emergency Low Income Assistance (ELIA) program has been improved with expanded eligibility and more flexible benefits.
ELIA participants may receive assistance up to 100% of their bill, maxing out at $200. Assistance is available once in a 12-month period, or twice in a 12-month period for families with children under the age of 18 in their household.
2020 ELIA Eligibility
- You are the Seattle City Light primary account holder
- You have received at least a 10-day shutoff notice on a balance of $250 or more
- Your total household pre-taxed income from the prior month is lower than:
Household Size | Monthly Income | Yearly Income |
1 | $3,390 | $40,680 |
2 | $4,433 | $53,196 |
3 | $5,476 | $65,712 |
4 | $6,519 | $78,228 |
5 | $7,562 | $90,744 |
6 | $8,605 | $103,260 |
7 | $8,801 | $105,612 |
8 | $8,996 | $107,952 |
9 | $9,192 | $110,304 |
10 | $9,387 | $112,644 |
Each Person Past 10, add: | $196 | $2,352 |
How to Apply:
- Complete the Universal Assistance Application
- Mail or deliver the application to:
City Light Rate Assistance
700 5th Ave Ste. #2832
Seattle, WA 98124
Additional forms if you are self-employed and unemployed:
- Declaration of Self-Employment Income
- Declaration of Income (for Unemployed)
- Employment Security Dept-Self Request for Records
If you have questions about your application or would like assistance, please call (206)-684-3688 or email SCL_InfoELIA@seattle.gov.
Project Share
Project Share offers support to those participating in the Utility Discount Program. It is funded by customers’ donations and was designed to help indebted customers get a fresh start and obtain a zero balance on their Seattle City Light account.
How Project Share works:
- Customers enrolled in the Utility Discount Program are automatically eligible for the program.
- Project Share will pledge from $125 up to $250 without a customer match.
- Additionally, $1 may be pledged from Project Share for every $1 the customer pays to achieve zero balance (up to $250 additional)
- The customer creates a payment plan on the remaining balance for any funds to be distributed.
For more information, call (206) 684-3000.
Weatherization
Seattle City Light partners with the City of Seattle Office of Housing to provide free energy efficiency upgrades to qualified households.
For more information and eligibility guidelines, visit Seattle’s Department of Housing.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Seattle City Light partners with this federally funded program that offers energy education, budget counseling, and weatherization service.
If your main source of heat is electricity, gas, or heating oil, and you need help paying your utility bill during the winter season, call or schedule online.
Seattle | (206) 486-6828 | Online at Byrd Barr Place
South King County | (253) 517-2263 | Online at Multi-Service Center
North & East King County | (425) 658-2592 | Online at Hopelink