WOMEN IN POWER: How Seattle City Light’s Employees Came Together to Empower

October 15, 2019 by Nathan MacDonald

This story was published originally in the March 2019 issue of Northwest Public Power Association Bulletin Magazine. Please note: positions and titles of contributors may have changed since the time of original publication.

On ladders L-R: Shaina Cornelius and Koryn Kennedy. Standing L-R: Rachel Berry, Kim Kinney, Leigh Barreca, Maura Brueger, Sarah Davis, Lea Fisher, Paula Laschober, Liz Zimmerly, Debra Smith, Katheryn Mork, Uzma Siddiqi, and Deloris Marks. Seated L-R: Bianca Smith, Hina Arai, Stefanie Johnson, Courtney Adams, Michelle Vargo, and Joan Woods.
Photo credit: Fischer Wallace, Swae Photography.

It started with an idea.
For Seattle City Light’s Sarah Davis, the idea stemmed from attending a Women in Energy conference in 2016. She left the event excited, hoping to return home and find a group to join that focused on empowering women. But after a little reflection, instead of joining a group, better yet, why not start something together with other employees at City Light? After emails and casual hallway conversations, the idea of creating a group at City Light with her coworkers began to take shape. As it turned out, others shared the same interest, felt the same need, and had the same energy around the idea. The idea was simple: create a positive space to empower women (and men) at City Light.

In January 2017, these conversations converged, and Women in Power (WIP) held its first official meeting. The energy in the room was exhilarating and full of possibilities. This meeting established an employee group that has become a champion for equity and has positively impacted people from all divisions across the utility. Today, Women in Power has more than 200 members, consisting of both women and men, and focuses work in three areas: bimonthly meetings; a mentoring program; and Citywide events addressing topics such as gender equity, diversity, and inclusion. WIP’s mission is to foster professional development, better support one another, and address unique issues women face in the workplace. As an employee group, WIP currently doesn’t have a budget, so programming operates solely on members volunteering their time. Based on the work WIP has accomplished, it has garnered support from a large portion of City Light’s executives, directors, and employees.

Seattle takes notice
WIP’s influence in Seattle reached a new level on March 8, 2018, International Women’s Day. Members of WIP and employees from across other City of Seattle departments organized Women in Power: Press for Progress, an event to connect, discuss, and celebrate powerful women working for the City. More than 450 people attended the event (both physically and virtually) at Seattle City Hall inside the Bertha Knight Landes Room, aptly named after Seattle’s first female mayor.

Female City of Seattle leaders, including Mayor Jenny Durkan, Chief of Police Carmen Best, four of Seattle’s six female councilmembers, and City Light representatives participated in panels that addressed the importance of mentorship, being heard, and how to become an agent of change within one’s environment.

The members of WIP were thrilled with not only the turnout but the energy of the event from beginning to end. It was contagious. It embodied what could be accomplished when working together around an idea fueled by passion and vision.

Seattle Department of Transportation Facilities Manager Holly Krejci was instrumental in organizing the event. She connected the organizers with the right resources and helped them navigate the City systems to make this event a reality. It all happened because of a conversation she had with Davis while ordering coffee.

“We didn’t actually know each other, but Sarah had this idea about organizing an International Women’s Day event, and I said, ‘Why not?’” Krejci described.

The event laid the groundwork for the creation of SDOT’s women’s group, Women in Motion, thanks to a little encouragement from Davis. Similar to WIP’s origins, Krejci reached out to SDOT employees to gauge interest, including co-chair, Jessica Alinen. After a few interest meetings and email exchanges, Women in Motion was formed. Today, it has established committees with plans to expand, on a trajectory like WIP. The key to success is determining interest and then finding talented, organized people to make it take flight.

“We’re here to support one another,” Alinen explained. “People are drawn to others who have a passion and energy for an issue. Holly brought that to Women in Motion. As members, we are there to support that passion and nurture it into something special.”

The Women in Power Mentorship Program
WIP attempts to better serve the needs of its City Light colleagues by creating meaningful programs. When someone has an idea and identifies a need, the group encourages them to take the lead and make it happen. Liz Zimmerly, performance support services manager and a WIP vice-chair, and Anna Kim, power resource planner, did just that. Zimmerly and Kim wanted to create a mentorship program that connected employees and enhanced the professional development of the mentor and the mentee. Together, they led a committee of 12 members who developed and managed the program. The six-month pilot launched in early 2018 and included an application process to identify potential matches, multiple events with the cohort, and surveys to better assess the program.

The committee’s work provided these women with an opportunity to utilize and enhance skills outside of their current job description. Professional development for both the cohort and the committee is promoted throughout WIP’s structure and processes. It benefits both the individual and the utility.

“The mentorship program felt like something tangible that we could do to support women’s professional development,” said Zimmerly. “We felt creating our program here along with the other opportunities available within the industry would make mentorship accessible to even more people.”

Based on the success of the pilot, the mentoring program is launching its second cohort. This year, interest was so great that applications exceeded capacity and a waiting list had to be created.

Kathleen Wingers, the executive administrative staff assistant to City Light’s CFO and a program participant, believes the mentorship program created an opportunity to connect with another coworker on a personal level in a way she couldn’t have otherwise.

“What I have appreciated most is the opportunity to build a relationship with someone that I otherwise would not have met in the utility,” Wingers explained. “My mentor and I enjoyed sharing our experiences, both professionally and, in our case, as working moms.”

Creating connections
It’s common for employees to feel as if they don’t have inclusive spaces to discuss potentially sensitive topics or defined channels to connect with others outside of their business unit. The survey results from the mentorship program confirmed what WIP members had already theorized: City Light employees, especially women, were searching for ways to connect with each another. It quickly became apparent that WIP had the potential not only to empower but to help break down the proverbial silos that most organizations have.

WIP’s bimonthly meetings have become an open space to connect and learn. Usually held over the noon hour, meetings are lunch-and-learn style that highlight a speaker and address topics like equity and inclusion, communication styles, and development resources available to employees with speakers ranging from executives to HR representatives. The topics are typically sourced from members, keeping the organic fluidity that reflects WIP’s culture.

Organizing a group around an idea the way WIP has, independent of the utility, provides an opportunity to grow at a sustainable rate. Like the larger Citywide events that WIP spearheaded with other departments, it hopes to continue to link both women and men together across the utility by making it less opaque.

Stefanie Johnson, a senior power analyst and WIP vice chair, believes the connections WIP has created have become invaluable for her job. “Like many employees, I only interface with people in a limited number of roles at the utility,” said Johnson. “Being involved with WIP has allowed me to build a more complete understanding of the utility and to develop professional connections that I can call on when I run into a question or an issue in my work.”

Cover Image from March 2019 issue of *NWPPA Bulletin*
Back row L-R: Uzma Siddiqi, Liz Zimmerly, and Sarah Davis. Front row L-R: Shaina Cornelius, Joan Woods, Bianca Smith, Stefanie Johnson, and Koryn Kennedy.
Photo credit: Fischer Wallace, Swae Photography.

Executive championship
While WIP is a grassroots employee group, executive support was essential. From the beginning, they received support from City Light leaders, largely through participation. This show of support was especially visible leading up to the 2018 International Women’s Day event when executive leadership, driven by Interim General Manager and CEO Jim Baggs, allowed City Light employees to attend the event without having to use personal or vacation time.

“The group has worked hard to operate in a way that fosters strong positive relationships with our leadership to make supporting the work we’re doing possible,” said Davis. “We are an employee group, but we’re part of the utility. We have wonderfully supportive leadership at City Light, but we also have a responsibility to earn and maintain their trust.”

Participation in WIP by officers and directors is high, with the second WIP meeting consisting of a candid panel discussion by City Light’s three female officers about their experiences in the industry. One of whom was Chief Financial Officer Paula Laschober, who has been with the utility for 32 years. Laschober served as a sounding board and an advocate for WIP, especially in its formative stages. She believes it is her responsibility as a leader to pay it forward by investing in others who want to improve the utility and the industry.

“Women are still a minority in the power industry. In my position, I need to do what I can to encourage other women within the utility,” said Laschober. “Support looks different for everyone, but it can be as simple as a conversation or a gentle nudge in the right direction.”

Power Supply Officer Mike Haynes has also been a strong champion for WIP since its inception. Like many of the employee-led grassroots efforts, he feels that groups like WIP can fill a gap within the utility and can become a vital resource in the future. Haynes believes that executive leadership should be present in its support and should go beyond showing up by actively engaging.

“It’s easy for executives in my position to forget how impactful our support can be. What we’ve learned as officers is that sponsoring bottom-up initiatives like WIP, even if they are not officially tied to the utility, can pay dividends in the future. It enhances our culture,” Haynes said. “As executives, we are responsible for creating an environment where our employees will succeed. We owe it to our employees to foster that healthy environment. If we’re intentional about supporting these issues, we can proactively work together and provide the support they deserve. That way, we can celebrate that work.”

Since assuming her role as general manager and CEO of City Light, Debra Smith has spoken at a WIP bi-monthly meeting and has engaged with its members. “I attended my first ‘Women in Power’ event more than 15 years ago in Washington, D.C. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of participating in similar industry groups, all with a common purpose. I was fortunate to have strong mentors along my career path—some women but also men—and I know the importance of being encouraged by both colleagues and leaders,” she explained. “Grassroots groups, like Women in Power, are especially important because even as its members support one another, they also provide opportunities for personal empowerment,” she continued. “Sarah is a great example of someone who saw a need and made it happen. I’m proud to work with people who understand that it’s our job to create the environment and culture where we can all succeed.”

Providing support
How do men fit into Women in Power? For some, it may seem daunting, or frankly feel awkward to join a group like WIP. They may want to get involved, but don’t know where to start or how to show support. WIP is open to all City Light employees regardless of what gender you identify with and believes that change can only be achieved when everyone is part of the conversation.

“It’s the idea that we support each other,” said Uzma Siddiqi, automation and relay supervisor and mentorship committee co-chair. “It doesn’t need to be just about women or men, but a group who is open in their thinking and supports each other in hopes that it will impact the culture of the organization.”

It’s important to be supportive in your daily work environment as well. It can be eye-opening to take a step back to think about issues that your female colleagues may be facing. Analyzing your work through this lens of thinking can improve how you interact with your coworkers and possibly create spaces to address the challenges they are facing.

“Support can take all different forms,” Davis explained. “A great first step is simply asking ‘How can I help?’ Sometimes it’s as easy as spreading the word to your coworkers or showing up to an event. While it may feel small to you, demonstrating your support speaks volumes to the larger group.”

Organizing your own group
If you were to ask anyone within WIP about how to start a group like theirs, they would all emphatically state that their method is a model, not the model. There are other great examples of employee groups like WIP across the region, each with their own unique structure and origin. Regardless, WIP wants to serve as a resource to women and men across all utilities. These are a few tips to help form your own group.

1. Start with a common goal and grow
WIP started with an idea, but it took working together and utilizing everyone’s talents to help it take shape. The first meetings won’t be perfect, but something as simple as watching a TED Talk can initiate a conversation and open the channels of communication. As your group begins to grow, don’t be afraid to try new things. Give your group the latitude to try something and decide whether it’s worth doing again. The Mentorship Program was intentionally a pilot program for this reason. Be supportive of your members and their ideas.

2. Provide options
When a group is voluntary people aren’t showing up because they have to, they’re showing up because they want to. Provide something for everyone by offering comprehensive programming and a wide menu of options to support varying levels of engagement and interests. Additionally, keep member registration simple. There’s no formal initiation ceremony to join WIP; all it takes is an email to WIP’s Programming Vice-Chair and City Light Program Lead Bianca Smith to be added to their listserv. She encourages other groups to use members as a resource for meeting topics. “Listen to what your members want,” she said. “What’s missing? What barriers are you facing? What skills do you want to learn? Be receptive to that. Show what your utility can offer you in a more comfortable setting to receive this information. We intentionally keep it informal and honest.” If you have members who want to be more involved in the leadership of the group, encourage them to apply skills that may be outside of their daily work. This gives them the opportunity to enhance their talents while being involved, benefiting both themselves and the group.

3. Look for opportunities to connect
With more than 1,800 employees and multiple facilities across the state, it is a challenge to ensure that everyone who wants to be involved can. WIP has live-streamed some of its events and is working to make all its bi-monthly meetings available through Skype. This will help provide another avenue for participation for people working in the field and employees at more remote locations like the hydroelectric projects. While not all utilities are the size of City Light, it’s important to remember that this model can be scaled up or down to any size organization. If you work for a smaller public municipal utility, reach out to your counterparts at other departments like public works or transportation. The more connections you can create expands the conversation and can help grow support for your organization.

This all started with an idea.
Women in Power has become a vehicle for change within City Light and Seattle itself. Its members are proud and even surprised by its progress in only a few years. They hope to continue to help create an inclusive utility culture for all, by working together.

“We’re off to a good start but we have the ability to do more, especially around intersectionality and women in the trades,” said Davis. “But together, we can. This group is a true testament to the simplistic beauty inherent in teamwork. Everyone plays a role; everyone has something to contribute. You just have to decide what that looks like for you, and then take action.”

Seattle City Light receives Save America’s Treasures grant for rehabilitation of Georgetown Steam Plant

October 14, 2019 by Julie Moore

Award is one of 41 distributed by National Park Service, Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Humanities

Seattle City Light has received a $500,000 Save America’s Treasures grant for the rehabilitation of the exterior historic concrete of the Georgetown Steam Plant, a 113-year old National Historic Landmark, the National Park Service (NPS) announced. This work will extend the building’s life, protect priceless early era electrical equipment and allow more public use than currently programmed.

“We thank the National Park Service, Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Humanities for recognizing the historic importance of the Georgetown Steam Plant, which represents an important development in the early history of electrification in the United States,” said Lynn Best, City Light Chief Environmental Officer. “This funding will support City Light’s efforts to rehabilitate this building and protect the significant historic resources inside including the two vertical Curtis turbine generators.”

The Georgetown Steam Plant, a National Historic Landmark, stands today as a reminder of the era of electrification of America’s cities and a time when industry was first attracted to Seattle by its inexpensive hydroelectric power and electric trolley car system. Built in 1906-1907 by the Seattle Electric Company, the plant was purchased in 1951 by the City of Seattle Department of Lighting – today’s Seattle City Light – which continued to operate the plant on a very limited basis, until the 1970s. In recent years, City Light has been working to restore the plant and has partnered with community volunteers to staff the open houses held each month.

The Save America’s Treasures grant will help fund work to halt the deterioration of the plant’s exterior concrete by removing multiple paint layers and repairing the historic concrete to stabilize the building envelope. This is part of a larger phased rehabilitation project that includes repairs to the windows, doors and a new roof. Other project funding comes from 4Culture, Washington State Historical Society’s Heritage Capital Projects program and City Light.

Since October 2014, City Light has opened the steam plant one Saturday a month from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for free public tours, which have proven very popular, attracting over 7,000 visitors within these limited hours. Private tours are regularly provided to local community, professional, and educational groups, across a range of ages from children at the Museum of Flight Aerospace Camp Experience and the Seattle World School (public school serving new immigrants), to organizations for seniors. The local artistic community has brought an additional audience to the steam plant through a variety of projects, including the production of an original play, in-house artist residencies, an interpretive dance performance, small concerts and several film productions. The rehabilitation work will ensure continued public use for tours and expanded programming guided by a recently established Georgetown Steam Plant Advisory Committee.

About the Save America’s Treasures program

The NPS, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), awarded $12.6 million in 41 matching grants to support the preservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections through the Save America’s Treasures program.

“Save America’s Treasures helps preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections that convey our nation’s rich heritage to future generations of Americans,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. “This $12.6 million in funding will leverage more than $22 million in private and public investment for preservation and conservation projects without spending taxpayers’ money.”

The Federal Save America’s Treasures program was established in 1998, and is carried out in partnership with IMLS, NEA, and NEH with the objective of preserving nationally significant historic properties and museum collections for future generations of Americans to experience, learn from, and enjoy. For more information about the grants and the Save America’s Treasures Program, please visit http://go.nps.gov/sat.

About Seattle City Light

Established in 1910, Seattle City Light is the City of Seattle’s municipally owned electric utility. City Light owns and operates seven hydroelectric power plants in Washington state, two of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Seattle Municipal Light and Power Plant (aka Cedar Falls) and the Skagit River and Newhalem Creek Hydroelectric Projects. With more than 109 years of service, Seattle City Light is dedicated to producing and delivering environmentally responsible, safe, low-cost, and reliable power while also respecting our heritage and managing numerous historic resources to tell our story.

Seattle City Light releases East Marginal Way Storm Investigation Report; recommendations report to follow

October 9, 2019 by Julie Moore

On Friday, April 5 around 3:50 p.m., during a storm event with high winds and rain, 26 utility poles came down along East Marginal Way South in Tukwila. To ensure full accountability and impartiality, Seattle City Light requested the City Attorney’s Office coordinate an investigation with third-party consultants to determine the cause and to make recommendations for how to reduce recurrence risk in the future. and to make recommendations for how to reduce recurrence risk in the future. The team assembled has expertise in mechanical/structural engineering, electrical engineering, wood pole strength and loading, the properties and durability of wood, the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), meteorology, and more.

On Sept. 30, 2019, the expert consultants provided the first part of the final report, which summarizes the final causation findings (i.e., Investigation Report). Later this fall, the consultants will finalize the second part of the report, which will offer the experts’ recommendations (i.e., Recommendations Report).

As we said in the days following the event, in a commitment to transparency, City Light will share information as it becomes available. To that end, we are providing the first part of the final report now with additional information about our next steps, which will be further informed by the second part of the final report and continued consultation with the third-party experts. We will release part two once it is finalized, as well as more detailed plans as they are developed.

As you can read in the report findings, two poles in the middle of the span that went down first had advanced decay and the weather was a factor in the timing of their failure. The initial collapse of the two poles created an unstable condition for poles to the north and south, causing sequential failures of 24 other poles, including poles with no decay.

When last inspected in 2016, none of the poles that collapsed showed any signs of imminent public safety risks that would require immediate replacement. Several were rated as P2, including the two that fell first, which was categorized as the second priority for replacement back in 2016.

The investigation found that City Light’s engineering for installation of the poles and the equipment they supported was sound based on nationally adopted engineering standards. However, the report also concluded our rating system for remaining pole strength was overly broad, which limited our ability to effectively prioritize replacements, especially among P2 poles.

With these findings, we are taking immediate action to address these issues, starting with:

Assigning a project manager to oversee and accelerate pole replacements with an emphasis on safety, prioritizing the poles with the least strength remaining.
Reprioritizing existing staff resources and using the emergency contracting process to hire vendors to accelerate pole replacements.
Working with the Seattle Department of Transportation to expedite the permitting process.
Shifting funds from other capital improvement program (CIP) projects to support this work.

“Seattle City Light is committed to the safety of our community and our workers. One pole failure of this kind is too many. We are thankful that Linda and Tom Cook avoided more serious injuries when one of these poles hit their car. We appreciate the work of the investigators to identify the cause of this event and we will take the appropriate steps to avoid a similar incident,” said Debra Smith, City Light General Manager and CEO.

“This is an essential capital improvement program and I am prioritizing public safety above all else. We will redirect funds and resources from other CIP projects, which will likely be deferred. However, our direct customer services will not be impacted, and we will not raise rates to cover the costs of these efforts.”

While we jumpstart additional pole replacements, we are developing a longer-term plan to meet or exceed all industry standards on pole replacements. This includes updating our pole strength rating system and the required maintenance timeframe. The specific adjustments will be finalized once we receive the final recommendations from the third-party experts. We do not have a firm timeline for more formalized plans but commit to sharing them as soon as possible.

East Marginal Way Storm Investigation Report

East Marginal Way Storm Investigation Report Appendices

East Marginal Way Storm Report FAQ

City Light System Reliability Work to Affect Traffic on I-5 from Oct. 7-9

October 4, 2019 by Hernann Ambion Leave a Comment

Seattle City Light crews plan to relocate existing overhead power lines over Interstate 5 near Northeast 200^th and 203^rd streets to support Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link Extension project. This work will result in traffic impacts on October 7-9.

To complete this work safely, Washington State Patrol troopers and contracted crews must intermittently conduct rolling slowdowns of traffic in both directions of I-5 to ensure safe work operations and passage for motorists. Traffic will be intercepted and escorted at slow speeds for up to 15 minutes between Lynnwood and north Seattle as crews pull overhead feeder cables across the highway. Traffic will return to normal speeds once past the work area.

Rolling slowdowns will occur on the following dates:

Monday night (11:59 p.m.), October 7 to Tuesday morning (4 a.m.), October 8
Tuesday night (11:59 p.m.), October 8 to Wednesday morning (4 a.m.), October 9

Traffic using the following on-ramps to I-5 will be affected:

On southbound I-5: 196^th Street Southwest, 44th Avenue West (Lynnwood), 220^th Street Southwest (Mountlake Terrace), State Route 104 (Shoreline)
On northbound I-5: Northeast 175^th Street, 5^th Avenue Northeast (Shoreline), Northeast Northgate Way, Northeast 80^th Street (Seattle)

Drivers should expect delays and consider using alternate routes during construction. Real-time traffic information is available on the WSDOT mobile app and the WSDOT Traffic Twitter feed.

For more information on Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link Extension project, which will extend light rail into south Snohomish County and serve stations in Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood, please visit www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/lynnwood-link-extension or www.seattle.gov/light/atwork.

Seattle City Light Rate Changes

October 3, 2019 by Nathan MacDonald

Effective Nov. 1, 2019, Seattle City Light customers will see a rate decrease of approximately 0.5% on average. This change is the cumulative effect of an average 1.9% passthrough credit and a 1.5% increase to the Rate Stabilization Account (RSA) surcharge.

The credit is a Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) passthrough of 0.19 cents per kWh[1], which is approximately a 1.9% reduction for City Light customers on average. BPA announced its new rates and associated customer bills effective Oct. 1, 2019.

City Light’s specific changes were:

No change to its power rates.
A 3.18% increase to transmission rates.
Approximately 3% reduction in purchase volume.

This resulted in roughly $15 million lower BPA costs compared to what was used when setting 2020 retail rates. This triggers a BPA passthrough; when final BPA rates/costs are adopted, any differences in costs from planning levels will be passed through to City Light’s customers via a per kWh credit or charge. The BPA passthrough is permanent until City Light adopts new retail rates, which is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2021.

The Rate Stabilization Account is a cash reserve of approximately $100 million that City Light can dip into when wholesale market prices or hydroelectric production changes cause an unexpected drop in revenue. Any differences in actual net wholesale revenues compared to planning levels will be transferred to/from the RSA. An RSA surcharge is automatically triggered when the RSA becomes depleted.

Net wholesale revenues are extremely low this year due to low water conditions at City Light’s hydro generating facilities. This has caused approximately $30 million of withdrawals from the RSA through the first three quarters of the year. A 1.5% surcharge had been in place since August 2016. The surcharge amount will increase to 3% on Nov. 1, 2019 since the RSA balance has dropped below $80 million at the end of September. When the quarterly RSA balance exceeds $90 million the 3% surcharge will be reduced to 1.5% and when it exceeds $100 million all surcharges will be removed.

2020 Annual Rate Changes

Effective Jan. 1, 2020, customers will see a rate increase of approximately 5.4% on average. This rate change was adopted by Seattle City Council in November 2018 and endorsed by the Seattle City Light’s 2019-2024 Strategic Plan. The approved rates will be adjusted by the BPA passthrough and RSA surcharge.

Customer Rate Impacts

Customers will have different rate impacts based on their specific electricity use. The tables below show average impacts for each customer class for the Nov. 1, 2019 and Jan. 1, 2020 rate changes. Customers can view the new rates on City Light’s rates webpage.

Nov. 1, 2019 (relative to rates in effect January-October 2019)

Jan. 1, 2020 (relative to rates in effect November-December 2019)

[1] Customers participating in the Utility Discount Program (UDP) will see a rate decrease of 0.08 cents per kWh

Powering the Battery Street Tunnel Meters

September 30, 2019 by Kelsey Hay Leave a Comment

Meter Reading in the Tunnel

It’s hard to forget driving past the view of Puget Sound on the Alaskan Way Viaduct and coasting through the Battery Street Tunnel on daily commutes, trips to Green Lake, or any of the many destinations in and out of the city. What you may not have seen were the nine electrical meters that lined the Battery Street Tunnel and more so, the meter readers that were tasked with checking those meters in the narrow tunnel.

City Light employee Laurent Delsuc spent five years reading the meters in the tunnel. The meters tracked the electricity used to power the lights and fans across the tunnel ceiling. Meter readers before Delsuc timed their trips into the tunnel when it was shut down for major events. However, Delsuc opted to read the meters when cars were rushing past.

Getting to the Meters

Laurent describes the access to the tunnel as a journey in itself. The entrance to the tunnel was near the Fire Station at 4^th Avenue and Battery Street. Due to safety concerns, Delsuc was unable to keep a key so the fire chief provided access each time he needed to enter the tunnel and monitored his progress through security cameras. As he made his way down into the tunnel, there was the possibility of running into people seeking refuge inside the tunnel and on the stairways.

Once down the stairs, the route to the meter location was like a maze. The directions were quite detailed and included walking on a three-foot sidewalk near the main tunnel roadway. “The safety hazards were plentiful,” says Delsuc. “You can see tire tracks or bumper marks above the meters’ location, showing the close vicinity of the meter to traffic.”

Laurent Delsuc using his phone to take pictures in order to read the meter.

Living on the Edge

When Delsuc visited the tunnel for the first time, he had to step into the roadway between traffic because of how high the meters were located. He eventually moved closer to the meter’s location and reached up to take photos of the meters. Meter reading instruction cards were usually provided to give direction on where the meters are located, but the ones for the tunnel were missing. As a result, Delsuc had to explore the tunnel, going through narrow walkways and opening fire doors that separated the two directions of traffic.

Over the years, Delsuc and others eventually learned the locations of the meters and found the missing instruction cards. Working in the Battery Street Tunnel was one of Delsuc’s most memorable projects that he has taken on as a meter reader. Many City Light employees still refer to him as the “Tunnel Man” today.

Safety First

City Light meter readers are often presented with hazards while working on the job. The utility emphasizes the importance of safety through trainings that teach employees situational awareness and mitigate dangers they encounter. If employees feel unsafe or see an unsafe situation, there are systems in place for analyzing and reporting any possible dangerous locations with the utility’s Safety, Health and Wellness division.

Looking Ahead

As we head into a new chapter of Seattle’s transportation infrastructure, we take this moment to look back and appreciate the behind-the-scenes work that people like Laurent Delsuc did for many years to keep the Battery Street Tunnel functioning. We thank him and others for keeping us safe throughout the years.

Reaching a Milestone

As the removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct progressed over the summer of 2019, eight of the nine meters were removed from the tunnel walls.
One meter was requested to stay active in the control room to temporarily power lighting and fans during construction.

Seattle City (spot)Light: Nathan MacDonald

September 30, 2019 by Kelsey Hay

Nathan MacDonald has worked at City Light for two years. He’s a part of the Communications division where he works as a Senior Public Relations Specialist. “A lot of my job is positioning the utility as a thought leader within our industry and as a subject matter expert for local media along with other publications,” Nathan explained. “I’m also the editor of our Light Reading newsletter and manage the social media account for Skagit Tours.”

Born in Canada, Nathan moved to Texas when he was eight years old. He studied integrated marketing and communications at Abilene Christian University in Texas and later attended Florida State University to earn his master’s in integrated marketing communications with a focus in multicultural marketing (he’s a huge Florida State football fan).

In this week’s (spot)Light, Nathan talks about his journey to Washington, a range of hobbies and his passion for promoting others.

Nathan and his wife Megan

“I met my wife Megan in choir at Abilene Christian University. She grew up here and I fell in love with Washington when I first visited in 2007. It was just too gorgeous not to live here! In 2015, I accepted a job with Edmonds Community College, so we made our way to the Northwest. It took us seven days to drive across the country in a moving truck with our car on a trailer. We got our truck stuck twice on the trip! Once in West Monroe, Louisiana on an abandoned road and the second at a truck stop in Canton, Texas. It was a character-building trip and one we’ll never forget.”

“My wife and I took up hiking this year. We’ve done Bridal Veil Falls, Hurricane Hill in Olympic National Park and others near the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. I still really want to do the Diablo Lake Trail that starts at the North Cascades Institute and eventually overlooks Ross Dam. That’s one I’d really like to do if not this fall, then sometime next year.”

“Growing up in Texas, I’ve always been a huge fan of barbecue. A few years ago, I started smoking my own briskets! They take around 14 hours to smoke so we invite friends over, hang out and eat. When I turned 30, I took a barbecue tour across Texas. We drove about 1,300 miles in four days and ate at six to seven barbecue stops across the state. We hit up some of the classics including Franklin Barbecue. It usually has a three-four hour wait but it was worth it!”

“Most of my career prior to City Light was in higher education. Being in the public sector and being a public servant is something I’ve really enjoyed. One of my biggest values is to promote good and promote others. This job gives the opportunity to promote the amazing work that we’re doing. Our Communications team is incredibly talented and creative which is something that really drew me to this position. I enjoy being one of the utility’s storytellers; there are so many cool projects, initiatives and human-interest stories to tell. I hope people will continue to share their stories with us. Not only do they enrich our work, but they also help City Light shine as an example of a premier utility and City department.”

Tips and Tricks to Stay Toasty This Winter

September 25, 2019 by Robert Duggan 1 Comment

Close the windows and pull the blinds. Grab your blankets and load 12-hour videos of crackling fireplaces on YouTube. Fall is here!

Time to get a head start on prepping your home for the changing seasons and colder weather. Addressing these three cold-weather culprits is a great first step:

1. Air Leakage

One of the easiest ways to achieve a warm, efficient home is to make sure you are keeping the cold out. Spend time checking door jambs, outlets and plumbing hookups for drafts. Fixing these can make a big impact on your comfort and costs. Other problem areas might include attics, crawl spaces, recessed lights and fireplaces.

If you find a leak, research online or ask your local hardware store for tips on fixing it. Most leaks can be addressed inexpensively with weather stripping or expanding foam spray.

Renters Tip
Our Energy Advisors can help with creative solutions that fit your needs and help navigate conversations about upgrades with your landlord.

2. Single-Pane Windows

Single-pane windows transfer heat easily, letting out your precious warm air. They also tend to be older, so check for gaps as the frame may have shifted over time. Renters and homeowners alike can add affordable plastic covers that act as an additional pane and stops heat from getting out. If you are able, upgrade your windows and get a $ rebate to help cover the cost.

Décor Tip
Many thrift stores carry a selection of affordable and stylish fabric and curtains that can cover up the plastic-wrapped window to keep your home looking polished.

3. Inefficient Heating Sources

Often older heating sources don’t cut it with our cold and (recently) snowy winters. Before buying a space heater that adds ~$30/month to your bill, consider a holistic solution with an energy-efficient heating system. Upgrading will save you money in the long run and will give you more control of your energy usage.

Homeowners Tip
We offer $ rebates for ductless heat pumps that are energy efficient and increase your comfort. They’ll even double as an A/C unit during those cherished days of sunshine and heat next summer.

Other heating sources, like wall fan systems, need to be cleaned and have new filters installed before being turned on for the season. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for directions or if you are a renter, ask your landlord.

If you use a fireplace, make sure to clean it before use for maximum efficiency. Open the flue before use and close it in between uses to keep warm air in. For those enjoying a virtual fireplace via YouTube, make sure you turn the laptop off before you fall asleep to save energy and money.

Have other tips? Leave a comment or share them with us on Facebook!

Seattle City (spot)Light: Doug Erwin

September 23, 2019 by Valerie Szopa

Doug Erwin has been at City Light for nearly five and a half years. He’s part of the Utility Operations & Engineering business unit where he works as a Senior Automotive Engineer. “I’m a solitary person in this class,” Doug explained. “My network includes other automotive engineers and City departments. We collaborate on designs and work with the Green Fleets team on their initiatives to meet the Mayor’s mandates of fleet reductions, electrification and greenhouse gas reductions.”

Doug lives in Port Orchard with his wife Karen and their family. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Management with a focus in Project Management from Ashford University, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the same program also from Ashford and an associate degree from Central Texas College. Doug is also a Certified Automotive Fleet Manager designated by the NAFA Fleet Management Association.

In this week’s (spot)Light, Doug talks about the Navy, work in Fleets and his hobbies.

Doug with his family

“Karen and I are from the High Sierras in California. We both grew up near Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Our parents worked in the National Forest and made their livings there. We originally transferred to Washington with the Navy and have been residents since, though my Navy career took us to Japan, Guam and back to California. I’ve always felt a strong connection to Washington. “

“I’m an avid outdoorsman. I teach hunter education and own a firearms training business. I enjoy working with people who have a desire to learn. I also volunteer for the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. I feel I’m making a good and positive impact on younger people about firearms and being responsible when handling them. I’ve recently rekindled my love for archery and spend time honing that skill. We also like to travel the country and see historical locations.”

“I spent 22 years in the Navy which gave me a strong desire to be a part of a large organization with a public focus. City Light has helped my appreciation for vehicles and equipment evolve. Our Fleets team works hard to meet our customer needs while remaining within the guiding regulations. We must know the governing regulations of vehicles and equipment to correctly write the specifications for our vendors to provide accurate quotes. I prepare purchasing documents, work with vendors and contractors to either build the vehicle or mate a body to a chassis and install the equipment to provide a complete service-ready vehicle. I currently have 43 capital (new build) projects for 2019 with about six refit projects where I modify equipment already in service. These are challenging due to the equipment being needed for work daily and the vendor needs time to complete the work.

“I’ve interacted with just about every group at the utility. I enjoy the relationships I’ve nurtured and have fun connecting people to network and get things done. City Light is always changing; I see myself as a constant of knowing who’s who and getting people the help they need. I also enjoy working on the Incident Management Team (IMT). I’ve held several positions on what the Navy calls the IMT and I still enjoy doing it after all these years.”

Overhead Power Line Work Will Affect Traffic on I-5 from Sep. 16-18

September 13, 2019 by Hernann Ambion

Seattle City Light continues to relocate existing overhead power lines on Interstate 5 to support Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link Extension project. This work will result in traffic impacts on September 16-18.