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News and Updates from Seattle City Light

Seattle City Light Unveils its new site in SODO for Public Electric Vehicle Charging

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On Tuesday, Dec. 17, City Light held an event to officially unveil its latest public electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers near the utility’s South Service Center. The SODO fast chargers, located southeast of the intersection of 4th Avenue South and South Spokane Street, is the utility’s second location for publicly available EV fast chargers, with more installations planned in 2020.   

The site includes four EV fast chargers and a dual-port Level 2 charger. Depending on the electric vehicle, the fast chargers can dispense upwards of 165 miles of range per hour of charge time, while the Level 2 chargers can dispense up to 30 miles of range per hour. The chargers are located in a publicly accessible parking lot in the SODO neighborhood.   

“The new EV fast chargers are part of a larger transportation electrification strategy. They will allow us to leverage our clean electricity and reach the city of Seattle’s goals of reducing carbon emissions by 2050,” said Debra Smith, General Manager and CEO of Seattle City Light. “This pilot will help us understand the impacts of EV charging on the electrical system as we lay the groundwork to support electrifying all modes of transportation, from passenger vehicles to buses, the Port of Seattle, heavy-duty vehicles and ferries.” 

Electric Vehicle fast chargers near City Light South Service Center
EV fast chargers near City Light South Service Center

City Light also shared a new time-of-day fee structure for the public EV fast chargers. The “Daytime” cost-to-charge is from Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. The “All Other Hours” cost-to-charge is all hours on Sunday and Monday-Saturday from 12:00 a.m.-6:59 a.m. and 7:01 p.m.-11:59 p.m. 

“The new fee structure sets a price point that demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of utilizing electric vehicles,” Victor Couto, public EV pilot program manager, said. “Being stewards of offering affordable electricity, City Light established fees comparative to gasoline that benefit our customers while bringing more electrical load to our system.”

With Seattle boasting one of the larger populations of electric vehicles in the country, City Light is installing 20 publicly accessible EV fast chargers throughout the utility’s service area. EV fast chargers will be distributed across the utility’s service area so that charging is accessible to all customers, especially in areas where the private sector is not installing EV infrastructure. Before breaking ground in a neighborhood, City Light performs extensive research to identify optimal locations that are near major arterial roads and amenities that meet the technical requirements for delivering power to that location.

City Light is committed to delivering equitable outcomes through its future transportation electrification efforts. City Light is conducting outreach and engaging directly with communities, specifically those that have been traditionally underrepresented and disadvantaged. Community Outreach Manager Jenny Levesque believes these sessions are imperative for City Light to be successful.   

“We want to have an open dialogue and keep communities involved in the process,” Jenny explained. “We value and welcome their input to ensure that these transportation electrification solutions align with the needs of the community.”   

City Light is developing a Transportation Electrification Plan that will identify priorities for investment in charging infrastructure City Light will make to increase equitable access to electric transportation, reduce carbon emissions, and bring value to the grid and our customers. We are focused on solutions that align with City Light’s transportation electrification value framework of equity, environment, and the grid. City Light is seeking to understand the transportation needs of the communities we serve.   

“The reduced fees come at a time when City Light is developing a Transportation Electrification Plan that will identify priorities for the utility’s investments in increasing equitable access to electric transportation, reducing carbon emissions, and bringing value to the electric grid and City Light customers,” said Emeka Anyanwu, City Light’s Energy Innovation and Resources Officer. 

City Light will release more information on the plan as it is available.   

City Light plans to install at least four sites across its service area by mid-2020. The locations and expected completion dates include:  

  • Magnuson Park (Q1 2020);   
  • Alaska Junction in West Seattle (Q1 2020);  
  • Madison-Miller located at 22nd Ave and East Olive Street (Q1 2020);  
  • Tukwila (Q2 2020);
  • Additional sites are to be determined.

Each station will host a variety of charger types, bringing at least 20 chargers to its network of stations. Currently, the utility is researching 11 different sites throughout City Light’s service area.  

These chargers, coupled with future pilot programs, including residential EV charging, City Light feels it is in the driver’s seat as electrification becomes more affordable and available.   

“Above all, we want to offer a suite of EV options for our customers,” Victor explained. “We are meeting the current demand.”  

The SODO charging station is available for public use and is on the popular EV charging app PlugShare. For more information on City Light’s electric vehicle programs and initiatives, visit energysolutions.seattle.gov/electric-vehicles/.   

Seattle City Light releases East Marginal Way Storm Investigation Recommendations Report

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On Oct. 9, 2019, Seattle City Light released the first part of the final report on the East Marginal Way pole collapse conducted by third-party consultants, which summarized the causation findings (i.e., the investigation report). As promised at that time, we are now releasing the second part, the experts’ recommendations for improvements to reduce risk for future recurrence.

The consultants identified improvements we can make in our wooden pole testing and strength rating system, conditioning and treatments, coordination with partners, and more. Generally, we agree with the recommendations. In our commitment to the safety of our community and our workers, we have already begun implementing some changes while we lay the groundwork for and/or evaluate others. We anticipate most efforts will be implemented within six months, with several occurring sooner.

In line with the recommendations, we will:

  • Collect better data on the strength of the poles in service and exchange results with co-owners of poles that also are used for communications lines under joint ownership agreements. We are already working with CenturyLink to share data and coordinate testing.
  • Improve our pole rating system. We are convening a task force that will update our pole asset management program, including redefining the remaining strength range categories, establishing specific timeframes for replacement and refining prioritization criteria.
  • Reimplement a restoration program involving trussing and steel stays, where appropriate and safe, to extend the life of poles at the higher end of remaining strength. This is cheaper and faster than replacement.
  • Update specifications on new poles to ensure proper conditioning and treatment prior to purchase. The task force will modify these standards as part of its work.
  • Pilot alternative pole treatments and pole caps to reduce decay and enhance pole protection while also meeting our community’s environmental stewardship values. We have already contacted a vendor and requested some poles treated with an alternative suggested by the experts and are committed to evaluating the use of pole caps.

“The pole collapse along East Marginal Way has been a critical wake-up call. Seattle City Light will be more aggressive in replacing weakened poles,” said Debra Smith, City Light General Manager and CEO. “I appreciate the experts’ invaluable work to investigate the incident and to assess our program. We are taking their recommendations seriously and working diligently to implement improvements.”

“As I said in October, 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.”

Since October, we have assigned a dedicated project manager to oversee pole replacements; hired three contractors to supplement replacements done by our crews; and worked with the Seattle Department of Transportation to expedite the permitting process so we can get this work done faster. Including work on order, crews and contractors will have replaced about 190 poles between Oct. 10 and year end. This rate of replacement will continue as we move into 2020 and finalize our longer-term plan. While still being developed, we are looking to replace 1,400-2,000 poles annually over the next five years, depending on the availability of funding and resources.

East Marginal Way Storm – Recommendations Report

East Marginal Way Storm Findings and Recommendations FAQ

Let it Snow: How City Light Snowpack Study Guides its Hydroelectric Production

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The team preparing to take a snowpack sample

The expansive Cascade Range serves as a backdrop throughout the Western U.S. With its iconic peaks piercing the sky; it’s no wonder that travelers from across the world visit the range each year. But the Cascade Range, specifically the North Cascades and the Canadian Cascades, is also vital to the success of Seattle City Light and its production of clean hydropower.

Each spring, the range’s melted snowpack, or runoff flows down into a system of reservoirs that power the utility’s Skagit Hydroelectric Project. City Light monitors the water levels closely to ensure that the project operates at full capacity while meeting specific reservoir-level requirements under its federal license. These water levels are essential for flood control, the protection of salmon spawning habitats, recreation and energy production.

This delicate balance requires precise planning and forecasting by City Light and its partners to keep the environment safe and the generators running. Part of this planning requires helicopters, warm clothes and snow…lots of snow.   

Weighing the snowpack sample tube

To prepare for the anticipated spring runoff, City Light partners with the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service to make the excursion to multiple peaks and passes at varying elevations across the Cascade Range throughout northern Washington and southern British Columbia to measure the level of the snowpack, a practice dating back to the 1930s. The surveyors aim to reach the locations via helicopter, some as high up as 6,000’ starting during the last week of December, monthly through the last week of April, weather permitting. Using a large aluminum tube, the teams take snow samples deep through the snowpack until they hit the solid ground below the snowpack. They then extract the tube sample out of the snowpack and weigh the tube. The weight of the snowpack in the tube is recorded and City Light then converts that into the forecasted water runoff. All told, the teams collect samples during five ends of the month studies, including locations in British Columbia since 40% of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project’s drainage area is in British Columbia. (Historically, only approximately 25% of the runoff volume comes from across the border.)

Ole Kjosnes, City Light’s senior power analyst, has spearheaded the testing on behalf of the utility for decades. For him, this work is not only a keystone to the success of City Light, it also helps the utility prepare for possible challenges in the future. 

“We’ve noticed that the runoff is happening earlier than in the past, so we have to prepare for the runoff to meet our needs. Overall, there was more snow in the 50s through 80s compared to the last 20 years. If that trend continues, we will need to adapt. 

Above all, the snowpack study determines how we operate the entire system. You can’t operate our system without it.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Ryan Simmons

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Ryan Simmons joined City Light in 2015 as the fisheries field coordinator for the Boundary Licensing Team and is now a project manager, overseeing several fisheries projects. “My projects are designed to improve conditions for trout and mountain whitefish populations native to the lower Pend Oreille River,” Ryan explained. “We are studying the genetic structure, demographics, and behavior of these populations through field studies and simulation modeling to inform how best to protect and enhance these native fish species. On any given day, I could be focused on project planning, coordination with our Boundary fisheries biologists, data analysis, contract administration, or communication with stakeholders.”

Ryan was born and raised in Olympia and has spent most of his adult life working in the streams and forests of the Northwest. He attended Western Washington University and pursued his graduate studies at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. “During grad school, I spent summers at a remote field station on the Alaska Peninsula studying the early life history and ecology of sockeye salmon,” Ryan shared. “I remember most vividly the rough weather, the rewarding work, the bear encounters and the isolation.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, Ryan talks about his hobbies, family and work at City Light.


“I live on Vashon Island with my wife and four kids. The island offers a great network of trails and natural areas to explore, and we try to spend as much time as we can discovering new areas. The beaches are also a highlight, whether for a summer picnic or a good winter storm. We enjoy growing food and flowers and have gotten to know some great families with whom we have built community.”

“I’m an avid skier, sailor, and enjoy most water sports! My time is devoted to my family… getting the kids outside and interested in the natural world and the sciences. I also enjoy woodworking and building furniture, an interest I picked up from my dad. During this time of year, I like to pick apples and press cider with family and friends. We try to pick 20-30 bushels which yields about 50-60 gallons of cider. A friend and I ferment hard cider; several of our hard ciders have placed or won in regional competitions.”

“I was attracted to City Light because of its longstanding work in some very unique watersheds, and the opportunity to devote a career to working in those systems. As a consultant, it was common to move from project to project on a regular basis. At City Light, I’ve been able to build a deeper understanding of the stream systems I work on and the positive impact of my work.”

“I enjoy what I do at City Light; it’s challenging and diverse. I continually apply my past work experience and education while learning new things along the way. Part of my job satisfaction comes from knowing the work is valued by City Light. We also have the support to investigate novel approaches to better meet project objectives. The greatest part of my job is the people I work with, who come from a diverse range of technical disciplines which has helped me better understand the utility. I feel fortunate to work with a dedicated team who genuinely believes in the work they do.”

Seattle City Light Completes Construction on 13th Avenue South

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Seattle City Light crews have completed the final stages of construction on 13th Avenue South. Crews replaced aging electrical infrastructure and upgraded an existing electrical system that will reduce unplanned power outages and increase reliability for the surrounding area.

Map of the construction work area.

This project began in July 2019 and was completed as scheduled in early November. The improvements included replacing aging utility poles and installing new overhead wires and equipment to replace the previous aging system. This construction and other related upgrades are a part of City Light’s effort in improving the electrical reliability of the service area.

Example of overhead line work.

City Light thanks customers for their patience during construction.

For more information about this and other projects in your neighborhood, please visit Seattle City Light’s “At Work in Your Neighborhood” website.

Seattle City (spot)Light: Tammie Luc

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Tammie Luc has been at City Light for 11 years. During her tenure, she’s served in a variety of roles, including four and a half years in human resources where she processed payroll and three years on the administrative team for Operations. Currently, Tammie serves as a Management System Analyst at the South Service Center (SSC) where’s she’s been for three and a half years.

Tammie emigrated from Vietnam when she was four years old. “My father left Vietnam to seek better opportunities for us and I went with him,“ Tammie shared. “After five years of separation, he was able to sponsor my mother and younger brother to join us. I’ve lived in Seattle most of my life and really enjoy its seasons.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, Tammie talks about her hobbies, work at SSC and love for the Seahawks.

“I’m a huge Seahawks fan. At SSC, I’m known as the Seahawks rally person! I also play pickleball once or twice per week and like to run races, anywhere from 10Ks to half marathons. During the summer, you can catch me paddle boarding. I love to hike year-round in Washington and am the team captain of City Light’s #3 softball team! Crafting is another activity I enjoy but haven’t had time since I’m the Uber driver for my kids and all their activities – ultimate frisbee, swim meets, softball and basketball games.”

“I have three kids: Amber (17), Hunter (14) and Logan (11). Amber was a high school intern for City Light this past summer. They keep me busy and I love it.  As their Uber driver and cheerleader, they are my world. I’m usually driving them to different sporting events, but they also like to hang with me when I paddleboard and hike.”

“I wanted to work at City Light because growing up in the city, I had always seen the yellow City Light trucks. The crews would ride in and restore power whenever we had an outage. I felt like they were superheroes and wanted to be a part of that. To this day, I still feel have that feeling and my chest pumps with pride knowing that I work alongside them now.”

“In my role, I provide technical support to various positions, develop training plans and create and maintain reports for managers, supervisors and crew coordinators. I coordinate with OH, URD and Line Services Crews to maintain accurate and efficient work schedule. I also work closely with SDOT and other City ROW departments to make sure all permits are in compliance and assist with any coordination that’s needed.”

“Not only do I enjoy my job and get paid for it, but I work with the greatest, friendliest and most unselfish peers. At SSC, I’m often the point person for several activities that my colleagues generously support. I love to collect money for donations and special events, suck their blood by coordinating blood drives, and inflict pain with flu shots. Who else can say they do all those in one place? ME!”


Microgrid Open House Scheduled for Dec. 9 at Miller Community Center

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Seattle City Light and Seattle Parks and Recreation invite community members to an open house at Miller Community Center (330 19th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98112) to learn about the Resiliency Solar Microgrid Project. The open house will be held on Monday, December 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Miller Community Center (Seattle, WA)

A microgrid is a backup power system that can disconnect from the traditional power grid and operate on its own. The microgrid will provide backup power storage for Miller Community Center during emergency events, such as a windstorm or unplanned power outage.

The project includes the installation of a battery energy storage system, solar panels and microgrid controls.

Open House Details

  • Attendees will gain a better understanding of how a microgrid works and how the technology will benefit Miller Community Center.
  • City of Seattle staff will be available to answer questions about the microgrid project.
  • Community members will have an opportunity to provide input on certain features of the project.
  • Parking is available at the community center. Attendees are encouraged to use public transit. Find your route using King County Metro’s Trip Planner: tripplanner.kingcounty.gov.

For additional information, please contact:

Bianca Smith, Project Manager
Seattle City Light
SCL_Microgrid@seattle.gov
(206) 615-0883

Joelle Hammerstad, Sustainable Operations Manager
Seattle Parks & Recreation
joelle.hammerstad@seattle.gov
(206) 733-9704

Seattle City (spot)Light: Tara Benjamin

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Tara Benjamin has been with Seattle City Light for a little over three years. She started as a TES Camp Service Aide and quickly became fulltime. Tara recently celebrated a promotion to Administrative Specialist II at Skagit. “I have the pleasure of interacting with everyone that comes into the main office. It is my responsibility to support management and staff. I do everything from onboarding to housing and everything in between. It keeps me busy!”

Tara spent the most part of her childhood living in Goldendale, WA. “I married my high school sweetheart right after I graduated and went straight to work. My background has always been in Hospitality and Restaurant Management.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, Tara talks about life in Darrington, her hobbies and what she enjoys about her work at City Light.

“My husband and I settled in North Idaho for 20 years. Living in Idaho, I hadn’t even heard of Seattle City Light until my husband went to work as a temp machinist at Boundary. When he got on fulltime at Skagit, we moved. It made perfect sense to work where I live due to location. It is really remote and requires you to get really good at making shopping lists!”

“We live in Darrington, WA. I love that its a small town and a tight-knit community. For me, that’s the best feeling. We have been very blessed by all of the small towns that we’ve lived in. I wouldn’t trade that small-town living for anything. Darrington has been overwhelmingly welcoming! The views are to die for! We get to kind of play mini farmer with a bunch of chicken and a decent garden.”

“My garden isn’t a favorite hobby, but it fuels my love of canning. I’m definitely not a pro, but I love growing and preserving new things. I really love to cook and bake. I am a bit of a homebody and love our little homestead. My goal is to have it grow with cows and pigs as well. Family is definitely my #1 priority. As for being a mom of boys, the hobbies that take up a great portion of my time are football and baseball! GO LOGGERS! I absolutely love being their cheerleader! We love to camp and hunt as a family, however, we need to do more of both next year. Other than that, I enjoy working on my skincare/cosmetics side business.”

“I have met so many people that have called Seattle City Light their second home for years. That fact spoke volumes to me, and I wanted to be a part of it. I absolutely love the challenge of my new role! I love the interaction it gives me with not only the staff at Skagit but all-around City Light. Walking into this new position, it has been my pleasure to observe that everyone within is open and willing to help. It has been a fantastic experience to know that everyone is on the same team.”

Improve Your Home. Plant A Tree.

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Planting a tree

In the Pacific Northwest Fall is a great time to plant a tree! Planting a tree can be rewarding for you and your property for years to come. But, did you know that planting a tree can make your home more energy efficient? City Light Arboriculturist Heidi Asplund has a few tips to keep you and your trees happy!

Strategically sited trees can help cool your home and improve its energy efficiency. Trees have many benefits. They reduce stormwater runoff, enhance the quality of air, increase property values and can promote human health.

A deciduous tree—one that drops its leaves in the winter—planted on the west side of your home can shade your home in the summer and allow for the sun’s rays to warm it in the winter. The tree’s shading and cooling benefits increase as it grows larger.

An Energy-efficient home with two 25-ft tall trees shading its west side is not only cooler and more comfortable in the summer but, according to a report by the USDA Forest Service*, may reduce summer cooling costs by 36 percent. Remember for tree shading in our area; west is best. Consult City Light’s Right Tree Book for guidelines on planting near utility equipment and power lines.

*Source: “Western Washington and Oregon Community Tree Guide: Benefits, Costs and Strategic Planting,” Center for Urban Forest Research, USDA Forest Service

Seattle City (spot)Light: Matt Stapleton

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Matt Stapleton joined Seattle City Light in September 2018. As part of the team at Boundary Dam, Matt serves the utility as an electrical constructor apprentice. “I like to refer to my position as the ‘sponge role’ because I’m always hungry for new information and am eager to learn,” Matt explained.

He lives in Pend Oreille County, not too far from Boundary Dam. “I moved around a lot as a kid, but I think I decided to stay in Washington state because we get to experience all four seasons,” Matt shared. Before joining City Light’s apprenticeship program, Matt served in the Marine Corps and attended Avista Lineman School.

In this week’s (spot)Light, learn about Matt’s hobbies, his work and life in northeastern Washington.

“There is a lot of outdoor activity in Pend Oreille County. I enjoy hiking in the summer and splitboarding in the winter. Splitboarding is my favorite activity. I also enjoy woodworking and am currently in the process of building a tiny house out of a recycled shipping container.”

“I was attracted to City Light because of its culture. I am a strong believer in workplace equity. The RSJI program that the City implements brings a lot to the table for people of color. It’s night and day from other utilities where I’ve worked.”

“I really enjoy my job. I work one-on-one with a Journeyman electrical worker to complete new construction jobs, annual maintenances, and general electrical maintenances around Boundary Dam – all for the purpose of bringing clean, reliable and efficient energy to our customers. My favorite project at the moment is working on this year’s overhaul/rewind; there are so many moving parts to it. And it’s all part of the exciting work that’s happening at Boundary. It’s extremely awesome to be involved this early into my apprenticeship.”