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News and Updates from Seattle City Light

Seattle City Light Establishes Temporary Pause on Planned Outages

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Seattle City Light remains committed to providing safe and reliable power while prioritizing the safety of our customers and crews. While planned outages are important to maintaining and upgrading our infrastructure, outages can be burdensome, and even more so as our customers are at home working, teaching children, and maintaining a healthy life during the COVID-19 crisis. We’re temporarily adjusting our work to have the lowest impact on customers during this time.

Effective immediately, there will be no planned outages that will cause a service disruption for our customers. Exceptions to this include emergency pole replacements where the work cannot safely be performed hot,* emergency work necessary to restore service for customers who may be experiencing an outage, or to add a service connection for an essential facility (quarantine site, homeless shelter, etc.). As able, City Light will provide at least 48 hours advance notification for any of these situations.

Other pole replacement work will continue by placing new poles adjacent to poles in need of replacement and lashing them to the existing infrastructure, but we will wait until later to transfer services.** City Light also will continue to do streetlight work and other work deemed essential as long as it does not require outages. Any work is in accordance with Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order and with protocols in place to meet all COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Washington Department of Health, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

We will maintain this pause in planned outages at least through May 31, in alignment with the governor’s order. We recognize even as that order is lifted, many customers may continue to work or attend school from home. We will be thoughtful in our resumption of these activities, which are required to make repairs and upgrades to our infrastructure in a safe and efficient manner and will do our best to work with customers to minimize impacts.

*Doing the work “hot” simply means that crews are working while the electrical equipment is energized. Crews are utilizing these methods to complete the work, while minimizing the outage impacts to customers. Crews take additional safety procedures when utilizing this method.

** Double poles exist when a new utility pole is installed next to a pre-existing pole that is scheduled for removal. When new utility poles are installed, City Light normally transfers our equipment and wires onto the new pole. Other communication utilities may also have equipment on the pre-existing pole that will need to be transferred to the new pole before the old pole can be removed. This could take several months to complete. Some poles may be anchored or tied to the pre-existing pole to secure it until the utility and communications companies have transferred their equipment. This is normal practice and common among utilities.

This information was updated on May 15, 2020.

COVID-19 Response: An open letter from City Light CEO, Debra Smith

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At Seattle City Light we are working hard to react quickly to COVID-19 while remaining committed to the well-being, both physical and financial, of our dedicated employees and the communities we serve. We’re doing our best to navigate through this unprecedented event as each day brings new developments.

Our service is an essential need, and its reliability is a top priority. With the Emergency Declaration, and more recently Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” Order, we continue adjusting the way we work to ensure employee and customer safety while we maintain critical services.

To learn more about the steps Seattle City Light has taken to keep our employees safe and our customers supported, see our Powerlines Blog.

Here are a few highlights about how we’re serving customers during this time:

Infrastructure Work

We are prioritizing essential critical infrastructure work and doing work in a way that minimizes planned service disruptions. This is in accordance with Governor Inslee’s order and with protocols in place to meet all COVID-19 guidelines from the CDC, Washington Department of Health, and OSHA.

Please be aware that due to the nature of our work maintaining the electrical system, some essential tasks require crew members to work closely together for their safety. So, if you see a few lineworkers working side by side, please know they’re doing it for good reason and are minimizing close proximity as much as they can to safely complete the job.

And please do your part by keeping a safe distance – always a good idea when it comes to working with electricity, whether we’re avoiding a virus or not!

Power Outages

We understand power outages are burdensome, but even more so now. While the stay-at-home order is in place, we won’t intentionally cut power to complete a job unless it’s an emergency, in support of COVID-19 response, or an essential service project that is coordinated in advance (e.g., establishing power for sites used as temporary shelter or field hospitals).

We’ve had pretty mild weather lately, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t on our minds. If the winds pick up and cause outages, as always, we are prepared, ready to respond and will keep working until your power is restored.

Financial Support

Many people are experiencing financial hardships due to the impact of social distancing and business closures. During the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, we won’t shut off service for non-payment. In fact, crisis or not, we will never call you or knock on your door and demand payment. If someone says otherwise, they are running a scam; report it online.

We’re here to help any customer, resident or business, struggling to pay their utility bill due to COVID-19. Call 206-684-3000 or send an email 24/7. Income-eligible residential customers can also sign up for the Utility Discount Program. We’ve fast-tracked a self-certified application to make the process easier.

Payment Centers

To keep you and our employees healthy, all walk-in centers will remain closed during this time. You can still use the payment drop boxes, and we’re always here to help you with account and billing needs online or over the phone at (206) 684-3000.

City and State Resources

Finally, Mayor Durkan and Governor Inslee have expanded and created many programs to support our community. If you or someone you know needs shelter, food or other help, please check their resource pages.

I will update our customers as things change. You are always my number one priority, and that remains especially true during this time. Please continue to support one another and stay healthy.

Take Care.

Debra Smith
General Manager and CEO, Seattle City Light

City Light’s Commitment to Safe Employees and Reliable Service During the COVID-19 Crisis

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Photo of the City Light sign at the utility's South Service Center.

Seattle City Light is committed to the well-being of our employees and the community we serve. Our service is an essential need, and its reliability is a top priority. In order to maintain system reliability while keeping our employees safe, we have instituted a number of measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’re keeping employees safe and healthy.

We’re regularly distributing information about COVID-19, including general health and safety tips, resources for teleworking and other guidance to all Seattle City Light employees. It’s all collected on an internal employee website for easy access from any place, any time.

We’re accommodating high-risk employees (e.g., over 60, those with underlying health conditions, those with compromised immune systems, or who are pregnant) by ensuring they have alternative work arrangements that keep them out of harm’s way.

Anyone who can telework has been encouraged to do so. We’re providing employees with resources and training to support telework that is appropriate for their duties.  

Those who must work in a City Light facility are practicing safe social distancing; access to those locations is limited to essential employees.

We’re enhancing cleaning practices, encouraging self-responsibility (e.g., hand washing, social distancing, cleaning of tools and trucks) and distributing hand sanitizer and other cleaning supplies to those who must report to our facilities.

For those who work in the field, we’ve switched to Skype calls instead of in-person meetings and we are finding alternatives to sharing work vehicles (e.g. driving personal vehicles to job sites) so they can maintain proper social distancing.

We are prioritizing essential critical infrastructure work and doing work in a way that minimizes planned service disruptions. On job sites, crews will carry proof that the work they are doing qualifies as essential critical infrastructure work in accordance with Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” Order. We have put protocols in place to ensure work on those sites meets all COVID-19 guidelines from CDC, Washington Department of Health, and OHSA.

When our crews perform work in public, they are utilizing personal protective equipment and practicing social distancing as allowed by the work. Please be aware that due to the nature of our work maintaining the electrical system, some essential tasks require that crew members work closely together for their safety. Crews are minimizing the length of time spent in close proximity to the best of their ability.

We’re keeping the lights on and assisting those who are struggling.

We’re continuing to do necessary maintenance and upgrades to ensure system reliability. And we’re committed to doing it safely. That means crews are maintaining social distancing in the field as the job allows; we ask that the public maintains that same social distance if you come upon a crew at work.  

Planned outages can be burdensome, and even more so now, but they hopefully minimize unplanned outages. We’ll do our best to have the lowest impact on customers. Again, we’re deferring non-essential work, so any planned outages at this time are for essential work.

As always, we’re fully prepared to respond to any unplanned outages. If you experience an outage, report it and/or track its repair.

During the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, we won’t shut off service for non-payment. In fact, crisis or not, we will never call you or knock on your door and demand payment. If someone says otherwise, they are running a scam; report it here.

We’re here to help any customer, resident or business, struggling to pay their utility bill due to COVID-19 with deferred payment plans. Call 206-684-3000 or send an email 24/7 at http://www.seattle.gov/utilities/about-us/email-question. Income-eligible residential customers can also sign up for the Utility Discount Program at www.seattle.gov/udp. We’ve fast-tracked a self-certified application to make the process easier.

We’re all in this together.

The COVID-19 health crisis has brought sweeping changes to the way we all live, work and play. We hope to return to normal operations soon, but until then it is essential to follow guidance from the experts: Public Health -Seattle & King County, Washington State Department of Health (DOH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For your own health, the health of our community, and to assist in the crucial work of our first responders, please honor Governor Inslee’s March 23 Proclamation 20-25: Stay Home — Stay Healthy.

Will Seattle’s Summer Be Smoky Again?

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This is a guest post authored by Climate Change Research and Adaptation Advisor Ronda Strauch as part of a quarterly new series called Climate Connections.

Last year, Seattle denizens experienced multiple days in a haze of smoke. Whirling winds pulled in smoke from wildfires burning outside of Puget Sound and even as far away as Siberia. And when there was no wind, smoke settled over the area like a blanket. Only the return of Seattle’s typical westerly winds allowed the smoke to clear. Will we be smoked out in Seattle again this summer? Many factors make it seem likely.

To begin with, we had a cold, dry winter. Spring kicked off with March precipitation at 37% of normal levels and days near 80°F, matching temperatures in Tucson at the time. The official start of the 2019 Washington wildfire season began in March, a very early onset. That month, 54 wildfires ignited in Washington and all but one were west of the Cascade Mountains, according to Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Smoke from wildfires blanketed the Seattle area in the summer of 2018.

This year’s weather so far has left us with a water deficit—and that means dry soils and dry forests. We are looking at a thirsty kickoff to the summer season. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a warm, dry summer, consistent with a weak El Niño. The National Interagency Fire Center has issued an outlook for “above normal significant wildland fire potential” for Western Washington. Conditions are ripe for wildfire and smoke close to home, portending a possible repeat of a smoky Seattle summer.

Climate Change’s Connection to Smoke

While we can’t attribute a single smoke event to climate change, over the long-term, climate change can increase the odds of smoky conditions. As the climate continues to warm, the total area burned in Washington’s forests is estimated to increase fourfold by the 2040s. This is primarily because warming temperatures can lead to drier conditions and drier vegetation that easily ignites. These conditions will lengthen the fire season and thus, the duration of smoke production.

Declines in forest health linked to climate change can also increase the intensity of a fire, which in turn affects the chemistry, quantity and distribution of its accompanying smoke. There is uncertainty if smoke will impact Seattle, particularly coming from out of state.

Of course, there is a chance we may see no smoke this summer. Let’s hope for that.

How Smoke Affects City Light

Smoke can have numerous impacts on people and business, including City Light. Smoke leads to poor air quality, reduced visibility and damaged equipment.

Particles found in smoke make it difficult for City Light employees and contractors to breathe, particularly for those who live with asthma, chronic bronchitis or reduced lung functions. Reduced visibility due to smoke can also challenge inspections of City Light facilities, including transmission lines and dams, where clear visibility is required.

Also, here’s a little-known fact: heavy smoke can conduct electricity. Therefore, dense smoke near a transmission line can create a conductive path that can increase the potential for a “flashover.” Flashover or arc flash can occur with ionization of the air as voltage jumps across air gaps between powerlines or to the ground. Smoke is attracted to high voltages and can build fragile carbon bridges that conduct leakage currents.

Finally, smoke can settle on equipment and lead to reduced efficiencies or failure. A recent study of residential energy use during years with and without smoke in Seattle found that City Light’s load during summer was better predicted when considering air quality. This suggests that our customers might be buying air conditioners and purifiers when they can’t open their windows because of smoke.

City Light is Adapting

One positive effect of our recent smoky summers is that City Light now has some experience dealing with these smoke events. We have learned from them and can continue to implement adaptations to better cope with smoke. As a utility, there are actions we can take to reduce our vulnerability and prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Adaptation includes using personal protective equipment (PPE) per guidance from our Safety, Health, and Wellness Division to minimize employee exposure to smoke. We can increase flexibility in our inspections to accommodate smoke delays. The advanced education of emergency responders on needed precautions while working near electrical equipment during dense smoke provides greater capacity for handling smoky conditions.

Additional preparation includes retrofits or adjustments to equipment that might be sensitive to smoke exposure. Securing contracts from our suppliers prior to needing materials will also better prepare us for potential smoke conditions.

As the public adapts to smoke through air conditioners and purifiers, City Light prepares through our long-term planning for shifting energy demand. Proactive planning and flexibility can reduce our vulnerability and minimize risks from smoke… Kind of like having a “plan B” vacation spot this summer. (Maybe one that’s less smoky.)

Resources for More Information

Washington Department of Ecology – Smoke & Fire Management and
Washington Air Quality Advisory

Washington State Department of Health – Smoke from Fires Q&A and Toolkit (many languages)

Washington Smoke Information –blogspot

Ronda Strauch joined Seattle City Light in July 2018 as a Climate Change Research and Adaptation Advisor in the Science Policy Unit of the Environment, Land and Licensing Business Unit. She recently obtained her PhD from the University of Washington in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, specializing in landslide and hydrologic modeling. When time allows, Ronda enjoys gardening, hiking, kayaking, and mountain climbing.

Snow-Related Power Outages Affecting Thousands; Stay Warm and Find Other Shelter As Needed Tonight

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In the wake of snowfall on the morning of Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, Seattle City Light crews have been responding to outages all over the utility’s service area. As of 4 PM on Feb. 4, about 11,000 customers are still without power across 41 separate outage events.

Due to the treacherous road conditions and large number of outages, it could take up to twelve hours to get everyone back into service… And that’s if there aren’t any additional outages.

It’s below freezing and not a good time to be without heat.  If you are uncertain about your ability to stay safe and warm during an outage, please consider finding other shelter somewhere warm nearby.

Here’s what City Light customers can expect as the outage restoration process moves forward through the night.

It’s going to take a while to reach everyone.

After threats to life safety and emergency services are addressed, City Light restores power in the order which will benefit the most customers. That’s why outages that affect thousands are resolved before outages that affect dozens. Once the large outages are remedied, the restoration process moves to medium-sized outages, and so on.

Are you the only person without power in your neighborhood? If so, you won’t be the first stop for a crew in your area. We have over a hundred outages across our service area, and that’s a lot of individual outages to address. Don’t worry, though. Help is on the way.

Here’s a graphic to more fully explain the process.

Working in the dark is more difficult.

City Light crews are used to working in adverse conditions, but it is an inescapable fact that doing line work in low light makes the job more difficult. This is another factor that will contribute to delays as work continues overnight.

You can take steps to keep yourself safe and warm.

Power outages are never welcome occasions, but when they occur during cold winter weather they can go from an inconvenience to a safety hazard all too quickly. Here’s what you can do:

  • Have Your Phone Ready – Cordless phones will not work without electricity. Have a corded or cell phone available. If your cell phone is your primary phone, make sure it is charged and you have a phone charger ready. It’s a good idea to keep external batteries charged too.

 

  • Report the Outage – If you experience an outage, please report it by calling the Seattle City Light Power Outage Hotline at (206) 684-3000. Remember to give us your name, address, phone number and describe any unusual circumstances that could help us identify the problem. You can also visit the Seattle City Light Outage Map to get updates on restoration work, as well as following City Light’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.

 

  • Stay Away from Downed Power Lines – Downed power lines are extremely dangerous. If you come across any downed lines, do not approach or touch anything in contact with the wire as it could be energized and live. If you see a downed power line, call 911 or (206) 684-3000. You can also report downed power lines by sharing it through City Light’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.

 

  • Keep Warm and Bundle Up – Try to retain as much heat as possible. Close windows, curtains, unused fireplace dampers, and have blankets ready to conserve body heat. Cold weather is especially hard on infants, children and the elderly. Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, covering the head, feet and hands.

 

  • Have Your Emergency Kit/Plan Ready – Prepare an emergency kit if you haven’t already. Some ideas to include are a working flashlight, glow-in-the-dark stick lights, wind-up clock, portable radio, manual can opener and mylar blanket. During a major storm, have a plan for locating family members in case you are not with them. For more information about emergency kits and plans, please visit: www.takewinterbystorm.org.

 

  • Use Hot Water Sparingly – Most hot water tanks will retain heat for up to 24 to 72 hours.

 

  • Close Your Refrigerator/Freezer – Keep your fridge and freezer closed as much as possible. A full refrigerator will maintain safe temperatures for up to six to 10 hours; a full freezer up to 2 days. In most cases, food should be safe if refrigerators and freezers remain closed while the power is out. When in doubt, throw it out.

 

  • Unplug Electrical Appliances – If you experience a prolonged outage, be sure to turn off electrical appliances to prevent fires and equipment damage. Some electrical appliances to consider unplugging before a storm hits are computers and televisions.

 

  • Be Cautious with Generators and Grills – Use generators with care during a power outage and always use portable generators outside in well-ventilated areas. Never plug a generator into your home circuitry. Instead, plug in appliances directly into the outlets on the generator. When it comes to the grill, do not use barbeques indoors.

 

  • Be Fire Safe – Do not use candles as a light source nor any open flame as a heat source.

 

  • Electric Garage Owners – Know how to use the manual override of your electric garage door if your power goes out.

 

  • Remember Your Pets – Household pets such as cats, dogs, fish and birds may require special care. Contact your veterinarian for more information.

 

  • Life-Support Customers – If you rely on electric life-support machines, make sure you have emergency power and know how to operate it. Make sure your system has an alarm to alert you if the power goes out.

Jan. 6-8 Windstorm Outage Summary

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In the early morning of Sunday, Jan. 6, a massive windstorm with wind speeds of up to 60 mph struck City Light’s service area. The rapid storm caused significant damage to City Light’s infrastructure including broken poles and trees on lines. Soon, 50,398 customers were without power. Crews, dispatchers and other City Light teams worked long shifts throughout the weekend and well into Tuesday, Jan. 8 to safely restore power to all. We want to thank our customers for their patience and their messages of the support as we worked to restore power. Below is a timeline of the event.

Jan. 6

[ORIGINAL POST 1/6, 2:34 AM] Nearly 50,000 customers are currently without power across our service area. Please continue to check our outage map for estimated restoration updates. http://seattle.gov/light/outage. Thank you.

[3:20 AM] There are currently 50,398 customers without power across our service area. A large-scale outage of this magnitude will require extensive restoration which will last throughout today and possibly into Monday. We will provide updates as we receive them. Thanks.

[ 4:00 AM] Crews are assessing the vast amount of damage across our service area. Please remember that the restoration times on our outage map (seattle.gov/light/outage) are estimates and can shift due to the severity of the damage. Thank you for your patience and please stay safe!

[5:00 AM] Crews have restored power to more than 9,500 customers and 40,000+ are still without power. With temps in the low 40s, please bundle up and use portable generators outside in well-ventilated areas. We will restore power as quickly and safely as possible!

[6:45 AM] Crews continue to restore power and assess the damage from the windstorm across the area. Currently, 33,026 customers are without power. We thank you all for your patience. #wawind

[8:00 AM] Our crews and teams made considerable progress this morning! Currently, we have restored power to over 28k customers, with roughly 22k to go. If you plan to be out and about this morning, keep your distance from downed trees and power lines. Thanks!

[1:11 PM] Crews continue to make progress in the aftermath of this windstorm. They have now restored power to more than 40,000 customers. About 9,000 still to go. They won’t stop until everyone is back in service.

[3:15 PM] Our crews and teams are continuing to restore power to customers across our service area with a little more than 6,500 to go. This is a good time to prepare so you and your family can keep safe and warm this evening. Learn more here: https://powerlines.seattle.gov/2019/01/06/tips-to-stay-safe-warm-during-an-outage/

[6:55 PM] We have restored power to over 47,000 customers across our service area and we’re not done yet! Our crews will work throughout the night into tomorrow to restore power to all, including two large projects that will require extra attention. We will continue to keep you updated. Thank you.

Jan. 7

[10 AM] Our crews and teams worked overnight to restore power to as many customers as they could. Currently, roughly 500 customers are still without power from Sunday’s storm. We aim to have power restored to everyone by this evening. If you are still without power, please know that we are doing as much as we can to get your lights back on. We’re sure it was a long night for most of you and we appreciate your understanding and patience. Thank you.

[5:15 PM] Crews continue to restore power to the less than 90 customers remaining without power from Sunday’s windstorm. Hang tight! We won’t stop until we have restored power to you all. Thank you.

Jan. 8

[3:37 PM] As of earlier this afternoon, we have restored power to the 50,398 customers who lost power due to Sunday morning’s windstorm. Thank you all for your patience and messages of support throughout this restoration process!

 

Tips to Stay Safe Warm During an Outage

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With crews continuing to restore power across our service area and with lows tonight in the 30s, this is a right time to get prepared. Here are a few tips to keep you and your family can stay warm throughout the night.

  • Using generators, camp stoves or barbecue grills indoors can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep them a safe distance away from your dwelling. Heating your home with your gas stove is also dangerous.
  • Bundle up with blankets and layered clothing.
  • Camp out in a small room with your windows properly. Seal your exterior doors with a wrapped up towel, too.
  • Flashlights, headlamps, solar lamps and glow sticks are good alternatives. While candles are popular, they can run the risk of an open flame.
  • If your cell phone is your primary phone, make sure it is charged, and you have a phone charger ready.
  • For updates on our current estimated restoration times, visit our mobile-friendly outage map at seattle.gov/light/outage and follow us on Facebook and Twitter as well.
  • Finally, we want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we continue to work through the night to restore power as quickly and safely to our customers.

How to Keep Your Holidays Merry & Bright

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The winter holiday season has arrived meaning it’s time to unpack that box of lights and decorations. Before you begin to deck your dwelling, here are a few tips that will keep you and yours safe while helping you conserve energy!

Graphic of tips on how to conserve energy.

If you’re not the Clark Griswold type, walk through a wonderland of 700,000 twinkling lights at this year’s WildLights at the Woodland Park Zoo! This year, City Light is sponsoring this annual event and its newest addition: the giant Light Bright! Visit zoo.org/wildlights to learn more! See you there!

Electrical Safety Tips for Halloween

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Halloween is spooky fun for kids and adults alike, but the last thing anyone wants on the holiday is an actual horror story. Here are a few tips to make sure you and your little trick-or-treaters are safe around electricity while celebrating All Hallows Eve.

Inspect electrical decorations and extension cords before use.
Do you see any exposed wiring? Is the cord nicked, cracked or frayed? If so, you are looking at a shock hazard, and potentially a fire hazard.

Don’t overload your extension cords.
Make sure your cord and outlet can handle the amperage and wattage being drawn by your decorations. When using long extension cords, beware of overheating. If it is hot to the touch, unplug it at the outlet to give it a break.

Use GFCIs for outdoor decorations.
Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are typically used in outlets installed in bathrooms and kitchens, where it is possible that water might come into contact with the outlet. In Washington during October, water will come into contact with anything left outdoors for days at a time. To be safe, add a GFCI to your extension cord or buy one with a GFCI installed.

Use tested and certified electrical decorations.
You can buy all sorts of cheap electrical Halloween décor, but not all of them have been tested for safety. Only use products that have been safety-tested by a certified testing laboratory. The safety certification should be listed on the product packaging.

Be careful using dry vegetation in your décor.
It’s common to use corn stalks or hay in Halloween decorations. That’s fine and good, but make sure that these materials don’t make contact with electrical lighting. A hot bulb could ignite a fire.

In fact, there’s no need for open flames at all.
Why risk a fire or injury by lighting your jack-o-lanterns with candles? Use a rechargeable or battery-powered LED light instead.

Four Ways to Stay Cool This Fourth of July

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There’s nothing better than Seattle in the summertime. But with temperatures approaching 80 degrees this Fourth of July, you may be looking for ways to beat the heat. Here are a few tips from the U.S. Department of Energy* on how to keep cool and conserve energy without breaking the bank! Check out this month’s issue of Light Reading for more innovative ways to conserve energy this summer from planting a tree to using your slow cooker. Click here to take a look!