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News and Updates from Seattle City Light

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!

Seattle City Light and Seattle Fire Department Partner to Address Network Vault Fires

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  Members of the Vault Response Team demonstrating addressing a vault fire.

Credit: K. Kennedy

 

At an event and demonstration today with the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle City Light, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced the first-in-the-nation partnership today between Seattle City Light and the Seattle Fire Department to more effectively fight fires in underground electrical vaults.

“Seattle has always been at the leading edge, and thanks to this innovative partnership, Seattle is now at the leading edge of fighting fires that are a danger to the public, our infrastructure, and our economy,” said Mayor Durkan during a demonstration of the new approach at City Light’s North Service Center. “This is the kind of collaboration and innovation we need as we work to deliver essential services, protect the public, and provide reliable electricity that powers Seattle. I am grateful to the men and women of the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle City Light who have made this vision for partnership a reality and who put themselves in harm’s way to limit the impact of these dangerous fires.”

The event included members of the Vault Response Team, which is comprised of specially trained Seattle Firefighters as well as executive members from both departments and other advocates of this partnership.

Last month, SFD Chief Harold Scoggins and City Light Interim General Manager and CEO Jim Baggs reached an agreement to solidify the partnership between the two departments and the Vault Response Team. The 48 members of the Vault Response Team will be continually trained to safely address the public safety needs resulting from network vault fire incidents. City Light will provide specialized supplies and equipment to treat these fires along with updated intel on City Light’s network maps.

Fire Chief Harold Scoggins praised the partnership for its innovation and what it means for other departments across the country.

“Vault fires create dangerous situations in confined spaces. Before this team was created, standard procedure was to keep the area clear and wait for the fire to burn itself out. This partnership, which takes an offensive approach, is a major advancement in our field and is an example that other energy providers and fire departments want to learn from. We are proud and thankful to have this vital resource here in Seattle.”

Electrical vault fires can be caused by something as simple as a cigarette butt landing on a pile of dried leaves or as critical as an arc flash created during maintenance. Their impact is costly and can be dangerous to the public and the firefighters extinguishing them. Within an instant, the pressure of a vault fire can launch a 300-pound utility cover up to three stories. To further complicate matters, these fires may cause large-scale power outages.

The fire department and City Light are deploying a new technology that can effectively and efficiently extinguish vault fires. With a financial contribution from City Light, the fire department revived an older truck that was scheduled for decommission to address these kinds of fires.

Armed with carbon dioxide canisters, Seattle firefighters can now remove the utility hole cover, insert a metal wand and inject the vault with carbon dioxide while covering the opening with a fire-resistant tarp. This removes the oxygen from the area, snuffing the fire by robbing it of oxygen. It is an offensive approach that keeps the fire from spreading throughout the entire vault system. Once the fire is out and the vault is cleared of smoke and carbon dioxide, City Light can de-energize electrical equipment, making the area safe for crews to begin repairs.

“This partnership enhances the safety of our both departments’ employees. We are exchanging information on safety practices and institutional knowledge while training together to ensure that these fires are extinguished safely and efficiently,” Baggs said. “Not only will this process reduce the amount of damage from these fires, but it can also greatly reduce the repair and outage time. This partnership is an insurance policy for our customers, the economic drivers in Seattle’s business core and for the public servants who address these fires.”

This technology reduces the potentially disastrous effect of these kinds of fires. While this method is crucial, the partnership between the fire department and City Light is the key ingredient to ensure its success. For Seattle Fire Captain Chris Greene, the technology behind extinguishing these fires is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

“There are a variety of great products available to handle high-voltage emergencies, but without a partnership, fire departments and utilities are missing a key component,” explains Greene. “CO2 and other chemical extinguishers are in fact effective, but it’s an engineered solution to a problem that can have significant impacts. The true solution is a foundational relationship with the energy provider like City Light that builds long before a fire begins.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Martha Molina

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Martha Molina celebrated two-years at City Light in early June. As the Return to Work Coordinator, Martha works in the utility’s Safety division. “I act as the liaison between the Seattle Department of Human Resources and City Light’s supervisors, managers and injured workers,” Martha explained. “In my role, I help bring people back to work. Studies show that the quicker an employee returns to work following an industrial injury, the better chance they have for a 100% recovery as opposed to being away from work.”

Martha was born in Guatemala, but also lived in Los Angeles for six years before moving to Seattle. “I moved here when I was ten, so I’ve spent the greater part of my life in the Northwest,” Martha shared.  “I haven’t been to Guatemala since I was four. We have a big trip planned this summer and I can’t wait!”

Martha lives in Federal Way with her husband Mario and their two chihuahuas, Buttercup and Dixie. In this week’s (spot)Light, Martha talks about her volunteer work and how it’s applicable to her role at the utility.

A family selfie: Martha, Mario, Buttercup and Dixie

“I went to Highline College, transferred to the University of Washington and graduated with a degree in political science. I originally wanted to be a lawyer, but after working at a law firm, I realized that it wasn’t for me. The law firm where I worked specialized in worker’s compensation. From there, I went to a risk management group. Both of those experiences gave me a good foundation for the work I do now. I’m able to interpret code and laws and know how to apply them.”

“I do a lot of work with the community, specifically with young woman empowerment. I help young girls develop their skills for professional careers and, overall, build their self-esteem. I recently presented at the ‘Young Educated Ladies Leading’ (Y.E.L.L.) Summit where girls 14 – 18 years old participated in a variety of different workshops. It’s so important to develop those life skills. It’s also important to have an outlet; to learn how to speak for yourself and to be confident in who you are and how you feel. Those are themes we focus on at these Summits. My presentation was titled ‘Embracing your Inner Monsters.’ It’s fun to work with youth and teach them that no matter what challenges or obstacles you face, there is still opportunity to grow and be successful.”

“I also volunteer with Hispanic Seafair. I help with interview workshops, resume reviews, drafting cover letters…topics that align with career and vocational pursuits. Ironically enough, throughout the claims process, there is a portion that deals with vocational assessment which ties into my day-to-day work at City Light! Also, go Huskies!”

National Electrical Safety Month: Contact Voltage

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Contact Voltage

For our last installment of National Electrical Safety Month, we would like to share a little bit about City Light’s own focus on safety and how it has evolved over the years. In 2010 and 2015, City Light experienced multiple safety incidents involving employees and the community. These incidents created a wake-up call within the utility, leading to actions built on innovation, agency, and listening. Last month, City Light’s dedication to improving its safety culture was the cover story in Northwest Public Power Association’s Bulletin magazine.

 

Click here to view the article. Enjoy! 

 

 

National Electrical Safety Month: Power Lines on Trees

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Power lines on trees

Some would say that spring is simply the most delightful time of the year here in Seattle (and frankly, it’s hard to disagree!). As trees and shrubs begin to blossom, it may be tempting to go outside and start trimming. Before you break out the shears, there are a few safety tips to keep in mind. We reached out to City Light’s arboriculturist and resident tree buff Heidi Narte for tips on how to keep your pines, maples and family safe around power lines.

Here are a few of Heidi’s handy safety tips:

  • Keep kids safe – make sure their play activities don’t include trees near power lines. Trees touching power lines may become energized, causing a dangerous situation for kids climbing in them, swinging in them or otherwise playing in them.
  • Heading out into your yard to prune trees and shrubs? Make sure you, your tools and the branches you want to prune are a safe distance from power lines. If the branches you’re pruning or your tools make contact with a power line, you could receive an electrical shock injury which can result in significant burns or even death. Branches, tools and you should be at least 10 feet from distribution power lines and 21 feet from high voltage transmission lines.
  • See a tree or branch touching a power line? Trees touching power lines may be energized and safety hazards. If you’re not sure whether a tree could cause an issue, give us a call and we’ll check it out!

If you have questions about power lines near trees, email SCLVegetation@seattle.gov or call (206) 386-1733 to check in with an arborist.