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News and Updates from Seattle City Light

How City Light Can Assist with Your Bill During the COVID-19 Outbreak

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The lasting impacts of COVID-19 are becoming more apparent every day. As our region grapples with this changing environment, we are seeing the financial toll of the virus taking shape, leaving some of our customers in challenging financial straits.

We want you to know that City Light and Seattle Public Utilities will keep utility services on during the COVID-19 Civil Emergency. This will provide immediate utility relief for customers, both residential and commercial, financially impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Effective immediately, our customers can set up deferred payment plans if their financial stability has been jeopardized by COVID-19. Utility service will stay on as their deferred payment plans are developed and implemented. 

Customers financially impacted by COVID-19 are urged to set up payment plans with either Seattle City Light or Seattle Public Utilities by calling 206-684-3000 or sending an email 24/7 at http://www.seattle.gov/utilities/about-us/email-question.

Looking to help others? Donate to Project Share
Finally, there is a program available for LIHEAP or ELIA participants which is funded by donations from City Light employees, customers and other supporters. Project Share takes donations and disburses the money to those in need. Last year, Project Share provided assistance to about 1,000 people. The average benefit for recipients was $250.

Project Share’s one-time emergency assistance grants can make a huge difference in the lives of your friends and neighbors. If you are financially stable, please consider making a donation here. 

Uncovering History: The Life of a Seattle City Light Archaeologist

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Uncovering a pond in the town of Diablo

Seattle City Light’s more than 1,800 employees hold a bevy of positions from engineer, to lineworker, to fish biologist to fudge master (although that last one is more of a moniker). Here’s another enviable position to add to the list: archaeologist. Since assuming her role in 2016, Senior Archaeologist Andrea Weiser has played a critical role in preserving and discovering the history of City Light and the areas it affects.

Before any projects, from replacing a pole to building a large piece of infrastructure, Andrea and members of a team of consulting archaeologists research and test the area for potential historical archaeological significance that could be disturbed. Once the evaluation is complete, the utility can move forward or adjust their plans. This protocol complies with City Light’s obligations to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as compliance with state and federal laws and Seattle municipal code regarding cultural resources and coordination with Tribes who retain treaty rights in their usual and accustomed areas.

While not very common, Andrea and her team may uncover an artifact that harkens back to the origins of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project’s existence. One day while conducting archaeological monitoring for a water meter project in Newhalem, a town owned and operated by City Light within the project, they made a discovery–an Old Taylor Bourbon bottle from the 1940s found nestled among the roots of a stump. The find alone was a surprise and the fact that the bottle was still intact was rare for the team to uncover. 

The recovered Old Taylor Bourbon bottle

“In the 1940s, the company town of Newhalem had memorable ups and downs. At this time, Diablo and Gorge Powerhouses were in production, Ross Dam was under construction, and tourists who accessed the project by train were treated to meals and scenes that caused a buzz of excitement,” Andrea explained. “Evening activities included dances and cocktail parties. In September 1940, the Selective Training and Service Act required men between the ages of 21 and 45 to register for the draft, and in 1941, U.S. military personnel were deployed for World War II. Construction of Ross Dam was put on hold until the war ended in 1945 and Ross Dam was completed in 1949. During this era, there were many reasons to drain a bottle of bourbon.” 

Construction of Ross Dam, Jan. 1940

The team has found numerous relics of City Light’s past buried within the Project. A few years ago, while Andrea served as a consultant for the utility, her team even discovered a human-made pond buried a foot below the ground in the town of Diablo. Through historical photos and old City Light newsletters, they deduced that the pond was built between 1950 and 1955, serving as a tourist attraction in the summer for project visitors and as an ice rink in the winter for the employees and their families.

Andrea and her team have also found essential artifacts that recognize the significance of the land for native people, primarily the Upper Skagit Tribe. Before a large-scale project at the Skagit Hydroelectric Project, or for any City Light property, the utility confers with the local tribes to ensure that work doesn’t disrupt culturally-significant sites. Following one such project, City Light partnered with the Upper Skagit Tribe to create interpretive signage that recognized the importance of this land in the Tribe’s history. The sign represents a collaborative effort with the Upper Skagit Tribe to raise public awareness about ancient human history in the Skagit Project and highlight modern coordination on resource stewardship to protect and enhance fish and animal populations and habitat. Upper Skagit Tribal Council members Marilyn Scott and Edmond Mathias commemorated the sign dedication with a traditional song and honored 40 families who lived year-round in longhouses in Newhalem for generations before European settlement. Upper Skagit Tribal Policy Advisor, Scott Schuyler, spoke about a long-standing history of connections to the Skagit watershed and Newhalem, as well as treaty rights, and resources that are important to their Tribe’s culture and future.

“The council wanted to reach the public and create awareness of their history in this area,” Andrea said. “It was important to them that we recognize that the Tribe has been stewards of the land we operate in for thousands of years. We were proud to partner with them to help tell their story.” 

Interpretive signage near SR 20 in Newhalem

The interpretive signage is located in Newhalem near the Skagit General Store and includes facts about how ancient archaeological evidence corroborates the oral history the Upper Skagit Tribe teaches about their connections with the area. It also consists of a polymer replica of an artifact found at the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. The original artifact, estimated to be between 4,000 and 9,000 years old, is formed from a type of stone unique to the North Cascades mountains and was recently analyzed for biological residues revealing the presence of ancient goat blood on the artifact. Which is apropos since the word Newhalem comes from the Lushootseed word “dawáylib” translates to the thread or rope used for snaring goats. 

But this line of work is rife with challenges. Archaeological sites are heavily protected in Washington, and by law, all land in the state is protected from unpermitted digging in archaeological sites. Projects even on private lands that involve a lot of digging like installing a pool or septic tank, require contacting the Washington Department of Archaeology first (for more information, visit: dahp.wa.gov). When it comes to City Light projects, Weiser or other archaeologists carry out this coordination with the state and affected tribes. Because the Skagit Hydroelectric Project lies within the North Cascades National Park and Ross National Recreation Area, the archaeological sites are protected by federal law. To put it bluntly: you can’t go all Indiana Jones when you’re in the park or anywhere else. Even a trained professional archaeologist must have a permit to dig or collect artifacts.

“We do this work under federal and state laws, along with obtaining the proper permits. One of the risks of talking about archaeology is it can pique someone’s interest,” Andrea described. ” but you cannot go out and dig up areas on your own. You will be fined heavily and could even end up in jail, not to mention you could lose the trust of tribes who hold federal rights. In the state of Washington, if you knowingly disturb or dig up at a site, it’s illegal. There are also protections for keeping archeological sites, burials, and traditional cultural place locations confidential to protect them from looting and vandalism. It’s really serious stuff, especially with cultures where these areas are personally significant.”

While some people do dig or excavate without realizing the current laws, others are more nefarious. Last summer, someone had illegally dug and vandalized the Newhalem Rock Shelter archeological site near the Newhalem campground which is clearly marked as a protected site. According to a Facebook post by the National Park Service, the illegal excavation has caused “irretrievable damage” to the site and the Upper Skagit Tribe’s heritage. The Tribe is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of those involved. 

If you would like to learn more about archaeology in our state, The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation’s website: dahp.wa.gov has a wealth of resources. You can also even volunteer to participate on a dig! Learn more at jobmonkey.com/parks/passport_in_time/.

Winter is Here, it’s Time to Weatherize!

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Did you know that weatherizing your home can keep you warm in the winter, cool in the summer and reduce your energy bill? Now is a great time to take advantage of theCity of Seattle’s HomeWise Weatherization program!

City of Seattle’s HomeWise improves your home and provides a healthier indoor environment while staying more comfortable year-round, not to mention reducing your energy bills. This program provides weatherization services for limited-income residents of Seattle and electrically heated homes throughout City Light’s service territory.

HomeWise includes a complete energy audit by a HomeWise property rehabilitation specialist that will:

  • identify opportunities to improve the efficiency of your home to save you money;
  • explore methods to improve the health, safety and comfort of your home;
  • evaluate opportunities for improving your home’s heating and cooling systems;
  • develop an itemized list of work to be done.

After the audit, a HomeWise professional will facilitate contracting and be there to guide you as work is done on your home.

HomeWise works with private contractors, and their work is inspected by a HomeWise specialist. This service is free for income-qualified customers. If home repairs are needed, no-interest loans are available. Click here to find out if you might qualify for the HomeWise Weatherization Program. To learn more, visit seattle.gov/housing/homeowners/weatherization.

Y2K 20 Years Later: An oral history of the final moments of the 20th century at Seattle City Light

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It’s hard to believe that this time 20 years ago, the world was preparing for the new millennium. From the infamous “Y2K Bug” to stocking up on canned goods, the months leading up to Y2K was a time of bracing for the unknown. For Seattle City Light, preparing for Y2K took on many forms. While there were minimal issues, some employees did incur a few tense minutes leading up to and following midnight, Jan. 1, 2000.  

This is an oral history told from the perspective of five City Light employees of how the utility prepared for the event and where they were the night of Dec. 31, 1999.  

1999: A Year of Preparation 

Steve O’Kelley (Communications, now retired): The way it was portrayed on the national scene was that planes could fall out of the sky and power would go out everywhere. There was a lot of hype to it. I say the average person I worked with didn’t believe that any of that could happen…probably.

Peter DiTuri (Sr. Management Systems Analyst): Up until that time, a lot of computer systems didn’t have the memory or disk space like the smartphone you have in your pocket today. When programs were written, they took up as little space as possible. Memory and disk space were expensive, so to get around this problem, programmers made applications that only used two-digit years like ‘89, ‘67, ‘04, etc. That works fine until you had to include something starting on Jan. 1, 2000 or later. Then, you had to store the full date and even calculate differences between dates, and not making 2-digit years into 4-digit years resulted in wrong or insensible values. Although Y2K was anticipated for many, many years, procrastination turned Y2K into a crisis.

“There is a lot of information available on Y2K, some of it accurate and well-reasoned; some that is misleading and unduly frightening. The City of Seattle is determined to clearly communicate the City’s progress towards readiness and to provide you with the resources you need.”

– City of Seattle’s Y2K website

Bill Davis (Telecommunications Supervisor, now retired): We didn’t have computers the last time we went into a new century. So no one really knew for sure what was going to happen. 

Peter DiTuri: The City of Seattle was on top of this. The Executive Services Division took the lead for Y2K remediation efforts. Each department had to identify each individual application or system hardware or software that had a danger of failing if not remediated or replaced by Jan. 1, 2000. They could be small databases on someone’s work computer, giant enterprise applications or major pieces of equipment. Y2K was a 100% human-caused problem but with a 100% known solution.

Back then, we had an IBM mainframe. The problem with it was that IBM no longer produced the parts for that machine, and the operating system wasn’t being updated, so it had to go away. City Light had its Transformer and Network Load Management applications on the mainframe and we had to figure out what the lost source code was for the applications, then we (this is really cool) disassembled the application, wrote flowcharts of pseudo-code, rewrote the application code in Fortran, correcting for Y2K (of course) and imported it over to the Sun Solaris server where it ran for many, many years after. So getting a program off the mainframe was a necessary solution for Y2K as well as updating lots of source code and changing programs to handle four-digit years.

An article on preparing for Y2K in the August 1999 issue of Network,
City Light’s internal publication

Bill Greif (Sr. Data Processing Systems Analyst): The team came up with a plan for how to check everything that was running and test it out. We went through a lot of tests. We checked the equipment in a test environment to see what would happen when the clock inside the equipment went over into 2000.

Peter DiTuri: Other programs we had to update so they would accepted dates past Y2K up to 9999, we won’t be here for that occurrence. But we did have to test for other dates, too. We had to make sure that Feb. 29, 2000 was also valid since 2000 was indeed a Leap Year. 1900 was not and neither was 2100. Y2K was a continuous process to make sure dates like that still worked. 

Steve O’Kelley: One of the things we did as a group was to identify the equipment that could be susceptible to a problem from Y2K. A contractor inventoried our equipment. I worked on telephone switching equipment and some communications gear that switched out to the substations. The feeling in the group was that nothing much was really going to happen.

“Four years of hard work and preparation will be put to the test Friday evening, through the following Monday, the first business morning of the new millennium. I am confident we’ll ace that test.”

-Gary Zarker,
City Light Superintendent, in a memo on Dec. 27, 1999

5…4…3…2…1…Darkness 

Peter DiTuri: We had the plan for staffing for the night of in case something went wrong. There were dedicated workstations and PCs in our Trouble Center (Seattle Municipal Tower room 3613) in case there were any major outages or any problems major to our system. We did have one workstation fail after zero hour, but we isolated the issue to a machine configuration issue and I was able to fix it fairly quickly.

On that particular day, (Dec. 31, 1999) I was working in City Light IT, our “war room” was in SMT 2921, and we had a pizza party. We also had mandatory overtime. Management and the unions had agreed that this was an odd situation, so we in IT staff assigned to staff Y2K were set to work up to 24 hours – but we never worked that long. I worked from 6 p.m. to about 3:30 a.m. New Year’s morning.

As we came closer to zero hour, we watched the Space Needle on the TV and we knew it was close to time. I had my CD player so I took it out and I popped in a CD and it started playing REM’s ‘It’s the End of the World (As We Know It)’ [laughter] I could not take Y2K seriously. At that point, we had reports from across the world and nothing was going wrong! It was like…why are we even here now? But you never know what could have happened if something crucial didn’t get fixed as it should have.

Steve O’Kelley: I was at the System Control Center (SCC) at midnight. I didn’t pick up any great worries. We turned the conference rooms into media centers so that the TV stations could plug in if they showed up. We had TVs set up so they could pick up KING and KOMO. 

Bill Davis: Everything went fine until around midnight when the lights went out at Queen Anne. Everybody thought at the time ‘well oh shoot, something went wrong.’

“SEATTLE – Just a few moments after midnight there were a few power outages in Seattle. But at this point it’s unclear of this was Y2K computer problems or something else. Seattle City Light reports about 1,500 customers were without power momentarily. All power was restored.” 

-KOMO

Bill Davis: It turned out to be mylar balloons caught up in transmission lines around midnight. Everybody breathed a sigh of relief. We had all the media down at the SCC. The City Light superintendent was down there so everyone was there watching. I went to each station to hand out cookies and non-alcoholic champagne and tried to stay out of the way of the dignitaries and the press. Then they let us go home around 2 a.m.  

Bill Greif: NYE was actually a pretty fun night. We had the news media here [at the SCC] and we were all hanging out in the control room waiting for something to break. One of our employees had a yellow ergonomic ball chair and put a smiley face on it and put it on the ladder we use to get up to the pinboard here. He tried to set it up for it to roll down at midnight but it started early and made the news for that. 

Alone on Y2K 

While City Light employees prepared to welcome in the new millennium across Seattle, Rusty Welshon anxiously waited with some concern at City Light’s remote Tolt Powerhouse.  

Rusty Welshon (Electrician Constructor and Operator at Cedar Falls and Tolt powerhouses): I was at Tolt which is all computer-controlled. It uses Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), an industrial process computer. Tolt was the first real computer-controlled powerplant that we had. All the other ones had a hydraulic, mechanical controlled system that was more manual. We had a PLC and an interface between you and the machine called a Human Machine Interface (HMI), which had a series of screens that you could rotate through. Two months prior, we did a trial run by changing the date of the PLC to Dec. 31 at 11 p.m. and let it run to see what would happen. The HMI screen twisted out of shape and the numbers were all distorted.

We suspected that…We didn’t….ummm…(chuckle) we didn’t know what the heck it was what going to do.  

We couldn’t get any information out of it, and we couldn’t get into the program. We were concerned, not overly, but we were concerned because we didn’t know what it was going to do. 

Tolt’s a smaller plant, only 16MW so it wasn’t critical for it to be in operation at midnight on Dec. 31. We turned off the generator because we didn’t know what was going to happen.  

So 11:59 p.m. rolls around, I’m all by myself in the middle of the mountains up above Carnation. I have a flashlight and the PLC ready to be plugged back in and I have my hand on the hydraulic handle so I can shut down and freeze everything in case things went catawampus. If the hydraulics started to move, things could have gotten scary so I was ready to lock it down if needed.  

And sure enough, the PLC distorted almost as if it was a crumpled piece of paper. Then it displayed weird numbers. So what had happened during the trial happened again. So I plugged my computer back in and waited until 12:30 a.m. so whatever would have happened will have happened. I fixed all the numbers and called the dispatcher to see if I was good to get it running again. I started it up after adjusting the numbers and everything was found. It was anticlimactic,  but it was not Y2K compliant so there were wrinkles and we had to adjust. And we didn’t know what was going to happen. To a degree, it was a tense moment because Y2K was a real thing and it came upon everyone faster than we thought.

Surviving Y2K and Moving Forward  

Peter DiTuri: Planning for Y2K was a team effort. It really was. Everyone was on board and knew what and what the City needed to have in place. If anything, Y2K made us define our business processes as a utility and what our points of failure could be. We had to outline our processes and figure out alternatives in case something bad were to happen. It still applies today. We are now more susceptible to failures than in Y2K because of our reliance on the Internet, and many mistakenly assume that disruptions from disasters only result in short-term, minor inconveniences.

Peter DiTuri’s “Y2K Bug” plush toy.

Bill Greif: We were ready to go into manual mode if necessary. We were pretty confident that if something did happen then we would be able to manage it. Other than that, we had done so many exercises prior to make it a non-event. I was on the phone with a friend around midnight who was kind of a prepper who said ‘just wait, Bill’ and then midnight hit and nothing happened. And then he said ‘yeah, it’s still early, Bill. Just wait. Shipping will quit and we won’t be able to get food.’ which never happened.

Bill Davis: It was kind of a good experience, having all of those units working together and help each other out. It was an interesting time. 

Steve O’Kelley’s Y2K gag gift

Steve O’Kelley: It did get kind of hyped. The internet was kind of around but not a lot of people had it. So you believed what was in the paper and talk radio. My biggest regret was not keeping this one cannister of hot cocoa that had an expiration date of 1901, not 2001. That’s where they made a subtraction of the dates. Those are the kinds of things that got most people, using the last two digits. 

When I saw a request for stories about Y2K, I thought to myself ‘wow, I can’t believe it’s been 20 years.’ It seems like yesterday, but it wasn’t. 

A special thank you to those who contributed to this oral history.
If you were a City Light employee during Y2K, we would love to hear your story! Email nathan.macdonald@seattle.gov with the subject line: “Y2K at 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/.   

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.”

City Light Unveils New Public Artwork at its North Service Center

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“Licton Flow” by W. Scott Trimble
Located outside City Light’s North Service Center

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, Seattle City Light, in collaboration with City of Seattle Arts & Culture, dedicated two new pieces to the artistic landscape surrounding the utility’s North Service Center. The two pieces “Undulating Currents” and “Licton Flow” were created by renowned artist W. Scott Trimble and commissioned with the City Light 1% for Art funds administered by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.

Members of both city departments along with members of the Licton Springs community and the artist himself provided remarks at the unveiling event, lauding the collaborative spirit of the entire process.

Project Manager Jason Huff , Seattle Office of Arts & Culture

“When Scott developed this project, it was to celebrate the work that City Light and its employees do for the city providing energy,” said Jason Huff, Project Manager, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. “But a lot of that work (outside of power lines) is relatively invisible to people. The source of our electricity is hydropower. Scott wanted to reveal that and make the invisible visible to people. And, with that concept, we had great support from City Light.”

“Undulating Currents” is a striking representation of the fluidity of water, a vital source for generating power for Seattle. The ribbon-like waves converge at the corner of 98th Street and Stone Way, forming a loop near the intersection. “Licton Flow,” a smaller piece in size but not in impact, is staged as if it is emerging out of the ground. Not unlike its namesake, Licton Springs, located a few blocks away. Trimble hopes that visitors will create their own interpretations of what the pieces symbolize and mean for themselves. 

“Undulating Currents” by W. Scott Trimble

“I want people to create their personal narrative of what the pieces mean to them,” Scott explained. “Whether it’s the fluidity of the work or even the color. There are many ways to interpret it so I hope that will create a dialogue.” 

The flowing and converging themes of both pieces are symbolic of their own process. Unlike most pieces installed through the 1% Art Fund, City Light was heavily involved in the manufacturing of the pieces. Scott worked with City Light’s Shop crews to build the pieces, using materials like conduits that the utility uses every day to protect and route electrical wiring. Crews bent and painted the conduits and installed the pieces outside of the North Service Center to meet Scott’s expectations. 

Crews people putting together a large piece of art involving tubes
City Light crews installing “Undulating Currents”

While the project was unique to the utility, its crews treated it as if it was their project, giving them the time and attention needed to meet their own expectations. 

“There are nearly 200 years of experience between our teams,” City Light’s Dan McKinnon explained. “Scott had a rendering and a vision, so it was our job to make it a reality. It’s what we do.” 

“J.D. Ross, the father of City Light, had the vision to build hydroelectric dams on the Skagit…Those were built largely through City Light shops,”
said former City Light Utility Support Services Director Bernie O’Donnell and current vice president at Vanir Construction Management during the unveiling event. “That vision is now hydroelectric power, being delivered via conduits. It really comes full circle.”

“Undulating Currents” and “Licton Flow” are located around the North Service Center and are open to the public. These newest additions continue the tradition of City Light’s inclusion of art throughout its facilities.   

Elementary Students Experience Nature Through City Light’s “Homeward Bound” Field Trip

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City Light employees from various divisions completed its fifteenth year of the “Homeward Bound” field trip on Oct. 15. This program gives fifth-graders from Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in south Seattle an opportunity to learn how to read maps and use compasses, witness the return of salmon to local rivers, and learn about natural sciences. We are intentional about offering the program to schools where at least 95% of the students attending are students of color.

Students learning about the Salmon along the Cedar River

Part of the participation in this program includes their teachers using the Land and Water Curriculum, a set of lessons designed by the National Science Resources Center to teach students the story of how the earth formed and how it continues to change. The goal is to give these students, many who have not had field experiences, an opportunity to walk trails, and to learn about rivers, fish and the use of maps and compasses. We hope that at least one child realizes that natural sciences are exciting and that there are job opportunities that can include many of the skills learned that day. Observing and touching (with gloves) salmon carcasses was again a hit with the students.

Students and City Light employees working together

The field trip takes place on the Cedar River at Ron Regis Park near Renton. Staff who participated included Liz Ablow, Meg Andres, Hina Arai, Dave Beedle, Kristin Cappellano, Nida Cayetano, Tim Croll, Sarah Hartwell, Paul Haase, Denise Krownbell, Kathryn Mork, Kiyomi Morris, Julianna Ross, Melissa Skelton and Hannah Staples. Thanks to the Customer Energy Solutions group for the giveaways of rulers, pens, and flashlights-greatly appreciated by the kids and the teachers!

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

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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.”

WIP Mentorship Program Cohort

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 Announces Recipients of 2019 Wildlife Research Program Grants

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Since 1999, Seattle City Light’s Wildlife Research Grants Program (WRP) has funded more than 50 projects and distributed over $2 million in research grants to non-profit conservation organizations, universities and resource management agencies to study the wildlife that inhabits the North Cascades ecoregion.

The WRP is an element of City Light’s federal license for operating the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project in the North Cascades region, which requires the utility to collaborate with resource and land management agencies to select and fund original wildlife research projects.

Last week, WRP announced the recipients of four new research grants aimed at gaining a better understanding of wildlife and ecosystems in the North Cascades. The new grant recipients include the following:

Conservation Northwest – Testing a cloud-based computer application for agencies and organizations in U.S. and Canada to assess changes in habitat conditions for wolverines, which are susceptible to climate change.

Woodland Park Zoo and Washington State University – Developing a monitoring framework for wolverines, Canada lynx, and other carnivores in the North Cascades to aid in developing effective management strategies in the face of climate change.

Western Washington University – Assessment of survival and reproduction of mountain goats that were translocated into the North Cascades to bolster depleted populations.

Eastern Washington University – Evaluation of the role of beavers in reducing wildfire severity in riparian communities of the Methow River watershed where increased fire activity is expected as the climate changes.

The American Pika, a small creature that lives in the North Cascades and is a relative the to the rabbit.
WRP recently funded research on the American Pika and its sensitivity to
the effects of climate change. (Photo credit: J.D. Anderson)

These new grants will join the list of previously funded projects that have helped provide data crucial for agencies to make informed management decisions for rare or economically and tribally important species.

Several of the research projects funded through WRP have led to published articles in peer-reviewed professional scientific journals and conference presentations. While the grants may not always fully fund a project idea, they still support the research of lasting environmental impacts. Most notably: the effects of climate change on the region.

“We take great pride that these grants help lay the groundwork for vital research to take shape while also supporting undergraduate or graduate college students pursuing environmental degrees who will be our next generation of environmental stewards,” explains Ron Tressler, Wildlife Biologist at City Light. “The flora and fauna of the North Cascades ecosystem are a barometer for how the species will thrive during the next century with the impending effects of climate change, so these research projects are critical.”

The WRP is one of many programs City Light champions that studies and rehabilitates the region near its facilities across the state. For decades, City Light has led the way in acquiring lands along the Skagit River Watershed to protect vital salmon spawning habitats. Last year, City Light provided funding to research and forecast the recession patterns of glaciers in the North Cascades.

Recently, City Light, in partnership with the Mountains to Sound Greenway, Seattle Public Utilities and the Northwest Natural Resource Group, received a $140,000 grant for an innovative pilot project that will replant portions of logged land now owned by City Light to grow a new forest that could be more resilient to climate change. This pilot project will inform future climate-adapted restoration practices for lands owned by City Light, Seattle Public Utilities and other owners in the region. The long-term goal of the reforestation effort is to establish a diverse forest that will be adapted to the climate of the mid to late 21st century. For City Light’s Chief Environmental Officer Lynn Best, these projects are vital to better understand how the ecological landscape in the Pacific Northwest will gravely affect both the utility’s customers and its energy production.

“Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge we face today. I am proud that City Light is doing its part to address climate change and protect the Earth.”

To learn more about City Light’s Wildlife Research Project and for a list of previous grant-funded projects, visit

seattle.gov/light/environment/wildlifegrant/.