Jump to content

Seattle City Light: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
Line 48: Line 48:
==Overview==
==Overview==
Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public utility in the United States. It was the first electric utility in the nation to become greenhouse gas neutral (2005)<ref>http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/No-global-warming-at-City-Light-1187133.php</ref> and has the longest running energy conservation program in the country. The utility owns a large portion of its generation, which is predominately hydro, so is able to offer some of the country's lowest rates to its customers (of utilities in urban areas). Seattle City Light's customer breakdown shows about 362,658 residential customers consuming about 3,098,745 megawatt-hours and 39,950 non-residential customers consuming about 6,367,897 megawatt hours.<ref>http://www.seattle.gov/light/AboutUs/AnnualReport/2012/2012%20annual%20report.pdf</ref>
Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public utility in the United States. It was the first electric utility in the nation to become greenhouse gas neutral (2005)<ref>http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/No-global-warming-at-City-Light-1187133.php</ref> and has the longest running energy conservation program in the country. The utility owns a large portion of its generation, which is predominately hydro, so is able to offer some of the country's lowest rates to its customers (of utilities in urban areas). Seattle City Light's customer breakdown shows about 362,658 residential customers consuming about 3,098,745 megawatt-hours and 39,950 non-residential customers consuming about 6,367,897 megawatt hours.<ref>http://www.seattle.gov/light/AboutUs/AnnualReport/2012/2012%20annual%20report.pdf</ref>

==Seattle's electricity supply==
For 2012, the fuel mix for Seattle City Light was approximately 89.8% hydroelectric, 4.4% nuclear, 3.9% wind, 0.8% [[coal]], 0.6% other (including biomass, natural gas, petroleum and waste), and 0.5% landfill gases.<ref name="cityofseattle.net">[http://www.cityofseattle.net/light/FuelMix/ Fuel Mix: How Seattle City Light Electricity is Generated] (information is for calendar year 2012), Seattle City Light. Accessed 2012-07-17.</ref>
The utility owns and operates the [[Skagit River Hydroelectric Project]], a series of three [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] dams on the [[Skagit River]] in northern Washington State. The project supplies approximately 25 percent of Seattle's electric power. The utility also owns and operates the [[Boundary Dam]] on the [[Pend Oreille River]] which can provide up to approximately 50% of Seattle's electric power.<ref>[http://www.seattle.gov/light/tours/boundary/bd5_fact.htm Boundary Projects: dam facts], Seattle City Light. Accessed online 2007-12-12.</ref> The remaining power comes from a mix of sources, including long-term contracts with the [[Bonneville Power Administration]] (BPA).<ref name="cityofseattle.net" /> Seattle City Light residential customers currently pay about 8 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity. Seattle has the lowest residential and commercial electrical rates among comparably-sized cities in the United States.<ref>[http://www.cityofseattle.net/light/news/newsreleases/detail.asp?ID=8886 No rate changes at Seattle City Light for 2009], Seattle City Light news release, 2008-09-26. Accessed online 2009-10-07.</ref>


==History==
==History==
Line 58: Line 54:
Public responsibility for electrical energy in Seattle dates to 1890 with creation of the Department of Lighting and Water Works. In 1902, Seattle voters passed a bond issue to develop hydroelectric power on the [[Cedar River (Washington)]] under the administration of the Water Department. Electricity from this development began to serve Seattle in 1905. A City Charter amendment in 1910 created the Lighting Department. Under the leadership of Superintendent James D. Ross, the department developed the [[Skagit River Hydroelectric Project]], which began supplying power in 1924. Both public and private power were supplied to Seattle until 1951 when the City purchased the private electrical power supply operations, making the Lighting Department the sole supplier. The Boundary Project in northern Washington began operation in 1967 and currently supplies over half of City Light's power generation. Approximately ten percent of City Light's income comes from the sale of surplus energy to customers in the Northwest and Southwest. The current name of the agency was adopted in 1978 when the Department was reorganized.<ref>Shannon Lynch and Scott Cline, [http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/findaid/ark:/80444/xv05828 Guide to the Seattle City Light Department History File 1894-1972], Northwest Digital Archives (NWDA), 2004. Accessed online 2009-10-07.</ref>
Public responsibility for electrical energy in Seattle dates to 1890 with creation of the Department of Lighting and Water Works. In 1902, Seattle voters passed a bond issue to develop hydroelectric power on the [[Cedar River (Washington)]] under the administration of the Water Department. Electricity from this development began to serve Seattle in 1905. A City Charter amendment in 1910 created the Lighting Department. Under the leadership of Superintendent James D. Ross, the department developed the [[Skagit River Hydroelectric Project]], which began supplying power in 1924. Both public and private power were supplied to Seattle until 1951 when the City purchased the private electrical power supply operations, making the Lighting Department the sole supplier. The Boundary Project in northern Washington began operation in 1967 and currently supplies over half of City Light's power generation. Approximately ten percent of City Light's income comes from the sale of surplus energy to customers in the Northwest and Southwest. The current name of the agency was adopted in 1978 when the Department was reorganized.<ref>Shannon Lynch and Scott Cline, [http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/findaid/ark:/80444/xv05828 Guide to the Seattle City Light Department History File 1894-1972], Northwest Digital Archives (NWDA), 2004. Accessed online 2009-10-07.</ref>


==Seattle's electricity supply==
==Street lights==
For 2012, the fuel mix for Seattle City Light was approximately 89.8% hydroelectric, 4.4% nuclear, 3.9% wind, 0.8% [[coal]], 0.6% other (including biomass, natural gas, petroleum and waste), and 0.5% landfill gases.<ref name="cityofseattle.net">[http://www.cityofseattle.net/light/FuelMix/ Fuel Mix: How Seattle City Light Electricity is Generated] (information is for calendar year 2012), Seattle City Light. Accessed 2012-07-17.</ref>
The utility owns and operates the [[Skagit River Hydroelectric Project]], a series of three [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] dams on the [[Skagit River]] in northern Washington State. The project supplies approximately 25 percent of Seattle's electric power. The utility also owns and operates the [[Boundary Dam]] on the [[Pend Oreille River]] which can provide up to approximately 50% of Seattle's electric power.<ref>[http://www.seattle.gov/light/tours/boundary/bd5_fact.htm Boundary Projects: dam facts], Seattle City Light. Accessed online 2007-12-12.</ref> The remaining power comes from a mix of sources, including long-term contracts with the [[Bonneville Power Administration]] (BPA).<ref name="cityofseattle.net" /> Seattle City Light residential customers currently pay about 8 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity. Seattle has the lowest residential and commercial electrical rates among comparably-sized cities in the United States.<ref>[http://www.cityofseattle.net/light/news/newsreleases/detail.asp?ID=8886 No rate changes at Seattle City Light for 2009], Seattle City Light news release, 2008-09-26. Accessed online 2009-10-07.</ref>

==Innovation and Technology==
On July 7, 2010 City Light began installing the first of 40,000 new [[LED street light]]s over the next five years.<ref>http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2010/07/07/news/city-installs-first-led-streetlight-ballard</ref>
On July 7, 2010 City Light began installing the first of 40,000 new [[LED street light]]s over the next five years.<ref>http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2010/07/07/news/city-installs-first-led-streetlight-ballard</ref>



Revision as of 00:02, 24 December 2013

Seattle City Light
File:Seattle City Light Logo.png
Agency overview
FormedApril 1, 1910: Seattle City Light created by Seattle City Council
TypeElectric utility
JurisdictionCity of Seattle and some outlying communities
HeadquartersMunicipal Tower, 700 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington, United States
Employees1,811
Agency executive
  • Jorge Carrasco, General Manager
Websitehttp://www.seattle.gov/light
Seattle City Light south service center, 1998.

Seattle City Light is the public utility providing electrical power to Seattle, Washington, US, and parts of its metropolitan area, including all of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park and parts of unincorporated King County, Burien, Normandy Park, Seatac, Renton, and Tukwila.[1] About 776,336 residents (418,000 metered customers) served by Seattle City Light use approximately 9,466,642 megawatt-hours.[2]

Overview

Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public utility in the United States. It was the first electric utility in the nation to become greenhouse gas neutral (2005)[3] and has the longest running energy conservation program in the country. The utility owns a large portion of its generation, which is predominately hydro, so is able to offer some of the country's lowest rates to its customers (of utilities in urban areas). Seattle City Light's customer breakdown shows about 362,658 residential customers consuming about 3,098,745 megawatt-hours and 39,950 non-residential customers consuming about 6,367,897 megawatt hours.[4]

History

Cover of Seattle City Light Yearbook, 1926

Public responsibility for electrical energy in Seattle dates to 1890 with creation of the Department of Lighting and Water Works. In 1902, Seattle voters passed a bond issue to develop hydroelectric power on the Cedar River (Washington) under the administration of the Water Department. Electricity from this development began to serve Seattle in 1905. A City Charter amendment in 1910 created the Lighting Department. Under the leadership of Superintendent James D. Ross, the department developed the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, which began supplying power in 1924. Both public and private power were supplied to Seattle until 1951 when the City purchased the private electrical power supply operations, making the Lighting Department the sole supplier. The Boundary Project in northern Washington began operation in 1967 and currently supplies over half of City Light's power generation. Approximately ten percent of City Light's income comes from the sale of surplus energy to customers in the Northwest and Southwest. The current name of the agency was adopted in 1978 when the Department was reorganized.[5]

Seattle's electricity supply

For 2012, the fuel mix for Seattle City Light was approximately 89.8% hydroelectric, 4.4% nuclear, 3.9% wind, 0.8% coal, 0.6% other (including biomass, natural gas, petroleum and waste), and 0.5% landfill gases.[6] The utility owns and operates the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, a series of three hydroelectric dams on the Skagit River in northern Washington State. The project supplies approximately 25 percent of Seattle's electric power. The utility also owns and operates the Boundary Dam on the Pend Oreille River which can provide up to approximately 50% of Seattle's electric power.[7] The remaining power comes from a mix of sources, including long-term contracts with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).[6] Seattle City Light residential customers currently pay about 8 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity. Seattle has the lowest residential and commercial electrical rates among comparably-sized cities in the United States.[8]

Innovation and Technology

On July 7, 2010 City Light began installing the first of 40,000 new LED street lights over the next five years.[9]

Seattle City Light completed this conversion ahead of schedule--November 2013. The LED replacement will continue with arterial streets and commercial areas with ornamental-type fixtures.

Notes

  1. ^ Seattle City Light Rates Area Map, Seattle City Light. Accessed online 2009-10-07.
  2. ^ Seattle City Light Annual Report, Seattle City Light (2008 or later, based on internal evidence). Accessed online 2013-12-23.
  3. ^ http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/No-global-warming-at-City-Light-1187133.php
  4. ^ http://www.seattle.gov/light/AboutUs/AnnualReport/2012/2012%20annual%20report.pdf
  5. ^ Shannon Lynch and Scott Cline, Guide to the Seattle City Light Department History File 1894-1972, Northwest Digital Archives (NWDA), 2004. Accessed online 2009-10-07.
  6. ^ a b Fuel Mix: How Seattle City Light Electricity is Generated (information is for calendar year 2012), Seattle City Light. Accessed 2012-07-17.
  7. ^ Boundary Projects: dam facts, Seattle City Light. Accessed online 2007-12-12.
  8. ^ No rate changes at Seattle City Light for 2009, Seattle City Light news release, 2008-09-26. Accessed online 2009-10-07.
  9. ^ http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2010/07/07/news/city-installs-first-led-streetlight-ballard