Seattle City Light follows strict policies to ensure the safety, equity, and efficiency of the work we do for the customers and communities we serve.
We have documented policies for the following areas:
- Account Service Charge (III-405): Policy for assessing a service charge for new accounts or residences.
- Advanced Metering Opt-Out (III-427): Policy for customers who want to opt out of a digital meter meeting the new metering standard - including opt-out procedures, eligibility and charges.
- Assignment of Labor Charges (III-415): Policy for when City Light charges for work performed by the department where a customer is responsible. Specific cases outlined here.
- Billing Corrections (III-432): Policy for a situation where a customer’s energy usage was not billed or was inaccurately billed; City Light will issue a corrected bill.
- Billing for Electric Service Disconnect/Reconnects-Vacant Premises (III-414): Policy for the maintenance of electric service to vacant residential premises.
- Budget Billing Plan (III-419): A process and criteria for allowing customers to pay one year's billing in equal monthly payments.
- Credit and Collections (III-302): General credit and collection policies for money owed to City Light and disconnection of electric service due to credit and collection actions.
- Customer Dispute Resolution and Utility Hearing Officer (III-425): Policy covering the billing dispute resolution process, including roles and responsibilities of the Hearing Officer and other department staff.
- Electric Account Closing Bill Adjustments (III-411): In cases where notice is not given to City Light to close an account, this policy states the process for making adjustments to customer accounts.
- Electric Vehicle Charging Station Use and Fees (III-1102): Policies and procedures for fees relating to the use of public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations owned and operated by City Light.
- Energy Equity Rate Pilot Program (III-429): Rules for this small-scale pilot program to test rate incentives and wraparound services to make energy more affordable for very low-income customers.
- Lighting (III-401): Policy and fees for providing City Light customers with lighting services.
- Residential Thermostat Demand Response Pilot (III-433): Policy establishes a residential thermostat demand response pilot program called “TempWise.” This pilot opens a distributed energy resource management system platform to City Light customers who have installed compatible, Wi-Fi enabled thermostats in their homes.
- Residential Vacancy Billing (III-404): Policy relating to the maintenance of electric service to vacant residential premises.
- Security Deposits (III-301): Documents policy and procedure on residential or commercial security deposits on accounts. The criteria for deposits and payback processes in place.
- Service Installations (III-417): How we charge customers for the costs of installation of new, additional, modified or temporary electric service or service removal/relocation.
- Utility Discount Program (III-428): The qualifications, application process, documentation requirements, determination criteria and eligibility for City Light's Utility Discount Program offering reduced rates to low-income customers.
- Voluntary Conversions to Underground Service (III-421): Policies for when customers or groups of customers request overhead distribution conductors be placed underground.
- Cogeneration and Small Power Production Facilities (III-412): Policies in place to encourage the development of and partnership with small power generation facilities.
- Current Diversion (III-416): Established procedures for preventing, detecting, reporting, investigating, correcting and recovering lost revenue and costs from such diversions.
- Standards for Interconnection of Generators 20 MW and Less in Capacity to SCL's Electrical Distribution System (III-305): For interconnections of small generators to Seattle City Light's primary electrical distribution system.
- Underground Distribution Extensions to New Residential Areas (III-403): Guidelines for underground electrical distribution extensions to new residential subdivisions or tracts.
- Disposition of Dangerous Trees Growing on City-Owned Property (III-133): Policy for the removal of trees or vegetation that pose a hazard to our electric transmission and distribution systems.
- Disposition of Surplus Property (III-802): The policies and procedures City Light follows for the sale of surplus properties in accordance with federal, state, and local laws.
- Distribution and Service Easements (III-131): Guidelines for determining when City Light must obtain distribution and service easements when setting up new service.
- Real Property Use Permits, Leases, Consents, and Easements (III-132): Provides guidelines for incidental use of land and buildings and the rights of use for this property.
- Maintenance of Underground Services (III-423): The policy and procedures for the maintenance and repair of underground conductors, including billing for these services.
- Wireline Attachments on City Light Poles (III-804): The DPP clarifies the Department policy for wireline attachments made to poles owned wholly or in part by the City and under the jurisdiction of the Department ("poles"), as further set forth in Seattle City Light's Construction and Materials Standards and Practices ("Standards") and the Master Pole Attachment Agreement ("MPAA").
- Trenching in Public Right-of Way Areas (III-424): Guidelines for trenching in the public right-of-way for underground installation of electric service.
- Wireless Attachments on City Light Poles (III-805): Policy for wireless attachments (e.g. antennas, power supplies, cables, and fiber optic cables) made to poles owned or in part by City Light.
Public Policies Open for Comment
| DPP Name | PDF Link | Public Review Period |
|---|---|---|
| Notice to Rescind | ||
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III - 429 Energy Equity Rate Pilot The DPP was to establish rules for the Energy Equity Rate Pilot (EERP), a small-scale pilot program testing rate pilot incentives to make electricity services more affordable for low-income customers. Rescission reason: The DPP is to be rescinded as the pilot program will end on May 1, 2024. |
4/15/24 to 4/29/24 |
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| Notice of Purposed Rulemaking | ||
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III - 433 Residential Thermostat Demand Response Pilot This policy establishes a residential thermostat demand response pilot program called “TempWise”, under the authority granted by Ordinance 125957. This pilot opens a distributed energy resource management system ("DERMS") platform to City Light customers who have installed compatible, Wi-Fi enabled thermostats in their homes. The Pilot allows a customer an opportunity to earn incentives in exchange for allowing City Light and its subconsultant shared access and control to their smart thermostats. Revision Summary: This update is a revision to the DPP issued in 2023 to update rules for the continuation of the pilot for the 2nd year of the pilot program offered by City Light. |
4/18/24 to 5/2/24 |
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Comments may be filed during the review period by mail to:
Seattle City Light General Manager and CEO
Attention: DPP Coordinator
P.O. Box 34023
Seattle, WA 98124-4023
Or email SCL_DPPcoordinator@seattle.gov
If you have questions about our policies, please email SCL_DPPcoordinator@seattle.gov.