Our Commitment to Energy Equity
We recognize there are communities in our service area that continue to be marginalized, overburdened by pollution and underserved by clean-energy infrastructure and energy-efficiency programs. To ensure a better future for our customers and our region, we strive to put equity at the front of our work.
An equitable energy system is one where the economic, health, and social benefits of participation extend to all levels of society, regardless of ability, race, or socioeconomic status. Achieving energy equity requires intentionally designing systems, technology, procedures, and policies that lead to the fair and just distribution of benefits in the energy system.
We are committed to racial equity and social justice.
We are dedicated to the City's Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) focused on eliminating racial inequity in the communities we serve, including ending individual racism, institutional racism and structural racism.
The Racial Equity Toolkit lays out a process and a set of questions to guide the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, initiatives, programs, and budget issues to address the impacts on racial equity while aiming to avoid or mitigate unintended consequences.
Our Shared Work
Our racial equity and social justice work is carried out through a citywide approach, by both employees and community members, in every branch of city government. This infrastructure works toward developing accountable relationships, analyzing the relationship between power and racism, and shifting structures and processes to create racially equitable outcomes.
Our City Goals
Our racial equity and social justice work includes providing employees with trainings, technical assistance, hands-on facilitation, and best practices on authentic community engagement to address our environmental, structural, institutional, and individual goals for racial justice.
Our Guiding Principles
Our racial equity and social justice work is guided by the principles of undoing racism, sharing culture, learning from history, maintaining accountability, analyzing power, undoing internalized racial oppression, leadership development and networking.
We value affordability for our customers.
City Light is committed to ensuring all customers have access to clean, affordable electricity no matter their financial circumstances.
When a customer applies for a City Light assistance program, our customer care team helps navigate all possible assistance opportunities, including short- and long-term assistance and other financial assistance resources.
We drive equitable access to clean energy.
The ongoing energy transition is a once-in-a-century opportunity to benefit the health and wellbeing of our communities.
As a public utility, Seattle City Light makes the connections and investments needed to bring the benefits of electrification to everyone. Equitable economic opportunity, improved health in communities harmed by pollution, and more resilient places to live, work, and play are all part of our shared energy future.
We develop a diverse and talented workforce.
We do things differently at City Light. We think about the future of energy. We have forward-thinking conversations about sustainability. We are committed to social responsibility. We hire locally and educate our next generation of energy experts through apprenticeships and internships. And, we respect and champion the diversity of our employees, customers, and communities.
