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July/August 2007
Trees and power lines don't mix
Did you know:
- Seattle City Light trims trees away from the power lines located between poles.
On the line that connects the pole to the building, we only trim branches within 10 feet
of the pole. It is the property owner's responsibility to trim trees from the rest of this line.
We recommend that you hire a professional service to trim your trees.
Upon request, City Light will temporarily disconnect your power so this work can be done safely. Please contact your service representative one week in advance. See contact information above.
- Never attempt to trim trees located between poles. These are high-voltage lines, and a person must have the proper training and certification to work within 10 feet. Each year, amateur tree trimmers are seriously injured or killed when they come into contact with an energized line directly or indirectly through tree limbs, tools or equipment. Do not climb trees near power lines.
- Urgent hazards, such as broken tree limbs on high-voltage power lines or trees in the lines with sparking, should be reported immediately. Call (206) 706-0051.
- To report non-emergency problems with trees, call (206) 386-1733 . City Light will inspect the site to determine the problem and how it should be resolved.
- Keep all plants, vines, shrubs and trees at least 10 feet away from poles. When making repairs our crews must have quick and easy access to climb poles.
For additional information, call (206) 386-1733 or visit www.seattle.gov/light/neighborhoods/ and select "Tree Trimming."
Fuel mix disclosure
Following are percentages for the fuels used to generate the electricity supplied to Seattle City Light customers during 2006.
| Hydro |
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89.8 % |
| Nuclear* |
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4.6 % |
| Wind |
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3.5 % |
| Natural Gas |
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1.1 % |
| Coal * |
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0.9% |
| Other* |
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0.1 %
(biomass 0.05%, petroleum 0.01%, waste 0.02%)
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*These fuels represent a portion of the power purchased from the Bonneville Power Administration.
It's tour season
City Light offers Skagit Tours in the North Cascades through September. For tour hours, reservations, prices and more, call (206) 684-3030, visit www.SkagitTours.com, or e-mail SkagitTours.Reservations@seattle.gov.
Through Labor Day, we give free guided tours of the Boundary Hydroelectric Project located along the Pend Oreille River. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays. For more information visit www.seattle.gov/light/tours/boundary/, call (509) 446-3083, or e-mail gary.baird@seattle.gov.
Class graduates from "Utility U"
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The first graduating class from "Utility U" poses with City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco (far left), Seattle Public Utilities Superintendent Chuck Clarke (far right), Christine Frye, Seattle Public Schools' Interagency Academy (front right), and Mark Van Oss, City Light (center back). "Utility U," a partnership between the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools, teaches utility operations to alternative high-school students, and provides them an opportunity to explore different career paths.
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Opportunities to save $$$ and energy
The Home Resource Profile: A Web-based report calculates the water and energy you use in your home. Calculations are based on actual billing data for 10 or more months. Residential customers: www.seattle.gov/conserve/homeprofile or call (888) 693-2169 .
Efficiency while you shower: Single-family residents, be sure and return your request card to receive a free, efficient showerhead and bathroom faucet aerator. Offer good until September 30, 2007. Learn more at www.savingwater.org or call (206) 838-5392 .
Energy-efficient lighting rebates: City Light provides small business owners with free lighting assessments and offers rebates once your new lighting installations are verified. Find your own contractor or choose from our participating contractor list. For details: www.seattle.gov/light/conserve/business or call (206) 684-3800.
Weatherization and lighting discounts: City Light provides owners of buildings with five or more units incentives for installing efficient windows, insulation and lighting. Free building assessment and verification of all installed upgrades included. For information, visit www.seattle.gov/light/conserve/resident or
call (206) 684-3800 .
Tips for saving energy this summer
- Make sure the insulation in your home meets recommended levels as specified by R-Value. Seal air leaks at doors, windows and ducts to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
- To ensure efficient and safe operation, maintain heating and cooling equipment on a regular schedule. Keep your system's air filter clean. If you have central air conditioning, set the thermostat to 78º F.
- Use fans because they operate on a fraction of the electricity compared to air conditioners. Turn fans off in unoccupied rooms.
- Purchase appliances with the ENERGY STAR® label to save energy costs while saving the environment.
West Nile Virus:
take precautions
West Nile Virus (WNV) is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito.
People bitten by a mosquito carrying WNV may have no symptoms at all, or
they may become severely ill.
To protect yourself:
- Remove sources of standing water from your property to reduce the mosquito-breeding habitat.
- Make sure the screens on your windows and doors are in good repair and fit tightly, to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
- When mosquitoes are present, wear long-sleeve shirts, long pants, hats and insect repellent applied according to instructions, to help prevent mosquito bites.
For more information, call the Public Health West Nile Virus Hotline: (206) 205-3883 or visit www.metrokc.gov/health/westnile/.
Curious about your carbon footprint?
Carbon footprint is a measure of the
amount of carbon dioxide emitted
through the combustion of fossil fuels. It's a representation of the effect human activities have on the climate in terms of the total amount of greenhouse gases produced.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average home can produce twice as many greenhouse-gas emissions than the average car. To get a rough estimate of your home's emissions, and steps you can take to decrease them, check out the online personal emissions calculator tool at www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html.
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Seattle City Light is a publicly owned utility dedicated to exceeding our customers' expectations in producing and delivering low-cost, reliable power in an environmentally responsible and safe way. We are committed to delivering the best customer service experience of any utility in the nation.
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