Time of Use Rate Coming Soon
Coming soon, we will introduce a Time of Use rate for small and medium business customers, giving you more control over your energy costs. Right now, we are developing tools to help you understand your energy use and explore rate options that fit your needs. Stay tuned for more information and sign up to receive email updates on TOU as we prepare for the launch.
Your business success depends on keeping operational costs low. Our goal is to keep electricity rates affordable. As a not-for-profit utility, the rate you pay goes only toward the carbon neutral electricity that you use, and to cover utility operations that ensure the delivery of reliable, safe, equitable, and green energy.
Current Rates
City Light provides affordable rates for carbon-neutral electricity, primarily generated from carbon-free hydroelectricity.
To understand your rates, find the applicable rate chart below based on the location and maximum demand (in kW) of your business. Maximum demand is the range into which more than half of your normal billings fall. Classification of new customers will be based on City Light's estimate of maximum demand in the current year.
Maximum demand places your business in one of four categories:
| Small | Medium | Large | High Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| <50 kW | 50 - 999 kW | 1,000 - 9,999 kW | 10,000+ kW |
Flat Rate Pricing
| Rate Type | City of Seattle (C) |
Downtown Network (D) |
Burien (B) SeaTac (E) Shoreline (H) Unincorporated King County (K) |
Lake Forest Park (L) |
Normandy Park (N) |
Tukwila (T) |
Renton (S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base service charge per day | $0.85 | $0.85 | $0.84 | $0.84 | $0.83 | $0.84 | $0.78 |
| Energy charger per kWh | $0.1291 | $0.1291 | $0.1304 | $0.1304 | $0.1284 | $0.1296 | $0.1207 |
| Minimum bill per meter per day | $0.85 | $0.85 | $0.84 | $0.84 | $0.83 | $0.84 | $0.78 |
| Transformer investment per kWh | $0.32 | $0.32 | $0.35 | $0.35 | $0.34 | $0.34 | $0.32 |
Time of Use Rate Pricing (coming soon)
| Rate Type | City of Seattle (C) |
Downtown Network (D) |
Burien (B) SeaTac (E) Shoreline (H) Unincorporated King County (K) |
Lake Forest Park (L) |
Normandy Park (N) |
Tukwila (T) |
Renton (S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base service charge per day | $0.85 | $0.85 | $0.84 | $0.84 | $0.83 | $0.84 | $0.78 |
| Peak energy charge per kWh | $0.1585 | $0.1585 | $0.1604 | $0.1604 | $0.1580 | $0.1595 | $0.1485 |
| Mid-Peak energy charge per kWh | $0.1387 | $0.1387 | $0.1404 | $0.1405 | $0.1383 | $0.1396 | $0.1300 |
| Off-Peak energy charge per kWh | $0.0792 | $0.0792 | $0.0802 | $0.0803 | $0.0790 | $0.0798 | $0.0743 |
We are using a three-tiered peak system: peak, mid-peak, and off-peak. The price you pay for electricity will depend on when you use it.
- Peak Energy Use hours are when electricity is most expensive. This will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except on City-observed holidays.
- Mid-peak Energy Use hours will be from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays and city-observed holidays, mid-peak pricing applies all day from 6 a.m. to midnight (with no peak hours).
- Off-peak Energy Use hours are when electricity cost is lowest. This will be from midnight to 6 a.m. every day.
Flat Rate Pricing
| Rate Type | City of Seattle (C) |
Downtown Network (D) |
Burien (B) SeaTac (E) Shoreline (H) Unincorporated King County (K) |
Lake Forest Park (L) |
Normandy Park (N) |
Tukwila (T) |
Renton (S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base service charge per day | $3.13 | $3.13 | $3.38 | $3.38 | $3.33 | $3.37 | $3.13 |
| Energy charge per kWh | $0.1030 | $0.1150 | $0.1112 | $0.1113 | $0.1096 | $0.1108 | $0.1030 |
| Demand Charge per kW | $5.57 | $12.68 | $6.02 | $6.02 | $5.93 | $5.99 | $5.57 |
| Minimum bill per meter per day | $3.13 | $3.13 | $3.38 | $3.38 | $3.33 | $3.37 | $3.13 |
| Transformer investment per kWh | $0.32 | $0.32 | $0.35 | $0.35 | $0.34 | $0.34 | $0.32 |
Time of Use Rate Pricing (coming soon)
| Rate Type | City of Seattle (C) |
Downtown Network (D) |
Burien (B) SeaTac (E) Shoreline (H) Unincorporated King County (K) |
Lake Forest Park (L) |
Normandy Park (N) |
Tukwila (T) |
Renton (S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base service charge per day | $3.13 | $3.13 | $3.38 | $3.38 | $3.33 | $3.37 | $3.13 |
| Peak energy charge per kWh | $0.1267 | $0.1414 | $0.1368 | $0.1369 | $0.1348 | $0.1363 | $0.1267 |
| Mid-Peak energy charge per kWh | $0.1109 | $0.1238 | $0.1198 | $0.1198 | $0.1180 | $0.1193 | $0.1109 |
| Off-Peak energy charge per kWh | $0.0633 | $0.0707 | $0.0684 | $0.0684 | $0.0673 | $0.0681 | $0.0633 |
| Peak demand charge per kW | $5.57 | $12.68 | $6.02 | $6.02 | $5.93 | $5.99 | $5.57 |
| Off-Peak demand charge per kW | $0.32 | $0.32 | $0.35 | $0.35 | $0.34 | $0.34 | $0.32 |
For our Time of Use rate, we are using a three-tiered peak system: peak, mid-peak, and off-peak. The price you pay for electricity will depend on when you use it.
- Peak Energy Use hours are when electricity is most expensive. This will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except on City-observed holidays.
- Mid-peak Energy Use hours will be from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays and city-observed holidays, mid-peak pricing applies all day from 6 a.m. to midnight (with no peak hours).
- Off-peak Energy Use hours are when electricity cost is lowest. This will be from midnight to 6 a.m. every day.
The demand charges are based on:
- Peak Demand Charge is based on a customer’s maximum demand during peak periods. "Peak" is defined as the period Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to midnight, excluding New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
- Off-Peak Demand Charge is only charged for the maximum demand in off-peak periods that is in excess of peak demand.
| Rate Type | City of Seattle (C) |
Downtown Network (D) |
Burien (B) SeaTac (E) Shoreline (H) Unincorporated King County (K) |
Lake Forest Park (L) |
Normandy Park (N) |
Tukwila (T) |
Renton (S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base service charge per day | $56.62 | $56.62 | $61.15 | $61.17 | $60.23 | $60.95 | $56.62 |
| Peak energy charge per kWh | $0.1233 | $0.1367 | $0.1332 | $0.1332 | $0.1312 | $0.1327 | $0.1233 |
| Off-Peak energy charge kWh | $0.0617 | $0.0683 | $0.0666 | $0.0667 | $0.0656 | $0.0664 | $0.0617 |
| Peak demand charge per kW | $5.39 | $11.49 | $5.82 | $5.82 | $5.73 | $5.80 | $5.39 |
| Off-Peak demand charge per kW | $0.32 | $0.32 | $0.35 | $0.35 | $0.34 | $0.34 | $0.32 |
| Minimum bill per meter per day | $56.62 | $56.62 | $61.15 | $61.17 | $60.23 | $60.95 | $56.62 |
| Transformer investment per kW | $0.32 | $0.32 | $0.35 | $0.35 | $0.34 | $0.34 | $0.32 |
"Peak" is defined as the period Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., excluding New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
| Rate Type | City of Seattle (C) | Tukwila (T) |
|---|---|---|
| Base service charge per day | $185.17 | $199.63 |
| Peak energy charge per kWh | $0.1156 | $0.1246 |
| Off-Peak energy charge kWh | $0.0578 | $0.0623 |
| Peak demand charge per kW | $5.39 | $5.81 |
| Off-Peak demand charge per kW | $0.32 | $0.34 |
| Minimum bill per meter per day | $185.17 | $199.63 |
| Transformer investment per kW | $0.32 | $0.34 |
"Peak" is defined as the period Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., excluding New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Undergrounding Rates
Burien and Shoreline elected to underground distribution lines on some of their arterial streets. Instead of the jurisdiction paying for the work upfront, the undergrounding cost is recovered from all customers in that jurisdiction via a kWh undergrounding charge according to the table below:
| Burien | Rate per kWh |
|---|---|
| First Ave South 1 | $0.0037 |
| First Ave South 2 | $0.0013 |
| Shoreline | Rate per kWh |
|---|---|
| North City | $0.0007 |
| Aurora 1 | $0.0017 |
| Aurora 2 | $0.0018 |
| Aurora 3A | $0.0005 |
| Aurora 3B | $0.0022 |
Other Charges and Credits
Business rates may also include the following charges or credits:
- Power factor charge: $0.0015/kVarh
What's the Difference Between kW and kWh?
It's the difference between demand (kW) - measuring the maximum use of electricity at a given point in time - and consumption (kWh) - measuring the flow of electricity over an hour.
How Are Rates Designed?
Rates are driven by the cost of providing electricity to our customers, including costs for production, delivery, and customer services, while also adhering to city, state and federal government regulations and requirements. Rates are generally approved by the Seattle City Council every two years. Business rates are determined by three factors: class, structure, and element.
Your rate class is based on your maximum demand (kW) per month. Your rate class and service location are noted under the "Rate Code" section of your bill. Rate code key:
| Size by Max Monthly Demand | Class | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 50 kW | Small General Service | SM |
| 50 - 999 kW | Medium General Service | MD |
| 1,000 - 9,999 kW | Large General Service | LG |
| 10,000+ kW | High Demand General Service | HD |
| Location Class | Code |
|---|---|
| Burien | B |
| City of Seattle | C |
| Downtown Network | D |
| SeaTac | E |
| Shoreline | H |
| Unincorporated King County | K |
| Lake Forest Park | L |
| Normandy Park | N |
| Renton | S |
| Tukwila | T |
The rate structure indicates whether it is a flat rate or based on time of use. The rate structure is displayed on your bill under "Peak."
- Flat rate: The charge for electricity use is the same price per kWh regardless of time or quantity.
- Time of use: Prices vary by time of day, with higher prices for usage during peak demand periods such as early evening.
Elements include types of energy used, demand for energy, and other charges to cover the cost of service.
- Base service charge: This is a small daily charge that covers costs associated with billing and customer service operations.
- Energy charge: That portion of a customer's bill based on the electric energy (kWh) consumed.
- Demand charge: That portion of a customer's bill based on their highest demand during a billing cycle.
- Power factor penalty charge: The measure of how effectively power is being used at the service location. The penalty charge is only assessed if the power factor is less than 97%. This is typically only used for industrial facilities using large electric equipment that place a heavier than normal drain on the power source.
- Transformer investment discount: This discount is for primary metering customers who own their own transformers. The transformer distributes power on the last leg of the trip to your business for high voltage transmission.
Other Business Rates
See our rates below for lighting; duct, vault, and pole attachment rental; and Reserved Distribution Capacity (RDC).
Residential Lights (R)
| Rental | Monthly Cost | Bi-Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Residential LED | $14.38 | $28.76 |
Arterial Lights (A)
| Rental | Monthly Cost | Bi-Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Arterial HPS/other | $38.30 | $76.60 |
| Arterial LED | $24.02 | $48.04 |
Floodlights (F)
| Rental | Monthly Cost | Bi-Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Floodlights HPS | $29.98 | $59.96 |
Decorative, Pedestrian and Miscellaneous Lights (D)
| Rental | Monthly Cost | Bi-Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative HPS/other | $39.90 | $79.80 |
| Decorative LED | $25.47 | $50.94 |
Customer Owned, Department Maintained (M)
| Rental | Monthly Cost | Bi-Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| HPS <200 W | $23.36 | $46.72 |
| HPS 200 W - 299 W | $29.34 | $58.68 |
| HPS >300 W | $35.20 | $70.40 |
| LED <50 W | $6.09 | $12.18 |
| LED >50 W | $9.41 | $18.82 |
Customer Owned, Customer Maintained (E)
| Rental | Monthly Cost | Bi-Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| HPS <150 W | $6.00 | $12.00 |
| HPS >150 W | $12.82 | $25.64 |
| LED <150 W | $4.37 | $8.74 |
| LED >150 W | $9.58 | $19.16 |
Duct Rental
| Rental | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|
| Duct per duct-foot | $14.43 |
| Innerduct per innerduct-foot | $14.43 |
Vault Rental
| Rental | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|
| Vault Wall Space per square foot | $36.06 |
| Vault Ceiling Space per square foot | $14.43 |
Pole Attachment Rental
Within the Communication Space
| Rental | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|
| Pole owned solely by City Light | $49.38 |
| Pole owned by City Light +1 other party | $24.69 |
| Pole owned by City Light +2 or more other parties | $16.46 |
Below the Communication Space
| Rental | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|
| Pole owned solely by City Light | $93.82 |
| Pole owned by City Light +1 other party | $46.91 |
| Pole owned by City Light +2 or more other parties | $31.27 |
Reserved Distribution Capacity (RDC)
| Per kW of monthly maximum | $0.52 |
Have questions about City Light rates? Need help with forecasting or analysis?
Contact us for more information about rates or help analyzing your bill.