Seattle City Light proposes 9.5% annual rate hikes over next two years
By
David Kroman
Right out the toaster. Reliable, with some real depth.
Summary
Seattle City Light customers face a 9.5% rate increase in each of the next two years — the largest hikes in recent memory — adding roughly $10 per month to most bills. The utility cites rising costs, aging infrastructure, growing electricity demand, more extreme weather, and the need for new clean energy sources. Years of deprioritizing maintenance in favor of lower rates have left the utility with significant backlogged capital needs that can no longer be deferred.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledSeattle City Light customers will likely see their electric bills rise by 9.5% in each of the next two years, the largest rate hikes in recent memory.
That's equivalent to roughly $10 a month more for most customers.
For years, City Light has deprioritized maintenance in favor of lower rates and customer services. But as the utility faces mounting infrastructure and energy demands, it's no longer a path it can follow.
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