As of May 4, Seattle residents can opt into a new "Time of Use" rate plan from the municipal utility Seattle City Light. Unlike investor-owned utilities, Seattle City Light was founded in 1902 as a public utility operating for the community rather than shareholders. All revenues go toward maintaining infrastructure and lowering prices, and rates are approved by the city council following public hearings. Discount programs are available for low-income residents, and as a result electricity prices in Seattle are on average 15–20% lower than those of private companies in neighboring Washington state counties.
The new plan charges different prices depending on the time of day. The peak period (5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) will cost twice as much as the cheapest nighttime rate, while the partial-peak periods (6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to midnight) are 1.75 times as expensive. On Sundays and holidays, the partial-peak rate applies all day.
A smart meter is required to enroll — it can be identified by a seven-digit number beginning with a two. Participants can track their usage via the online Energy Insights platform, which compares charges under the standard and the new rate. The utility hopes people will shift appliance use to off-peak hours, reducing strain on the grid and avoiding costly infrastructure upgrades.
The reason for the change is growing electricity demand. More residents are heating and cooling homes, cooking on electric stoves, and charging electric vehicles, and the state’s hydroelectric plants are already operating near capacity. At the same time, clean energy requirements are taking effect — namely the 2019 Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), which requires that by 2045 100% of the state’s electricity comes from carbon-free sources. For Seattle City Light, which already gets roughly 90% of its energy from hydroelectric sources (including its own dams on the Skagit River and the Boundary Dam), this means phasing out the remaining 10% — mainly purchased power from coal and gas plants. The utility must develop plans to replace these contracts with solar, wind, or battery projects, which could temporarily raise rates by 4–6% due to investments in new infrastructure. Hydropower remains the backbone of the system, and the utility is working on dam upgrades to minimize environmental impacts on fish populations. "Meeting demand is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive, especially on the coldest days," said Seattle City Light spokesperson Julie Moore.
So far 900 households have signed up for the rate. In a pilot program (2020–2023), 200 participants saved an average of $12 a month, or $144 a year. The utility has already issued recommendations: for example, run washers and dishwashers at night, unplug unused devices, and use timers. The key is to figure out how your schedule can save money without undue inconvenience.
Based on: Seattle City Light launches new ‘Time of Use’ electricity rate