Parks and City Light Committee Approves Strategic Plan and Power Purchase Authority, Discusses Data Center Rates - July 1, 2026
Parks and City Light Committee Meeting - July 1, 2026
The Seattle City Council's Parks and City Light Committee met on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Council Chamber. Chair Debora Juarez presided. The committee considered three items: Resolution 32210 adopting Seattle City Light's 2027-2032 Strategic Plan and rate path, Council Bill 121231 establishing new retail rate schedules including a data center large load class, and Council Bill 121241 authorizing long-term power purchase agreements (up to 240 months). The committee voted on the resolution and the power purchase ordinance, while the rate ordinance was discussed but will be voted on July 15. Councilmember Dan Strauss was excused but submitted questions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Alice Lockhart (350 Seattle, District 5): Expressed full support for the new large load rate class for data centers (CB 121231) but urged council to adopt an amendment clarifying that this policy does not preclude future legislation after community consultation during the data center moratorium. Asked council to hold the legislation if such an amendment is not legally feasible.
- Rebecca Young (District 3): Supported creating a dedicated customer class for large data centers with full infrastructure responsibility and actual cost of new power procurement. Urged immediate application to new facilities and expansion to existing facilities above 10 MVA at contract renewal. Stressed that the ordinance should be a minimum baseline and not limit future improvements from community input.
- David Haynes (no affiliation stated): Criticized changes to Myrtle Edwards Park, including blocked grass areas with rusted rope, removal of pull-up bars, and lack of greenery to block train yard dust. Asked for soft paths and tree barriers. (Note: This comment was outside the agenda items; Chair Juarez noted it was within purview of parks.)
- Lauren Redfield (WA AI Resistant, District 6): Strongly supported City Light's proposed large load rate policy as a national-leading, utility-centered approach. Encouraged immediate adoption for new facilities and transition for existing customers at earliest legal opportunity. Asked for an amendment of legislative intent to clarify the rate policy does not limit future legislation, and that council reserves the right to strengthen the policy.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 32210 (2027-2032 Strategic Plan and Rate Path): Rob Santoff (Interim GM/CEO), Kirsty Grainger, and Angela Bertrand presented. The strategic plan outlines a six-year roadmap for infrastructure modernization, resilience, and transparency. The companion rate path proposes rate increases of 9.5% for 2027 and 2028. For an average residential customer, this equates to about $10 per month. Questions from council focused on cost allocation among rate classes (residential vs. downtown network vs. streetlights), factors driving the 40% of the rate increase attributed to inflation, and plans for managing peak demand. Staff explained that downtown network rates are already ~20% higher than general service, and streetlight rate increases are driven by maintenance and wire theft. The committee voted 4-0 to recommend adoption.
- Council Bill 121231 (Data Center Large Load Class and Rate Changes): This ordinance creates a new customer class for data centers with large loads (new large load), requires them to pay full infrastructure costs and actual power procurement costs (not benefiting from legacy hydropower), and modifies residential rate assistance and the rate stabilization account. Discussion covered the technical rate design and the need for community engagement during the ongoing data center moratorium. Councilmember Rivera questioned whether the slide showing rate increases was misleading; staff clarified it shows percentage changes, not absolute rates—downtown network customers still pay more per kWh because of premium service. The committee did not vote; the vote is scheduled for July 15.
- Council Bill 121241 (Long-Term Power Purchase Agreements): Presented by Rob Santoff and Siobhan Doherty. City Light projects a need for over 1,700 megawatts of new resources in the next decade driven by electrification and growth, but current code limits contracts to 60 months. The ordinance would allow agreements up to 240 months (20 years) for non-carbon emitting energy, transmission, and ancillary services. Staff highlighted intense competition from tech companies (e.g., Amazon outbidding PSE for solar), other utilities (Grant County, BPA), and the need for flexible negotiation. Councilmember Saka noted the need for long-term planning to avoid missing opportunities. The committee voted 4-0 to recommend passage.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 32210 (Strategic Plan) passed committee 4-0 (Juarez, Kettle, Rivera, Saka in favor). Will go to full City Council on July 7.
- Council Bill 121241 (Power Purchase Authority) passed committee 4-0. Will go to full City Council on July 7.
- Council Bill 121231 (Rates and Data Center Class) was discussed but held for a vote on July 15. Councilmember Strauss, who was excused, will be present to vote on that date.
- Chair Juarez noted that city light staff responded to 13 written questions from councilmembers by June 30 deadline.
- No consent calendar items were considered.
Meeting Transcript
Oh, we're on screen. Do we start? Okay. Good afternoon, everybody. Today is Wednesday, July 1st. It's the meeting of the parks and city light committee, and I am going to call it to order. My name is Deborah Warez, Chair of the Committee. And Mr. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Strauss. Councilmember Saka. Here. Councilmember Rivera. Vice Chair Kettle. Here. Chair Wars. Here. Chair, there are three three members present. All right. And I should add for the record that Councilmember Strauss has been excused, but he will be present to vote on July 15th when we do the rate ordinance. And Councilmember Strauss did submit questions to Seattle City Light, which I understand will be answered today. Let's move on to approval of the agenda. The agenda will be adopted. Not hearing or seeing an objection. The agenda is adopted. I'm going to go into the chair's report. There will be a regular public comment period before the items on the agenda. Comments should be laid today on today's agenda. I'm sorry, I'm going to say this again. Comments should be related to items on today's agenda and within the purview of this committee during public comment. There are there is one resolution and two ordinances on the agenda today. The first and second items are Seattle or City Lights 2027 2032 strategic plan resolution and the new retail rates ordinance. These items will be presented together as the resolution informs the ordinance. This is the second time we are hearing these two items across three council meetings. Today there will be an in-depth presentation based on questions council members submitted for Seattle City Light last week, which Seattle City Light responded to with a memo yesterday. As you recall, on June 17th, we asked our colleagues to submit questions as well as some other folks on the floor and central staff. And um Seattle City Light uh was to meet and respond to those questions by yesterday's deadline, which was yesterday, June 30th. Correct, Clerk. Okay. The presentation, I understand, is um nine pages of a PowerPoint presented by Rob Santoff, uh interim C GM CEO of Seattle City Light, Angela Bertran and Christy Granger of Seattle City Light and Eric McConaughey, our own Eric McConhey from Council Central Staff. The third item on the agenda is an ordinance that gives a city gives City Light the authority to enter into long-term agreements for power purchase agreements. The presentation consists of eight slides and will be presented by again Rob Stanoff, Shavon Doherty, and again our own Eric McConaughey. Um should note for the record that we also had not just a PowerPoint but a summary in fiscal note that was prepared uh from Seattle City Lights legal counsel Jeff Wolfe. I expect a vote on agendas one and three today, and the rates ordinance will be voted on on July 15th. With that, we will go to public comment. Mr. Clerk, we will now open up the hybrid. We will open the hybrid public comment period. Public comments should relate to today to items on today's agenda and within the purviews committee. Mr.
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