Seattle Lighting Department Records (Series II)

Series — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 1200-02

Staff Only

Scope and Contents Note

Series contains correspondence, maps, drawings, news clippings, research, reports, and photographs detailing pre-World War II, wartime, and post-war power production and infrastructure development in Washington State. Power production records focus mainly on hydroelectric generation, while infrastructure records focus on substations and transmission lines connecting various dams and steam plants to high population and developing areas in the Puget Sound region. Many records discuss acquisition and sales of real estate, equipment, and entire electric utility companies that have led to the development of the present-day Seattle City Light we know today. These records were originally acquired by the University of Washington prior to creation of the Seattle Municipal Archives, with this series identified at UW as Accession 33-2.

Dates

Creation: 1920-1962

Creator

Seattle City Light (Organization)
Seattle (Wash.). Lighting Dept. (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Records are open to the public.

HIstorical Note

Seattle City Light provides electricity and electrical and conservation services to its public and private customers. It is the largest public utility in the Pacific Northwest. Public responsibility for electrical energy dates to 1890 with creation of the Department of Lighting and Water Works. In 1902, Seattle voters passed a bond issue to develop hydroelectric power on the Cedar River under the administration of the Water Department. Electricity from this development began to serve Seattle in 1905. A City Charter amendment in 1910 created the Lighting Department. Under the leadership of Superintendent James D. Ross, the department developed the Skagit River hydroelectric project, which began supplying power in 1924. Both public and private power were supplied to Seattle until 1951 when the City purchased the private electrical power supply operations, making the Lighting Department the sole supplier. The Boundary Project in northeastern Washington began operations in 1967 and supplied over half of City Light's power generation. By the early 21st century, approximately ten percent of City Light's income came from the sale of surplus energy to customers in the Northwest and Southwest with the remainder of City Light's financial support coming from customer revenue. The current name of the agency was adopted in 1978 when the Department was reorganized.