[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6267586,"mediaKeyId","3069341-831d009cc744d562db994ae4ec4adf1c","parentId",3069341,"title","City Light leaders brief council committee on network‑group investigation; officials announce multiple disciplinary and culture‑change steps","audioSeconds",4440,"startMs",1892105,"endMs",6332975,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069341-831d009cc744d562db994ae4ec4adf1c&start=1892&end=6332","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069341-831d009cc744d562db994ae4ec4adf1c/thumbnail_1892105.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267586/Seattle/King-County/Washington/City-Light-leaders-brief-council-committee-on-networkgroup-investigation-officials-announce-multiple-disciplinary-and-culturechange-steps","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267586-8a8302251deba54300c410e0451853d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770079980&Signature=MB60yYGwnvg9NHBvKNYJH~zkyTOiiCXYpJ0zNMKE8QbwGONYuaBW4y5Fyd2mBVNEFKGwxABRqudLUeN-w-YoVw9UrjztGZ5lxvofHfsGl32dK5FLGop0KAetHvh1ticeVyZNRaKUgUKU7C7LUF-iXU3gjcLHU9cL9gseI7toj1P-jQtMs2Lu9WtzdM-4SDUygneESzfW1a8RbEDDB5jHJAFgp7egkP0qJOJecZ5OrBzeq9JwUZG4Wn70ZXgbQvhc~ZJTx~7CRnf8k6iMAhN4R~P21mYGpeuAkNsvljbLMbrAJhjzal1efY8VhXHXzzGz6fnm5dd2Gnu06GnU8ciZsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seattle City, WA","date","2025-04-21T16:29:20.157Z","article","Seattle City Light leaders briefed the Sustainability, City Light and Arts & Culture Committee on an outside investigation into misconduct in the utility’s network group and outlined immediate and longer‑term steps to change workplace culture, increase reporting, and protect employees.

At the committee meeting Don Lindell, general manager and chief executive officer of Seattle City Light, said the network group — part of Transmission and Distribution Operations — had “a pattern of very disturbing and concerning misconduct.” Lindell told the committee the utility worked with the press to announce the investigation publicly and described actions already taken and planned to improve safety and accountability.

Scope and disciplinary outcomes
City Light provided the committee with counts and outcomes from the inquiry: the utility has about 1,800 employees; the network group has roughly 90 members; City Light said 40 employees were investigated in connection with the inquiry. Lindell reported disciplinary outcomes including five terminations, seven suspensions, nine written warnings and 13 employees assigned training. Lindell said apprentices in the group reported feeling pressured to drink “in order to succeed in the program.”

Steps already taken and planned
City Light officials described multiple changes put into effect or under way:
- Mandatory‑reporting training for all people leaders, including the general manager, to ensure supervisors know reporting obligations.
- Anti‑retaliation posters and an anonymous hotline/ombuds contacts to increase reporting options.
- Employee support and coaching for those impacted by the misconduct; outside support services were engaged for survivors.
- Routine checks of work vehicles and work areas, and explicit rules that drinking or recreational drug use before or during work and on breaks is a terminable offense. Lindell said, “We will not tolerate drinking or recreational drug use before work, at breaks, at lunch, dinner, or between work and overtime shifts. This is a terminable offense.”
- Required on‑site leadership visits and goals for supervisor engagement in the field to improve oversight and relationships.
- Leadership training focused on conflict resolution, problem solving and safe team building; changes to overtime policies and clearer transparency on overtime assignment.

Office of People & Culture and investigative process
Davana Johnson, People & Culture officer, said managers and employee relations staff reached out to employees and provided safety plans for those who had reported concerns. Johnson told the committee that employees were afraid to come forward for years and that a leadership change in 2023 helped some employees feel able to speak. She said some staff who remained in the department committed, during disciplinary meetings, to change behavior and to not retaliate.

Rob Santoff, transmission and distribution operations director, described immediate leadership briefings and meetings held with crew chiefs and the network group. He said leadership secured commitments during an extended meeting to “move our culture into the proper place” and that open, ongoing group conversations would continue.

Council questions and oversight requests
Councilmembers pressed utility leaders on past handling of allegations, survivor protections, random drug and alcohol testing and how the committee and council would receive ongoing updates. Councilmember Teresa Moore said the pattern of allegations dating to 2017 is “appalling and unacceptable” and urged stronger measures, including contemplating random drug and alcohol testing for positions where on‑the‑job impairment could create public risk. Moore also asked how survivors who reported felt about continuing to work alongside individuals with sustained allegations.

Lindell and Johnson said the utility is evaluating testing approaches consistent with Washington law and collective bargaining agreements and noted that the utility already conducts random testing for CDL holders. Lindell said the utility would consult its attorneys and labor partners as it develops any broader testing program.

Accountability and follow‑up
Lindell told the committee he had fired the people identified as the “ring leaders” in the investigation and described an ongoing partnership with union leadership. He said the utility will use repeated culture surveys and field visits to measure progress; cited culture survey results that showed low agreement on responsiveness and cross‑functional work (29%–34% on several items) while noting strengths such as 87% agreement that coworkers treat each other with respect.

Several councilmembers asked that City Light return to the committee to report progress. Councilmember Alex Saka explicitly requested that the utility come back later in the year and on a cadence thereafter so the committee can monitor progress and hold leaders accountable.

What the committee recorded: This item was a briefing and discussion; there was no committee vote. Committee members thanked City Light leaders for the briefing and requested follow‑up oversight and reporting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sustainability, City Light, Arts and Culture Committee 4/18/25","oneSentenceSummary","Seattle City Light leaders briefed the committee on the results of an outside investigation into misconduct in the utility’s network group and outlined disciplinary actions and a multi‑part plan to change workplace culture and oversight.","taxTitle","Seattle, King County, Washington","taxId",2543,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6267591,"Committee clears two City Light easement ordinances covering 190 parcels",413,1459240,1873065,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069341-831d009cc744d562db994ae4ec4adf1c&start=1459&end=1873","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069341-831d009cc744d562db994ae4ec4adf1c/thumbnail_1459240.jpg","/articles/6267591/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Committee-clears-two-City-Light-easement-ordinances-covering-190-parcels","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267591-b57df56ec534734590e671d6d21c1aec/orig.mp4?Expires=1770079980&Signature=oLNm-2Uks9NnDw~33w6J7Zk0EAkYqaiFW~Spk56~gq8g6XXmOZDwRmsC7b1sAToly2jmiM~9frTSmZo8oJpXCmFKRWvLb7p0ZaF26SIXO9NR8eSO2Y033Hy1arjmhjtmoNoEAT5D4lUMsc898-VV7CFCFxN1b7jvw3KuuE~bkzoVEyGNXuRPlSMVMo3Bjxm6nAHSjgUdkZVIADejbviwaFyIhX1ZlDN7D-wB7-nq3WcUP-bRotI1thgA64k1Qo6gnbPHyG9dZ0wyXijfchSpgcky0w4WOWNIdLXG5nE5XbNnPoucTUSDFtnROdiMpIbtm2WtK3GxmrsS8Fq3kkRyzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sustainability, City Light and Arts & Culture Committee recommended passage of two ordinances that accept electrical distribution easements acquired by Seattle City Light through land‑use permitting. The committee voted 5–0 on each ordinance and will forward both bills to the full City Council for consideration on April 29.

Bill Devereaux, director of environmental management and real estate for City Light, told the committee these easements were rights the utility received through development review and are routine for the utility to accept by ordinance under the Seattle City Charter. Devereaux summarized the two sets: 61 distribution easements, typically needed when lines or poles must cross a third party’s yard to serve a customer; and 129 platted easements associated with unit lot subdivisions, boundary adjustments or short plats. Devereaux said the package includes 190 easements in total.

Councilmember Strauss, who reviewed the ordinance language, thanked City Light staff for batching the easements to avoid separate ordinance votes on each parcel, calling the items “routine business.”

Votes at a glance
- CB 120953 (distribution easement acceptance): moved, seconded and recommended to pass; committee roll call 5–0 in favor.
- CB 120954 (platted easement acceptance): moved, seconded and recommended to pass; committee roll call 5–0 in favor.

What this does and next steps
The ordinances place the accepted easements under City Light’s jurisdiction and ratify prior acts associated with those easements. The committee’s recommendations send both bills to the April 29 City Council meeting for final action.

Provable transcript evidence: The committee clerk read the two bills into the record; City Light staff briefed the committee and the committee voted 5–0 on each ordinance.","The committee voted unanimously to recommend two ordinances accepting City Light distribution and platted easements—61 distribution easements and 129 platted easements—totaling 190 easements acquired through land‑use permitting; both ordinances will go to full council on April 29.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6267596,"Council committee approves rate for City Light Renewable Plus program, advancing two PPAs",1096,335305,1431620,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069341-831d009cc744d562db994ae4ec4adf1c&start=335&end=1431","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069341-831d009cc744d562db994ae4ec4adf1c/thumbnail_335305.jpg","/articles/6267596/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Council-committee-approves-rate-for-City-Light-Renewable-Plus-program-advancing-two-PPAs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267596-0ba016db54b7928202cc6ee03451e381/orig.mp4?Expires=1770079980&Signature=gq-6f~8Zmokc1Fi~5KWGncLYRcdL4b3risCHRvQOfvZM2sS8qezOVuFMAEEj2OPMWYZaMdHy04FRGmaY5VeTJ8R-GCj0VjoASocR-UrlZJOAB1EZpVXj0jT0TtfcXXEv264ge1hPUeFUcCCrOE9ro-VPKnpW9Y6n0ugtkVh9Cy8c2bL-bR-usJG36vhEPhfLkUjfWV-aWwcG5I3Aw5Lqhbh3khYR2ya0uUvgesmralqG1QLndx2Wy5zFJMYnOTXGYShTEVTU30J1GA7oh3Xkx2ry7gMKG4MVRV098-n6kYAIQ03HsbeLR3u-0icwO1R~BCOeSOdzyqnG-ePtaQoInQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sustainability, City Light and Arts & Culture Committee recommended approval of an ordinance to establish a rate for Seattle City Light’s Renewable Plus program, a subscription product that bundles renewable energy kilowatt‑hours with the associated renewable energy credits. The ordinance (CB 120952) was read into the record and the committee voted 5–0 to send the bill to the full City Council for final action on April 29.

The Renewable Plus program was authorized by the Council in 2022 and City Light officials told the committee the current vote sets the customer rate that will recover administrative costs, renewable energy credits and the program development costs. Laurie Moen, manager of solutions design and analysis with Customer Energy Solutions at Seattle City light, told the committee, “We are coming back to the Council to establish a rate for a program that was authorized under an ordinance in 2022 to provide a bundled energy product to our large commercial customers.”

Why it matters: City Light says the program lets large commercial customers voluntarily subscribe to additional renewable generation without shifting net costs to non‑participants. Company officials described the program as a way for customers to retire renewable energy credits (RECs) to support climate goals while the utility uses subscription revenue to help fund new renewable projects.

Key facts and how the program works
- City Light said it signed two purchase power agreements (PPAs) in 2024 for new solar facilities in Central Oregon that together add 87 megawatts of generation to the utility’s portfolio. Don Lindell, general manager and chief executive officer of Seattle City Light, described the projects as the utility’s first new renewable PPAs tied to this program.
- City Light estimated the guaranteed annual output of those two projects at roughly 184,000 megawatt‑hours; the utility equated that figure to the annual use of about 184,000 single‑family homes.
- The rate is intended to be net neutral for non‑participants: the fee is designed to cover administrative costs, RECs and program development expenses. Moen explained the rate will recover sunk costs in the first three years and thereafter be adjusted to market conditions for RECs.
- The ordinance sets a structure by which the utility will revisit administrative costs on a standard cycle (every two years, City Light said) and will adjust charges based on REC market value and subscription levels. City Light staff said they expect the initial tranche to be heavily subscribed and estimated an 84% subscription level in the near term.
- Participants receive the retired RECs associated with their subscription, which City Light said customers can use to demonstrate renewable energy claims for certifications or corporate reporting.

Council discussion and oversight
Committee members questioned how the product would avoid cost shifts and sought context for the 87‑megawatt figure. Lindell and staff said transmission is used to bring generation from Central Oregon to Seattle’s network and that City Light expects the new projects to help meet long‑term resource needs. Lindell said, “We need to almost double our net capacity in the next 9 years,” describing the 87 megawatts as an early step toward a larger capacity goal.

Committee action and next steps
Chair Alexis Rink moved the recommendation and Councilmember Strauss seconded. The committee clerk recorded roll‑call votes of Aye from Councilmembers Moore, Saka, Strauss, Solomon and Chair Rink; the committee reported 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions. The committee’s recommendation that CB 120952 be sent to the April 29 City Council meeting will place the ordinance on the council docket for final consideration.

Clarifying details discussed at the meeting included the two PPAs signed in 2024, the program’s three‑year sunk‑cost recovery period, the expectation of administrative adjustments every two years, and the utility’s statement that participants receive retired renewable energy credits.

Background: City Light’s Customer Energy Solutions team described the Renewable Plus program as one of several customer‑facing offerings to reduce energy use or provide additional renewable options. Company staff thanked large customers—including Amazon and Climate Pledge Arena—for collaborating on the program design.

Provable transcript evidence: The committee read CB 120952 into the record and City Light staff briefed the committee before the vote. The ordinance was recommended to the full council by unanimous committee vote and scheduled for the April 29 council meeting.","The Sustainability, City Light and Arts & Culture Committee voted unanimously to recommend an ordinance establishing a rate for Seattle City Light’s Renewable Plus program, endorsing a bundled product tied to two 2024 solar purchase power agreements that together add 87 megawatts of new generation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City Light leaders brief council committee on network‑group investigation; officials announce multiple disciplinary and culture‑change steps

Committee clears two City Light easement ordinances covering 190 parcels

Council committee approves rate for City Light Renewable Plus program, advancing two PPAs