Seattle City Light 2006 Windstorm Damage Digital Photograph Collection, 2006

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle City Light
Title
Seattle City Light 2006 Windstorm Damage Digital Photograph Collection
Dates
2006 (inclusive)
Quantity
112 digital image files
Summary
Also known as the Hannukkah Eve Windstorm, this weather event caused wide-spread power outages and significant damage throughout the City of Seattle and the surrounding areas.
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

City Light provides electricity, 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 was 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.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Also known as the Hannukkah Eve Windstorm, this weather event caused wide-spread power outages and significant damage throughout the City of Seattle and the surrounding areas. These images document Seattle City Light's response to the emergency and depict the extent of the damage to private and public property. Images can be viewed on our digital platform. View 1204-16 online

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item number.], City Light 2006 Windstorm Damage Digital Photographs, Record Series 1204-16. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Location of Originals

Seattle Municipal Archives Photograph Index

Acquisition Information

Photographs acquired through the Seattle Municipal Archives Digital Image Management Program.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Electric power--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Storms--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Transmission Lines--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Weather--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.) Dept of Lighting
  • Seattle City Light

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)