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Seattle City Light Annual Reports, 1910-2017

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle City Light
Title
Seattle City Light Annual Reports
Dates
1910-2017 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.1 cubic feet, (5 boxes)
Collection Number
1802-F6
Summary
Annual reports for Municipal Light and Power Plant and System, Lighting Department, and Seattle City Light. Includes financial reports as well as comparative reports on highlights of years. Lighting Department annual reports contain historical reviews, illustrations, and statistical information. Also includes the 1977 and 1978 annual reports for the City Light Office of Conservation.
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
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

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 back to 1890 with creation of the Department of Lighting and Water Works. The formulation of this public utility stemmed from fear of monopolization by private companies and was reinforced by the inadequacy of those companies during the Great Fire of 1889. Unable to gain access to private water, much of the business district was burned to the ground. Citizens responded eagerly to the idea of publicly owned water and electricity, which was later encouraged as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s.

In 1902, Seattle voters passed a bond issue to develop hydroelectric power on the Cedar River under the administration of the Water Department. This was the nation's first municipally owned hydroelectric project. Electricity from this development began to serve customers in Seattle in 1905. A City Charter amendment in 1910 created the Lighting Department, making it a full member of the City's Board of Public Works. Under the leadership of Superintendent James D. Ross, the department developed the Skagit River hydroelectric project which began supplying power in 1924 with the completion of the Gorge Dam.

Both public and private power was supplied to Seattle until 1951 when the City purchased the local private electrical power company, the Puget Sound Power and Light Company, 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. As a municipally owned public power system, Seattle City Light is governed by elected Seattle officials. Administrative authority rests with the Superintendent and an executive team that includes the department's Chief of Staff, Service and Energy Delivery Officer, Human Resources Officer, Power Supply and Environmental Affairs Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. City Light is responsible for electrical service and streetlight service, streetlight problems, and also conservation, both residential and commercial/industrial.

City Light provides low-cost, reliable, and environmentally responsible electric power to approximately 395,000 customers in Seattle and neighboring areas, including Burien, Lake Forest Park, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac, Shoreline, Tukwila, and unincorporated King County. It is the ninth-largest public power system in the United States and has the lowest rates among comparably sized cities in the United States.

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Content Description

Included with the City Light annual reports are reports for the Municipal Light and Power Plant System dating from 1913 to 1917; these are signed by J.D. Ross. Lighting Department or City Light annual reports date from 1910 to 1988, although reports for some years are missing. For some years there are two reports; some are financial reports, others are comparative or reports outlining highlights of the year addressed to the Mayor and City Council. Beginning in 1911, Lighting Department annual reports contain an historical review, photographs as illustrations, graphs, and statistical information. Many reports include maps and detail power plant development. The reports, although shorter, continue to be well illustrated and to supply statistical information through the 1970s and 1980s. They reflect issues such as conservation and droughts. The 1977 and 1978 annual reports for the City Light Office of Conservation are also included.

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Other Descriptive Information

A Comptroller or Clerk File (CF) can consist of correspondence, reports, petitions, contracts, agreements, etc. from elected officials, City departments, other government agencies, or the general public, which have been placed "on file" with the Office of the City Clerk (OCC). They are primarily permanent records, but also include routine material which was periodically purged. Certain archival records identified in the CF have been removed, arranged into records series, and incorporated into the collection of the Seattle Municipal Archives, a program of the OCC.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle City Light Annual Reports, Record Series 1802-F6 Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 42606

    Dates: 1910
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 81330

    Dates: 1911
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 54970

    Dates: 1912-1913
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Municipal Light and Power System Annual Report

    Clerk File 54971

    Dates: 1913
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Municipal Light and Power System Annual Report

    Clerk File 059725_10

    Dates: 1914
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Municipal Light and Power System Annual Report

    Clerk File 68685

    Dates: 1916
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Municipal Light and Power System Annual Report

    Clerk File 69632

    Dates: 1917
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 081330

    Dates: 1914-1915
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 063200-10

    Dates: 1915
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Financial Report
    Dates: 1918
    Container: Box 5, Folder 1
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 076666

    Dates: 1919
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report
    Dates: 1920
    Container: Box 5, Folder 2
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 085239-10

    Dates: 1921
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 134876

    Dates: 1922
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 134876

    Dates: 1923
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 134877

    Dates: 1924
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 134878

    Dates: 1925
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 134879

    Dates: 1926
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 111123

    Dates: 1926
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report (Supplemental)

    Clerk File 111132

    Dates: 1926
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 114870

    Dates: 1927
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 134880

    Dates: 1927
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department (unpublished) Annual Report

    Clerk File 122446

    Dates: 1928
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department (published) Annual Report

    Clerk File 122446

    Dates: 1928
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 134882

    Dates: 1929
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department (published) Annual Report

    Clerk File 131479

    Dates: 1930
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Lighting Department (unpublished) Annual Report

    Clerk File 131479

    Dates: 1930
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 143340

    Dates: 1931
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 291867

    Dates: 1932
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 291868

    Dates: 1933
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 291869

    Dates: 1934
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 291870

    Dates: 1935
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 291871

    Dates: 1936
    Container: Box 2, Folder 1
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 291872

    Dates: 1937
    Container: Box 2, Folder 1
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 291873

    Dates: 1938
    Container: Box 2, Folder 2
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 166180

    Dates: 1939
    Container: Box 2, Folder 2
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 170431

    Dates: 1940
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 175397

    Dates: 1941
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 181377

    Dates: 1942
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 180393

    Dates: 1943
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department (includes Financial Report)

    Clerk File 180392

    Dates: 1943
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 1849285

    Dates: 1944
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 189974

    Dates: 1945
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 193427

    Dates: 1946
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 199798

    Dates: 1947
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 204139

    Dates: 1948
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 207028

    Dates: 1949
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 211585

    Dates: 1950
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 216106

    Dates: 1951
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 220551

    Dates: 1952
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 224073

    Dates: 1953
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 226265

    Dates: 1954
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report - "Highlights"

    Clerk File 226615

    Dates: 1954
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 229070

    Dates: 1955
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 292105

    Dates: 1955
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 233033

    Dates: 1956
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 234320

    Dates: 1957
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 292106

    Dates: 1957
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 236721

    Dates: 1958
    Container: Box 2, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 292107

    Dates: 1959
    Container: Box 2, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report
    Dates: 1960
    Container: Box 2, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 292104

    Dates: 1961
    Container: Box 2, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 247824

    Dates: 1962
    Container: Box 2, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 248561

    Dates: 1962
    Container: Box 2, Folder 5
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 250944

    Dates: 1963
    Container: Box 2, Folder 6
  • Description: Lighting Department (includes Financial Statement)

    Clerk File 253138

    Dates: 1964
    Container: Box 2, Folder 6
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 255880

    Dates: 1965
    Container: Box 2, Folder 6
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 257823

    Dates: 1966
    Container: Box 2, Folder 7
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 260727

    Dates: 1967
    Container: Box 2, Folder 7
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report
    Dates: 1968
    Container: Box 2, Folder 7
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 267238

    Dates: 1969
    Container: Box 2, Folder 7
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 270072

    Dates: 1970
    Container: Box 2, Folder 8
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 273055

    Dates: 1971
    Container: Box 2, Folder 8
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 276666

    Dates: 1972
    Container: Box 2, Folder 8
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report (Financial)

    Clerk File 280127

    Dates: 1973
    Container: Box 2, Folder 8
  • Description: Underground Wiring Annual Report

    Clerk File 263197

    Dates: 1968
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Underground Wiring Annual Report

    Clerk File 266554

    Dates: 1969
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Underground Wiring Annual Report
    Dates: 1970
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Underground Wiring Annual Report

    Clerk File 273232

    Dates: 1971
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Underground Wiring Annual Report

    Clerk File 276276

    Dates: 1973
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Underground Wiring Annual Report

    Clerk File 279754

    Dates: 1973
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Underground Wiring Annual Report

    Clerk File 281903

    Dates: 1974
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Underground Wiring Annual Report

    Clerk File 283852

    Dates: 1975
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Underground Wiring Annual Report

    Clerk File 285413

    Dates: 1976
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 282102

    Dates: 1974
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 283272

    Dates: 1975
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: City Light Annual Report (Financial and "Highlights")

    Clerk File 284015

    Dates: 1975
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 285179

    Dates: 1976
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: Seattle City Light Annual Report and Highlights
    Dates: 1976
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 286352

    Dates: 1977
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: Lighting Department Annual Report

    Clerk File 287070

    Dates: 1977
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: City Light Annual Report - Office of Conservation

    Clerk File 286225

    Dates: 1977
    Container: Box 3, Folder 3
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 288344

    Dates: 1978
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: City Light Annual Report - Office of Conservation

    Clerk File 287716

    Dates: 1978
    Container: Box 3, Folder 3
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 289256

    Dates: 1979
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 292617

    Dates: 1979
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 292614

    Dates: 1980
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report (Financial)

    Clerk File 292615

    Dates: 1980
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 290575

    Dates: 1980
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1981
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 292612

    Dates: 1982
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 292315

    Dates: 1982
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 293185

    Dates: 1983
    Container: Box 3, Folder 5
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 293416

    Dates: 1983
    Container: Box 3, Folder 5
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 294107

    Dates: 1984
    Container: Box 3, Folder 5
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 294955

    Dates: 1985
    Container: Box 3, Folder 5
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 295794

    Dates: 1986
    Container: Box 3, Folder 6
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 296491

    Dates: 1987
    Container: Box 3, Folder 6
  • Description: City Light Annual Report

    Clerk File 297203

    Dates: 1988
    Container: Box 3, Folder 6
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1989
    Container: Box 3, Folder 6
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1990
    Container: Box 3, Folder 7
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1991
    Container: Box 3, Folder 7
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1992
    Container: Box 3, Folder 7
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1993
    Container: Box 3, Folder 7
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1994
    Container: Box 3, Folder 7
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1995
    Container: Box 3, Folder 7
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1996
    Container: Box 3, Folder 7
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1997
    Container: Box 4, Folder 1
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1998
    Container: Box 4, Folder 1
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 1999
    Container: Box 4, Folder 1
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2000
    Container: Box 4, Folder 1
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2001
    Container: Box 4, Folder 2
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box 4, Folder 2
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2003
    Container: Box 4, Folder 2
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2004
    Container: Box 4, Folder 2
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2005
    Container: Box 4, Folder 3
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2006
    Container: Box 4, Folder 3
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2007
    Container: Box 4, Folder 3
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2008
    Container: Box 4, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2009
    Container: Box 4, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2010
    Container: Box 4, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2011
    Container: Box 4, Folder 4
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2012
    Container: Box 4, Folder 5
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2013
    Container: Box 4, Folder 5
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2014
    Container: Box 4, Folder 5
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2015
    Container: Box 4, Folder 6
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2016
    Container: Box 4, Folder 6
  • Description: City Light Annual Report
    Dates: 2017
    Container: Box 4, Folder 6


November 8, 2024

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