Disconnection Resources

How to Restore Electric Service

If your power has been shutoff for nonpayment, we are here to help. Pay your past due balance in full and call our Customer Service Center to request reconnection. If you cannot pay your past due balance in full, please call our Customer Service Center to discuss alternative options.

Visit myutilities.seattle.gov or call our Customer Service Center (206) 684-3000, Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. to make a payment or set up a payment plan. Additional information and translated materials are available at seattle.gov/UtilityBillHelp.

If you receive an Urgent Notice or Final Shutoff Notice, please act immediately to maintain your electric service and avoid a disconnection fee. You can avoid having your electricity shut off by paying your past due balance in full, setting up a payment plan, or applying for emergency bill assistance.

Ways to pay:

Learn about payment plans and bill assistance:

NOTE: The Final Shutoff Notice is your last notification. There will not be additional communication from Seattle City Light prior to disconnection. If you don't respond and your electricity is disconnected, you will be charged a fee.

Pay your past due balance in full and contact Customer Service at (206) 684-3000 Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (interpretation services available) to request service reconnection. If you cannot pay your past due balance in full, please call Customer Service to discuss alternative options including payment plans and bill assistance.

Power reconnections are not guaranteed the same day payment is made. As a safety precaution, turn off all electrical appliances and move items away from heaters and stoves before reconnection.

Seattle City Light assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from your electricity being disconnected or reconnected.

Electric service may be terminated by City Light for the following reasons:

  • Failure to timely pay a bill or make satisfactory payment agreement.
  • Failure to comply with terms of a payment agreement.
  • Failure to correct impaired or unsafe access to the utility meters or service within a reasonable time after being requested to do so.
  • Failure to separate an electrical meter or other utility equipment from living quarters after being requested to do so.
  • A customer’s wiring or electrical equipment is defective or hazardous to life or property.
  • Unauthorized use of service. If your service has been disconnected, it is illegal for you to reconnect it. See the Current Diversion DPP.
  • Upon a customer’s request to disconnect. For disconnections when a property is vacant, see the Electric Service Disconnect/Reconnect – Vacant Premises DPP.
  • Upon Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections’ request for disconnection when a building is vacant.
  • Failure to comply with the utility’s written rules and regulations.

Disconnections may be delayed under the circumstances listed in Section 2.7.2 of the Credit & Collections DPP.

Prerequisites for Disconnection: Before shutting off electric service due to a delinquency, we provide two notices. Notifications will be sent to the contact information on record. Failure to receive notification will not prevent disconnection.

Avoiding Shutoff: To avoid disconnections due to delinquency, stay current by timely submitting payments by the bill due date or payment agreement date. If you cannot stay current, submit payment in full as promptly as possible before the shutoff date, or contact the utility to establish a payment agreement and to determine whether you are eligible for financial assistance to avoid disconnection.

Get Help with Utility Bills

If you are unable to pay your bill by the due date, Seattle City Light has payment plans for all customers and bill assistance programs for income-eligible residential customers.

Payment Plans

If you need more time to pay off your past due balance, set up a short-term payment plan and get up to 60 days to repay (25% down payment required at time of set up).

Set up now:

Immediate Bill Assistance

We offer programs to help qualifying residential customers reduce their past-due balances:

    • Emergency Bill Assistance Program - Eligible customers may receive up to $660 per calendar year in emergency assistance. Qualified households with children under the age of 18 are eligible to apply online for up to $1,320 in assistance per calendar year.
    • Project Share - Funded by customer donations, Project Share provides a $250 bill credit to income-qualified residential customers. Apply online for Project Share assistance.

Long-term Assistance

We encourage all income-eligible residential customers to enroll in the Utility Discount Program to receive a 60% discount on future Seattle City Light (electricity) bills and a 50% discount on future Seattle Public Utilities (water, sewer, and solid waste) bills to make it more affordable to pay for your ongoing utility services. Apply online.

Please call Customer Service at (206) 684-3000 Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (interpretation services available) for additional assistance setting up a payment plan or applying for bill assistance.

Extreme Heat Reconnections

If your residential electric service has been disconnected for non-payment and the National Weather Service (NWS) issues or intends to announce a heat-related alert/warning for our area, you have the right to request your electric service be reconnected. Contact us at (206) 684-3000 Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. for assistance.

*Power reconnections are not guaranteed the same day a request is made. As a safety precaution, turn off all electrical appliances and move items away from heaters and stoves before reconnection.

Life Support Equipment Program

If someone in your home uses life sustaining equipment dependent on electricity, we provide assistance to help you maintain safety during planned and unplanned outages.

Warning About Scams

We will not call customers and demand immediate payment or financial information. If someone calls demanding payment, rather than working with you to establish a payment plan, that is a scam. If you suspect you have been contacted by a scammer, call (206) 684-3000 to verify your account status.

City Light

Dawn Lindell, General Manager and CEO
Address: 700 5th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34023, Seattle, WA, 98124-4023
Phone: (206) 684-3000
SCL_ExternalComms@seattle.gov

Seattle City Light was created by the citizens of Seattle in 1902 to provide affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible electric power to the City of Seattle and neighboring suburbs.