Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell

Below is the press release I issued today (2/17/2010) concerning a new Seattle City Light Review Panel.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 17, 2010

Seattle City Council to Build New City Light Review Panel
Group will help guide strategic planning, financial policies and rate reviews

Seattle – Today Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell announced the City Council is seeking candidates for membership on the new City Light Review Panel which replaces the City Light Advisory Committee. That group terminated on January 31, 2010.

The Council intends to re-define the governance of City Light with the new Review Panel. Previously, the Council engaged two separate committees that worked on City Light issues. The City Light Advisory Committee previously had five members who worked on a wide array of issues with general oversight. The City Light Rate Advisory Committee had nine members who specifically worked on rate issues.

The new Review Panel examines the functions of the former groups and establishes nine members from a cross-section of citizens from business leaders to people on the neighborhood level. Its purpose will be scoped and focused, charged with reviewing and assessing City Light’s strategic plan; assisting in community outreach to discuss the strategic plan; independently assessing the adequacy of City Light’s financial policies and reviewing changes to City Light’s rates.

“The people and businesses demand a utility that represents their interests; cost efficient, reliable power that is environmentally sustainable. To be competitive, the utility must rely on the hard work and ingenuity of its employees, coupled with the needs and demands of its customers. This panel puts that infrastructure in place,” said Councilmember Harrell.

Legislation mandating the committee will be discussed in February with likely passage by the Full Council in the early part of March. It is predetermined that the group will meet at least four times in a twelve-month period and that those meetings will be open to the public. Harrell added, “Transparency and openness means including all of our customers, large and small, into the equation of decision-making. That is how we protect the ratepayers.”

Councilmember Nick Licata adds “I look forward to the establishment of this Panel and the expertise that its members bring to the table. They will play a significant role in moving forward with strategic planning, financial policies and rate discussions.”

“As City Light moves forward with strategic planning and ongoing discussions of financial policies and rates, it is important to have a group in place that helps guide the process. I look forward to their engagement,” said Councilmember Richard Conlin.

The Council is accepting resumes until the close of business on March 3, 2010. Please email your cover letter and resume to michael.jerrett@seattle.gov . If preferred, hard copies can be mailed to:
Michael H. Jerrett
Office of Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Seattle City Council
PO Box 34025
Seattle, WA 98124-4025

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