A new law sponsored by District 6 Councilmember Dan Strauss, who represents much of Fremont, will make utility discounts available to tens of thousands more Seattle households.
The City Council voted unanimously July 14 to expand the city’s Utility Discount Program, which lowers Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities bills for low-income residents. The bill was co-sponsored by Council President Joy Hollingsworth.
The change is a technical one with a big reach. Instead of using the state median income to decide who qualifies, the program will now use the higher Seattle-area median income. That opens eligibility to an estimated 31,000 additional households, including roughly 8,800 senior households. The expansion takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
“This legislation strikes directly at one of our city’s biggest issues — Seattle is unaffordable for too many working people. Utility costs are housing costs, and for so many in our community, these costs can be the difference between making rent or falling behind,” Strauss said in a press release.
Qualifying households can receive a 60% discount on Seattle City Light bills and a 50% discount on Seattle Public Utilities bills, which the council estimates could save families more than $1,000 a year depending on usage. The expansion will be paid for through a small rate increase – averaging about 50 cents a month for City Light customers and 27 cents a month for SPU customers – according to the council.
The program itself is not new; it dates to the 1980s, according to the Seattle Times. But enrollment has long lagged, with only about a third of eligible residents signed up.
Residents can check eligibility and apply now at seattle.gov/human-services. Paper applications are available by calling 206-684-3000 or emailing SPUCustomerService@seattle.gov.
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