Seattle City Light, PSE, or Snohomish PUD: Who Powers Your Home?

Three utilities, one region

Homes in King and southern Snohomish Counties get power from one of three main electric utilities: Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy (PSE), or Snohomish County PUD. City lines and utility lines do not always match, so two neighbors in the same city can be on different utilities.

For most day-to-day purposes, you only need to know who to call when the power goes out. But when you are planning electrical work that touches your service, the utility matters a lot.

Seattle City Light

Seattle City Light serves the City of Seattle, including North Seattle, along with Shoreline and most of Lake Forest Park to the north. To the south it serves parts of Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac, Normandy Park and Renton, plus parts of unincorporated King County.

• Seattle and North Seattle
• Shoreline
• Lake Forest Park (most of the city; some areas are PSE)
• Tukwila (most of the city; some areas are PSE)
• Burien, SeaTac and Normandy Park (City Light or PSE, depending on address)
• Renton (parts)

Puget Sound Energy (PSE)

PSE serves most of the Eastside and the north end of Lake Washington. It also serves parts of several cities that are otherwise on another utility.

• Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond and Mercer Island
• Issaquah, Newcastle, Woodinville and Kenmore
• Renton (shared with Seattle City Light)
• Parts of Bothell
• Some areas of Edmonds, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, Burien, SeaTac and Normandy Park

Snohomish County PUD

Snohomish County PUD serves much of south Snohomish County, just north of the King County line.

• Lynnwood
• Mountlake Terrace
• Most of Edmonds
• Parts of Bothell

Split cities: why your address decides

Bothell, Renton, Edmonds, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, Burien, SeaTac and Normandy Park all have more than one utility within city limits. The boundary can run between neighborhoods or even down a street. Do not assume your utility from your city name or ZIP code.

The easiest way to know for sure is to look at your electric bill. The utility's name is printed on it, and your account number will be useful if a project needs utility coordination.

Why it matters for upgrades

Some electrical projects involve the point where power enters your home: the service drop or underground service, the meter, and the main panel. That equipment connects to the utility's system, so the work has to be coordinated with your specific utility. Each utility has its own process and requirements.

Projects that often involve your utility include a panel or service upgrade, adding an EV charger that requires more capacity, and installing a standby generator. A licensed electrician handles the permit and coordinates the service and meter work with the utility on your behalf.

• Panel and service upgrades: a larger service usually needs the utility to disconnect and reconnect power, and sometimes to upgrade its own equipment
• EV charger installation: if the home needs more capacity first, the upgrade involves the utility
• Generator installation: the system must be installed so it cannot send power back onto utility lines

Planning a project

Before you schedule a panel upgrade, EV charger, or generator, have a recent electric bill handy so your electrician knows which utility is involved. All City Electric has worked with homeowners across King and Snohomish Counties since 1971 and can explain what your project will need. Call (206) 533-6333, Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 4:30.