Paltry snowpack could lead to power rate increases
SEATTLE -- Seattle City Light says dramatically lower snowpack is going to significantly reduce the amount of electricity it can generate this year.
"We're not anticipating any shortage of power to meet our load for our customers," said Suzanne Hartman, director of communications at Seattle City Light.
But with 30 percent less snowpack than normal feeding the Skagit and Columbia rivers, there will be less water to generate excess electricity that can be sold off to other utilities.
Hartman says they had expected to make $120 million this year selling excess electricity, but the water shortage, they are revising their anticipated excess electricity revenue downward to $70 million, and that could have an impact on rates in the near future.
"We're not anticipating any shortage of power to meet our load for our customers," said Suzanne Hartman, director of communications at Seattle City Light.
But with 30 percent less snowpack than normal feeding the Skagit and Columbia rivers, there will be less water to generate excess electricity that can be sold off to other utilities.
Hartman says they had expected to make $120 million this year selling excess electricity, but the water shortage, they are revising their anticipated excess electricity revenue downward to $70 million, and that could have an impact on rates in the near future.