Disconnection Resources

If you receive an Urgent Notice or Final Shutoff Notice, please act immediately. To avoid having your electricity shut off, you must pay your past due balance in full, set up a payment plan, or apply for emergency bill assistance.

Ways to pay:

• Online: Make a single or recurring payments on the Utility Services website.
• By phone: Call (206) 684-3000 or (877) 398-3531 for 24-hour automated access.
• In person: Visit us at a Payment Center.
• By mail (Make checks payable to "City of Seattle"):
  City of Seattle
  PO Box 35178
  Seattle, WA 98124-5178

Learn about payment plans and bill assistance:

• Visit Get Help with Your Utility Bills.
• Call Customer Service at (206) 684-3000 Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (interpretation services available).

NOTE: The Final Shutoff Notice is your last notification. There will not be additional communication from Seattle City Light prior to disconnection.

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.

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: Pay your past due balance in smaller installments over time with no late fees. City Light offers two options:
  1. Short-term payment plans – up to 60 days to repay, 25% down payment required. Set up a short-term payment plan on the Utility Services website.
  2. Long-term payment plans – up to three years to repay, no down payment required. Apply for a long-term payment plan by completing this brief form.
• Immediate bill assistance: If you have received an urgent or shutoff notice or have a past due balance of $250 or more and meet the income-eligibility requirements, our Emergency Bill Assistance Program can help. Eligible customers receive up to $1,000 annually in immediate, emergency assistance to reduce their past due balance. Apply online.
• 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.

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.

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.