Apprenticeship is a system of education and training using a planned, closely supervised combination of hands-on, on-the-job training, and academic classroom-style education. City Light apprenticeships are paid positions designed to help those interested in skilled trades get the experience they need for a career in the electrical utility industry.
Apprenticeship programs are open to all candidates who meet our qualifications. Our goal is to have apprentices reflect the diversity of the greater Seattle area. We are dedicated to increasing the number of women and minorities in our apprenticeships while providing opportunities for all qualified applicants.
Apprenticeships at City Light are full-time, paid positions, earning at least $34/hour to start, with wage step increases as you gain experience and knowledge. It also includes full medical, dental, and vision benefits offered to City of Seattle employees.
As an apprentice, you work as a member of an assigned crew, under the supervision of journey-level workers. Crew assignments are rotated regularly to give you experience participating in hands-on training with equipment from your trade.
Apprentices attend evening academic classes to get more in-depth instruction on the theory and practice of their craft. You will attend a minimum of 144 hours of related academic instruction each year. Classes are held weekly, four hours per week from September – June, and include homework, projects, and test preparation.
After completion of required on-the-job training and classroom instruction, you will take City and Union required exams. If you successfully pass these exams you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion and become a journey-level employee.
It takes a community working together to deliver safe, affordable, reliable energy to homes and businesses. We work in close partnership with local contractors, developers, consultants and businesses to support economic development while ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
City Light actively supports opportunities for women and minority-owned businesses. We provide networking opportunities, conduct outreach, facilitate technical assistance, and encourage businesses to register using the Online Business Directory so they are supported in consulting and purchasing contract opportunities with the City of Seattle.
The City’s women-owned and minority-owned business enterprise (WMBE) program defines WMBE as state-certified or self-identified firms at least 51% owned by women and/or minorities. The WMBE program was created to break down long-standing historical barriers impacting women and minority businesses. In return, it strengthens our economy and our community, drives social change, and supports small businesses.
City Light owns 653 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission lines in the Seattle area of the Pacific Northwest. Transmission lines move electricity more efficiently than lower-voltage distribution lines, which deliver power directly to customers. Our transmission lines are typically 230,000, or 115,000 volts.
We offer non-discriminatory access to our transmission system through our Open Access Transmission Tariff.
eattle is known for its early pioneering efforts in the use of electricity and was one of the first locations to manufacture lighting systems and have electrified street railways. City Light has been lighting up the greater Seattle area since 1910. Check out where it all started and how we evolved over time to become a clean energy and environmental leader.
1879 – Invention of Incandescent Light Bulb
1886 – First Incandescent Lighting System
1900 – Multiple Seattle Electric Companies Consolidate
1902 – Approval of Bond to Develop First Hydroelectric Facility on the Cedar River
1905 – Cedar Falls Generates Power Under Control of City Water Department
1910 – Seattle City Light is Born
1911 – J.D. Ross Becomes Superintendent and Sets the Vision for the Future
1924 – City Light Dedicates its First Powerhouse
1951 – A Unified Power System is Formed within the City of Seattle
1961 – Ross’ Vision for Three Powerhouses and Dams is Complete
1967 – Boundary Powerhouse and Dam Begin Operations
1977 – Major Droughts Spur New Era of Conservation
1980s – Focus is on Rate Stability and Diversity
1995 – Relicensing of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project
2005 – City Light Becomes the First Electric Utility in the Country to Achieve Zero Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Present Day – City Light Looks to the Future of Energy
Our mission, vision and values help to define and guide who we are, where we are going, and what is most important to focus on in the work we do every day.
Our Pre-Apprentice Lineworker program offers paid, six-month training positions designed to help employees learn the skills needed to become apprentice lineworkers (trades worker who constructs and maintains electric power transmission and distribution lines). Instruction includes crew assistance and equipment preparation. Training includes physical workouts including climbing wooden poles and CDL training to obtain a Class "A" CDL.
To graduate into the Lineworker Apprenticeship Program, you must pass a set of physical capacity tests and a series of pole climbing tests. Graduates can then enter a 3 ½-year/7,000-hour Lineworker Apprenticeship learning to work with high voltage electrical equipment.
A Cable Splicer splices high voltage and power cables used in underground distribution and street lighting systems as a means to install, maintain and repair electrical wiring systems. This apprenticeship is a 4-year/8,000-hour program preparing you to locate and repair electrical faults underground in confined spaces.
You learn to splice, terminate, and maintain low and high voltage power cables in an underground network distribution system. You will also learn to install and maintain conductors, transformers, network protectors, relays, switches and related electrical equipment.
An Electrician Constructor is responsible for the installation, maintenance, repair, and operation of City Light equipment and facilities. This apprenticeship is a 4-year/8,000-hour training program where you learn to work with high voltage electricity and provide service and maintenance to substations throughout City Light's distribution system.
Under the supervision of journey-level workers, you will perform work on transformers, conductors, circuit breakers, switches, protective devices, and cutouts. Apprentices work on poles, towers, and underground vaults performing physically demanding work in adverse weather conditions.
The Generation Electrician Constructor apprenticeship is a 4-year/8,000-hour program. You are assigned to the Boundary and Skagit hydroelectric facilities and will work with high voltage electricity and provide service and maintenance throughout City Light's distribution system.
Under the supervision of journey-level workers, you perform work on generators, install, troubleshoot and maintain the powerhouse operating systems, and will work on governors, protective devices, circuit breakers, disconnects, and transformers. You will assemble and disassemble heavy equipment associated with generation facilities and perform physically demanding work at heights, over water, and in confined spaces.
The Hydroelectric Maintenance Machinist conduct preventive maintenance, overhauls and capital improvement projects of hydro-generators, turbines, and associated machinery located at City Light hydroelectric facilities. This is an 8,000-hour training program to become a journey level HEMM.
You will perform progressively complex and physically demanding work assignments such as maintaining and repairing equipment and machinery, analyzing and diagnosing problems, disassembling and machining unavailable parts.
Meter Electrician Apprentices work in residential, commercial, and industrial areas around City Light's distribution area on revenue meters. They also work on substation and generation metering. This apprenticeship is a 3-year/6,000-hour training program.
You will learn to install single and poly-phase meters, transformer-related meters, self-contained meters and instrument transformers. You also learn about lab and field test meters, automatic metering devices and substation and co-generation metering.