Seattle City Light completes streetlight inspections - no new problems

Seattle City Light contractors have completed safety testing on more that 37,000 metal streetlight poles in its service area and identified 49 with contact voltage. This lights have been taken off-line and will be repaired.

City Light initiated testing after the death of a dog that stepped on an energized groundcover plate in Queen Anne in November.

The utility also identified contact voltage in privately owned lights. They have notified all commercial, business, institutional, and other governmental entities about the potential for contact voltage associated with metal lamp posts that may be on their property.

City Light does not maintain these lights and cannot require them to be tested or repaired. That responsibility is with each owner.

Dog owners still need to be cautious about metal poles, particularly if they are on private property.