Side by side (WA, EIA-861)
| Metric | Puget Sound Energy Inc | City of Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 14.63 | 14.09 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 13.30 | 12.78 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,581 | $1,522 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 1,091,599 | 459,964 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Municipal |
| Counties served in WA | 8 | 1 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Puget Sound Energy Inc · City of Seattle · Washington overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: King county (WA, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Puget Sound Energy Inc and City of Seattle do not compete for the same meters. Washington is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (utc.wa.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Puget Sound Energy Inc cheaper than City of Seattle?
- No — in 2024 Puget Sound Energy Inc customers averaged 14.63 cents/kWh versus 14.09 for City of Seattle (EIA-861). City of Seattle was cheaper by 0.55 cents, about $59 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Puget Sound Energy Inc to City of Seattle?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Washington has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Puget Sound Energy Inc more expensive than City of Seattle?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Puget Sound Energy and City of Seattle territory all feed the 0.55-cent gap.