2024 Tacoma Power Highlights
Overview
For over 130 years, Tacoma Power has generated clean, renewable hydropower to provide reliable, affordable electricity. In 2024, we served approximately 180,815 customers, up from 178,326 in 2023, while maintaining 99.970% service availability.
Generation Uptimes in 2024:
- Cowlitz: 99.57%
- Cushman: 99.76%
- Nisqually: 99.72%
- Wynoochee: 99.10%
Conservation
Tacoma Power remains committed to environmental stewardship through fisheries management, habitat restoration, and energy-efficiency programs.
Highlights
Cushman Fisheries Program Success
- Sockeye: Retrieved 750,069 eggs, released 878,832 juveniles, and saw 87 adult Sockeye return
- Chinook: Retrieved 502,538 eggs, released 595,825 juveniles, and saw 100 adult Chinook return
Tree Coupon Program (2023-2024 season)
Customers requested 2,269 tree coupons, redeemed 529, and planted 1,203 trees.
Community Outreach
Staff attended 66 community events, including T-Town, farmers markets and local fairs, engaging in 2,655 customer interactions to share conservation information.
Development
Tacoma Power continues invest in long-term growth and continuous improvement of our infrastructure physical assets, customer experience, and workforce.
Highlights
- Reinstated the Electrical Trainee Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Of 538 applicants placed on the eligibility list, three were accepted into the program.
Projects
Tacoma Power delivers large-scale projects that strengthen service reliability, maintain regulatory compliance, and keep rates affordable.
Major Projects
- Installed 282,469 advanced meters, achieving 96.1% deployment to help customers better manage and reduce energy use.
Living Our Values
Tacoma Public Utilities shares a unified mission, vision, and values for the power, water, and rail utilities. Our values of Safety, Belonging, Customer Focus, Integrity, and Respect Guide everything we do. Here’s how Tacoma Power brought those values to life in 2024:
Safety
At Tacoma Power, safety is a shared responsibility that guides our decisions. Whether maintaining hydroelectric facilities, responding to outage, or working in energized environments, our teams prioritize safety to protect themselves, their coworkers, and the communities we serve. In 2024, we continued to build a proactive safety culture through employee engagement, cross-team collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Platinum Safety Award
In 2024, we received the 2023 Platinum Safety Award of Excellence from the American Public Power Association, its highest safety honor. This recognition reflects our commitment to:
- Involving employees in shaping safety procedures and practices. Collaborating across team to identify and resolve hazards.
- Maintaining a rigorous vehicle inspection program.
- Increasing reports of near misses, incidents, and unsafe conditions.
- Recognizing employees who strengthen our safety culture.
This award affirms our dedication to protecting our workforce and the communities we serve.
Hydro Safety Training
In August, our Safety team partnered with Mason County Rescue for emergency training at Cushman No. 1 Dam. The hands-on exercise prepared rescue personnel to navigate the dam and respond quickly and effectively in emergencies, enhancing safety for our teams working in complex, remote environments. Mason County Rescue is now better equipped to assist when needed, making our team even safer.
Overall Safety Stats
(2024 compared to 2023)
- Corrective Actions: 26 (↓ from 59)
- Leadership Site Visits: 0 (↓ from 429)
- Total Recordable Injury Rates: 3.25 (↓ from 3.32)
- DART (Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred) Rate: 1.93 (↓ from 2.17)
We are building a proactive safety culture rooted in compliance, innovation, and genuine care for people. This commitment ensures employees return home safely each day while advancing our mission to power the community.
Note: Corrective Actions and Leadership site visits were not standard operational expectations for all divisions, and the data may reflect this inconsistency. Additionally, due to limitations with the existing data platform, some divisions tracked their own data independently, some of which may or may not be fully represented here
Belonging
Women In Trades Event
In January, over 120 people joined us for our annual Women in Trades event. This open house introduced careers in the trades across City of Tacoma departments, including Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water, Tacoma Rail, Public Works, Planning and Development Services, Tacoma Police, and Environmental Services. Community partners like ANEW, Palmer Pathways, and WorkSource also participated.
Hydro Projects Tour Day
More than 100 employees toured the Cushman Hydro Project in Mason County and the Cowlitz River Project in Lewis County during Hydro Projects Tour Day, many for the first time. Highlights included witnessing juvenile salmon releases into the river and observing water spill from Washington’s tallest dam, offering a powerful, hands-on learning experience.
Customer Focus
Community Agency Collaboration
To improve emergency response coordination, our Emergency Management team hosted the Western Energy Institute’s Electric Utility Fundamentals + Insights course. Local emergency response agencies gained valuable insight into utility operations, helping build stronger, more effective partnerships.
Mutual Aid: Helping Neighbors in Need
When a severe winter storm hit the Pacific Northwest in January, Tacoma Power deployed two mutual aid crews to assist Emerald Public Utility District in Eugene, Oregon. Crews 432 and Crew 470 worked alongside local teams to restore power and support recovery efforts.
Integrity
Grid Modernization
To meet growing demand and evolving customer needs, Tacoma Power continues modernizing its grid for long-term reliability, efficiency, and security. In 2024, the utility developed a Grid Modernization Roadmap and Timeline and update it regularly to reflect real-world conditions and align it with our commitment to operational excellence and financial integrity.
Tree Trimming Recognition
For the 20th consecutive year, Tacoma Power earned the Tree Line USA award from the Arbor Day Foundation. This recognition honors our commitment to responsible tree pruning, planting, and care. This honor recognizes our commitment to:
- Follow industry standards for quality tree care.
- Provide annual worker training in best tree care practices.
- Sponsor a tree planting and public education program.
- Maintain a tree-based energy conservation program.
- Participate in or sponsor an Arbor Day celebration.
The award reflects our dedication to environmental stewardship and community well-being.
Respect
Pole Top Rescue Competition
Our pole top rescue team earned second place at the Washington State Pole Top Rescue Competition in Downtown Tacoma. The event, part of the Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference, showcases safe and effective rescue techniques for high-voltage technicians.
Helicopter-Assisted Rockfall Response
In October 2023, a rockfall near the Cushman No. 1 Dam damaged tram tracks and a waterline. With no road access, our team led an innovative response using helicopters to deliver equipment. The operation:
- Removed 60 cubic yards of unstable rock.
- Installed 100 anchors and steel mesh.
- Completed in half the expected time.
- Reduced labor costs and physical strain.
This effort demonstrated our team’s creativity, efficiency, and deep respect for one another’s safety and well-being.
Conclusion
As we reflect on 2024 for Tacoma Power, we’re proud of the progress we made and the values of Safety, Belonging, Customer Focus, Integrity, and Respect that guided us. We remain committed to delivering clean, reliable, and affordable electricity while investing in innovation, sustainability, and the well-being of our customers and employees. Together, we’re building a stronger, more resilient utility that is ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Financials
2024 Tacoma Power Financial Highlights
2024 Tacoma Power Financial Report