Seattle City (spot)Light: Daniel Merz, Senior Program Manager
The Basics
Division: Customer Care and Energy Solutions
How long have you been at City Light? February 2025
Tell us about your role. What does your job entail? I collaborate with and manage cross-utility teams to design, build, and manage customer-facing programs, including both demand response and residential energy efficiency programs.
Background
Hometown: Seattle
Alma Mater: University of Washington
Discipline/Trade of study: Bachelor of Arts in business administration (finance and entrepreneurship)
Tell us about your family: My wife, Ella, and I are “pawrents” to Koda, a soft coated wheaten terrier, who wants nothing more than to sprint, cuddle, and sniff what you’re eating.
Just for Fun
What’s the best piece of advice you have received? To get over presentation nerves, remember it’s not about you, it’s about getting your audience what they need.
What is the most rewarding part of your work at the utility? Serving the community I’ve called home my whole life is incredibly rewarding. There are two aspects I’d like to highlight about it. Internally, I get to work with incredibly intelligent, experienced, and caring people to deliver affordable, reliable, safe, and environmentally responsible energy services to our community. Externally, I love being in community to learn and take things back to the office to deliver on our mission, equitably.
What was your first concert? Huey Lewis and the News at Emerald Queen Casino. When things turn rough, never forget “It’s All Right.”
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? I started my career as a management consultant, wanting to build my skills before I knew what I wanted to do. What young Daniel knew was that he wanted to do good in the world somehow. I went through two acquisitions in the first few years of my career and was laid off in the consolidation from the second one. It was the best thing for me as it allowed me to fully pursue the career I wanted in energy and decarbonization. The transition was a lot of work, but worth every ounce! I landed a job implementing Portland General Electric’s Demand Response Portfolio before getting the dream fit for me here at City Light. I am hopeful I will spend the rest of my career here at the City!
What’s a place you’ve always wanted to visit, but haven’t had the chance to yet? We are hoping to visit family in Japan next year! I unfortunately didn’t understand the value of travel when I took Japanese in middle school and high school. I passed up on a few trips, and it feels like a long time coming!
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