George,

On March 18, the Seattle Times published a list of the city's top residential users of electricity. Not to mention that this is heinous, but the Seattle Times then referred to Seattle City Light as an investor-owned utility. Seattle City Light is a CITY-OWNED utility.

While this information was provided to The Seattle Times by Seattle City Light under the state's public-records act, I think that discretion could be used in publishing the names of homeowners and taxpayers that are using and PAYING for their electricity - as if they were evil wealthy people using up valuable energy.

What was worse was the fact that the people listed were apologizing for their use of electricity!

The Seattle Times should be the one apologizing for their total lack of respect and civility for their neighbors as well as members of their community that are paying a huge portion of taxes and some of which are providing jobs for other members of the community (#9 Bruce Nordstrom - Nordstrom's Dept. Store).

These people are not evil (yes, apparently wealthy) - they are people who make enough money to be able to pay for their electricity the way they see fit.

Will Lyster (electronic mail, March 21, 2001).