The Office of the People’s Counsel (OPC) has announced a series of Public Hearings on PEPCO’s Proposed Rate Increase Request. On December 12, 2006 PEPCO applied to the District, of Columbia Public Service, Commission for a rate increase (Formal Case No. 1053).  In response to this proposal, the OPC needs to hear from you the consumer.

The OPC is the consumer advocate for all of us as it relates to our rights as customers of utility companies including PEPCO and Washington Gas, telecommunications services such as Verizon and cable services such as Comcast.  The OPC wants to make sure that consumers have their say on the proposed rate increases.

PEPCO's proposal will increase distribution service rates and charges by a total of $50.5 million - a sum that PEPCO reports will stabilize consumer bills and provide for needed capital improvements such as constructing a new substation in Northeast D.C. Below outlines the proposed increases:

- Increase the residential customer reconnection fee from $35 to $100
- Obtain authority to impose a surcharge on consumers to collect money if pension and post-employment benefit expenses change
- Increase the minimum distribution service charge for residential consumers from $0.47 cents per month to $4.11 per month

PEPCO’s proposals will add 14.74% to residential consumers’ bills. Combined with the recent increase in generation service rates consumers will see a total bill increase of 34%. The average 12-month bill will increase from $74 to $99.

In a press release on May 31, 2007, Ms. Elizabeth A. Noël, People's Counsel for the District of Columbia, released a statement stating her opposition to the proposal by declaring "a long overdue day of reckoning for PEPCO" by calling for a $32.5 million rate reduction.

If you would like to voice your concerns about the PEPCO rate case, or to sign up for the public hearings on this issue, please contact the D.C. Public Service Commission through Dorothy Wideman, Commission Secretary - Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, 1333 H Street, N.W., Seventh Floor East, Washington, D.C. 20005, (202) 626-5150, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   Agnes Yates Chairperson This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Richard E. Morgan Commissioner This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Betty Ann Kane Commissioner This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Commission will convene three (3) community hearings at the following locations on the specified dates:

- Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 10:00 am - Emery Recreation Center, Room 200 - 5701 Georgia Avenue, NW
- Thursday, June14, 2007, 6:00 pm - Kennedy Recreation Center- 1401 7th Street, NW
- Saturday, June 16, 2007, 11:00 am - Allen AME Church, Room 201, 2498 Alabama Avenue, SE
 
Those who wish to testify at the community hearings should contact the Commission Secretary by the close of three (3) business days prior to the date of the hearing. Representatives of organizations shall be permitted a maximum of five (5) minutes for oral presentations. Individuals shall be permitted a maximum of three (3) minutes for oral presentations. If an organization or an individual is unable to offer comments at the community hearings, written statements may be submitted to the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, 1333 H Street, NW, Suite 200, West Tower, Washington, DC 20005. 

Have thoughts or comments on the proposal? Feel free to leave them in our comments section.