Grid 2.

0 Working Group

Whats At Stake: Annual Rate Hikes, or Clean Energy?

Present your testimony before the Public Service Commission! Pepco has asked the DC Public Service Commission to grant its fourth distribution rate request since 2008 -- even after the PSC granted an increase in rates last year. The $51.75 million request increases: Monthly service charges from $9.25 monthly to $12.21. Typical residential monthly bills by about $6.00 per month. Pepcos guaranteed profits (rate -of-return on equity) from 9.50% granted in 2012 to 10.25%. Since 2008 rate payers have footed $72 million in increases, now Pepco wants $51 million more! In 2009, the reliability ranking of Pepcos distribution system fell into the bottom quartile when measured against other US cities. Pepco has not prudently addressed the urgent need for development of DCs electric distribution system to a smartgrid in order to enable energy efficiency and substantially increase the incorporation of renewable power. Pepcos investments have not been strategic, but piecemeal, compared other utilities. Pepcos maintain and harden strategy fails to respond to (1) global warming, the greatest challenge of our time; and, (2) the opportunity to incorporate SmartGrid best practices. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels through demand-side efficiency and adoption of Distributed Generation (DG) warrants a heightened commitment by Pepco. District lawmakers, leaders and residents should act to reduce energy use and CO2 emissions from the central generation of electricity and align laws, standards and regulations with laws concerning Renwable Portfolio Standards and Distributed Generation; accordingly, the PSC must set require Pepco to act in conformity with these and other environmental standards; the PSC should establish regulatory practices that enable District residents reduce their reliance on fossil fuel and mitigate CO2 emissions as discussed in PSC Formal Case 1301. Such practices shall include reforming the Distribution Rate Increase processes that require rate payers to pay Pepco more money for programs and projects that do not improve efficiency among all rate classes and support the development of locally produced, clean, energy. Here's why it's time to plan, design and build a new distribution system: DCs grid is nearing the end of its lifecycle: some circuits are at or beyond capacity and equipment failures remain the primary cause of power outages. Fossil fuel dependence for electricity has ushered-in the Era of Global Warming and its storms. The frequency, scope and duration of power outages due to these storms places at risk seniors in high rise apartments and the chronically ill in long-term care when back-up systems fail. As a result, the grids diminishing capacity may discourage new economic development, as the demands for affordable, reliable and secure energy become the highest priority. Building a grid that is based on locally-produced energy reduces the cost of electricity for all, while it keeps the businesses, jobs and tax revenues for power, local, in DC. Combating climate change is a cooperative endeavor: no government can unilaterally solve the problem, and individual self-discipline wont change human behavior, worldwide. Each jurisdiction must lead and point the way for others to explore. Most fundamentally, PEPCO must begin to cooperate with DC rate payers to plan and design a SmartGrid strategy. The following attributes are key: performance-based rate making; re-thinking a smarter, customer-driven grid, featuring on-bill energy efficiency financing; power storage; electric vehicle deployment; and Micro-grids.

Public Hearing Schedule DC Public Service Commission Formal Case Number 1103

Monday, September 30, 2013, 10:00 a.m. D.C. Public Service Commission Hearing Room 1333 H Street, NW, 7th Floor East Tower Washington, D.C. 20005 Wednesday, October 2, 2013, 6:30 p.m. Deanwood Recreation Center 1350 49th Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20019 Saturday, November 2, 2013, 11:00 a.m. Thurgood Marshall Public Charter School 2427 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20020 To testify, please contact the Commission Secretary by the close of business three (3) business days prior to the date of the hearing by calling (202) 626-5150, or by e-mail: Psc-commissionsecretary@psc.dc.gov Representatives of organizations are permitted a maximum of five (5) minutes for their testimony. Individuals are permitted a maximum of three (3) for their testimony. Written statements may be submitted in care of: Brinda Westbrook-Sedgwick, Commission Secretary, Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, 1333 H Street, NW, Suite 200, West Tower, Washington D.C. 20005. If you have questions about the Grid 2.0 Working Groups intervention in opposition to Pepcos proposed rate increase, plea se contact Rob Robinson: robrobin@me.com; (202) 387-5956; or Larry Martin: lmartindc@gmail.com; (202) 308-5642.