 DC Power Connect, a new website from the DCPSC, is helping to educate District energy consumers about how to choose their energy supplier.
The website provides a one-stop shop of approved electricity suppliers serving District residents and small businesses. Consumers can compare offers based upon various factors such as a fixed price, renewable energy options, or additional services such as receiving an energy audit or a programmable thermostat. DC Power Connect provides a simple way for consumers to learn about retail choice in the District, understanding their energy bill, handling third-party solicitations, and tips on saving energy and money. DC Power Connect is the authorized and official retail choice website for the District of Columbia.
The new website is the result of the DCPSC’s PowerPath DC proceeding, where more than 240 stakeholders provided their expertise on how the District’s energy delivery system remains safe, reliable, and affordable while also becoming more sustainable, resilient, and secure. The DCPSC adopted the working group recommendation to create a website to house up-to-date competitive energy supplier offers as well as energy education materials that would aid customers in evaluating offers.
Throughout the summer, the DCPSC will engage with District consumers about DC Power Connect through webinars, outreach events and social media.
Learn more and search offers at DC Power Connect.
 The DCPSC has joined three other District agencies to launch #Here2HelpDC, a digital public
awareness campaign to inform residents and businesses about energy and money-saving initiatives that will help minimize negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia (OPC) and the DCPSC are sharing tips and tools to help consumers conserve energy and water resources, reduce billing costs and take advantage of relief and payment programs. The agencies are concerned that, with many people staying at home and consequently using more electricity, gas and water, ratepayers would be faced with higher-than-usual bills. There are also District residents out-of-work and owners of shuttered business experiencing financial hardship.
Search for #Here2HelpDC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to learn about resources and programs that are helping District residents.
 The DCPSC is moving forward with the next steps in modernizing the District’s energy delivery system.
The DCPSC recently approved a decision (Formal Case No. 1130, Order No. 20364) addressing the remaining recommendations from the PowerPath DC stakeholder process, including:
- Enhancing data access for all residential customers through Pepco’s “Green Button Connect My Data"
- Issuing notice of inquiry and inviting stakeholder input on distributed energy resources (DERs) ownership rule
- Directing Pepco and Washington Gas to make system-level data available on their websites
- Aligning the PowerPath DC vision statement with the District’s clean energy and climate commitments
 The DCPSC is opening an inquiry to examine the merits of a request by the Office of the People's Counsel for an investigation on the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency on District utilities and consumers (Formal Case No. 1164, Order No. 20358). Within 45 days of the date of the lifting of the public health emergency by the Mayor, the DCPSC will issue a public notice to convene a technical conference.
During this pandemic, the DCPSC is continuing to help District consumers with complaints an questions about their utility bills. District consumers in need of assistance should contact the DCPSC’s Office of Consumer Services at (202) 626-5120.
District consumers can also stay informed about DCPSC decisions and actions in response to this emergency by visiting our COVID-19 resource page.
 DCPSC Chairman Willie Phillips testified before the DC Council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development about the DCPSC’s proposed budget on June 1, 2020. The DCPSC has requested, and the Mayor has proposed, a gross budget of $17,545,601 and 89.6 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff positions for the DCPSC. The proposed FY 2021 budget includes no local funds, $16,950,601 in Special Purpose Revenue (O-Type Funds), $581,000 in federal grants and $14,000 in private donations. The proposed budget will help the DCPSC satisfy the requirements of the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 as well as our grid modernization efforts and infrastructure improvements.
The Chairman also applauded DCPSC staff for their efficiency during the public health emergency. “My highest priority is assuring the health and safety of our employees; therefore, we will continue to work remotely for the foreseeable future.”
To stay connected, there are frequent staff meetings and virtual all-hands meetings to discuss matters of interest and concern. More importantly, the staff has undertaken two information sharing projects: a bi-weekly bulletin about the staff and their co-worker families as well as a bi-weekly virtual social hour where staff members share recipes, stories and ask trivia. These efforts have helped our staff feel united and have boosted morale.
 The DCPSC issued its annual Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) Report to the D.C. Council on May 1 which highlights an increase in the number of solar energy generator applications. This increase reflects the District’s aggressive Climate Change and Energy Action Plans as well as solar programs and resources available to District residents and businesses.
The RPS Report also notes that there are 8,830 solar energy systems able to meet the District’s RPS solar requirement, with a capacity of about 117.6 megawatts (MW). The current solar capacity, about 91.7 MW certified for the RPS program, in the District is now more than three times the amount of out-of-state solar capacity. In addition, the solar capacity of systems certified in the District increased approximately 45% from 63.9 MW in April 2019 to 91.7 MW in April 2020, reflecting the enormous success of this program during the past year in helping to bringing solar energy to every ward in the city.
 Congratulations to DCPSC Chairman Phillips, the new president of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners (MACRUC). Chairman Phillips was installed at the organization’s 25th Annual Education Conference for state public utility commissioners on June 14. Elected by his fellow public service commissioners from around the region, Chairman Phillips will serve a 1-year term as president. Chairman Phillips previously served as first vice-president where he oversaw a mentoring program for new MACRUC delegates.
 DCPCS Director of the Office of Policy Advancement & Development Patrice Hunter was appointed as the Staff Chair for the NARUC Subcommittee on Supplier and Workforce Diversity in June 2020. This subcommittee promotes inclusion as well as prudent and competitive procurement practices while also looking to provide opportunities for women, minority and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (DBE) in utility supply markets. The Subcommittee on Supplier Workforce and Diversity will strengthen relationships that provide mutual economic benefits for ratepayers, investors, and DBEs.
Currently, the committee is collaborating with the NARUC Committee on Consumers and the Public Interest to create an initiative for social justice that will focus on bias, finding opportunities to reduce barriers, and engage in constructive national dialogues on race as it relates to issues within our purview.
 A number of cities began pursuing policies in 2019 that would limit or ban natural gas infrastructure in new residential and commercial building construction — more than 30 localities have proposed or adopted such a policy to-date. The momentum behind these policies has continued to grow as new municipalities evaluate the feasibility of all-electric building construction in their cities and the impact of building sector natural gas consumption on climate change.
Students at the George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration prepared a report and presentation for the DCPSC evaluating the landscape surrounding these municipal policies. The students identified the most prevalent contextual factors and policy designs that have emerged to date as well as the universe of stakeholders supporting or opposing these policies.
The report identifies five cities representing a broad set of policy objectives and political circumstances to serve as “case study” cities. It then provides an in-depth analysis of how those cities’ legislative proposals developed and how external stakeholders participated in and impacted the legislative and regulatory processes.
 The DCPSC partnered with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) to sponsor an energy intern to support proceedings related to pursuing modernization of the energy delivery structure in the District. The DCPSC is also hosting a Commission intern to support grid modernization, infrastructure projects and community engagement.
Brandon McGee, a George Washington University graduate student, was selected as the NARUC energy intern. Brandon is analyzing emerging technologies and how they can be used in the District as well as supporting utility infrastructure projects such as the ongoing replacement of natural gas pipelines and the undergrounding of portions of the electric distribution system.
Lindsay Martinez, a University of Virginia undergraduate student, was selected as the DCPSC intern. Lindsey is supporting contracting and procurement matters and has conducted extensive research on the procurement practices of public utility commissions in neighboring jurisdictions, formed relationships with District agencies to enhance the Commission’s contracting and procurement process, and identified improvements to the DCPSC’s contract database.
Thanks to both Brandon and Lindsay for their hard work!
Livestream DCPSC proceedings: Livestream our proceedings on all your mobile devices, either on our website or YouTube.
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