D.C. Office on Aging: Latest E* News

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November 17, 2014

DCOA E*News At-A-Glance

ICYMI: Volunteer to Help the District's Youngest Learners

Jumpstart

DCOA is currently seeking seniors interested in volunteering to build relationships with, mentor, and guide the District's youngest learners in District of Columbia Public Schools’ (DCPS) early childhood classrooms.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, an interest meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. To reserve your slot or for more information, please contact Krystal Branton at 202-727-8370. 


Will You Join Serve DC in Supporting the HIV/AIDS Community?

The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism, Serve DC, is holding a Word AIDS Day Food Drive to support Food & Friends, a DC-area organization that provides specialized nutritious meals, groceries, nutrition counseling and friendship to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses.

The goal is to collect 3000 pounds of food – enough to serve 150 families or 600 meals.  Donations should be sent to DCOA, located at 500 K Street, from November 17 – November 28.  For more information, please contact 202-724-5622. 


National Memory Screening Day: Free Memory Screenings

Memory Screening

DCOA is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) to offer free memory screenings at all six senior wellness center on Tuesday, November 18th from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. This program is part of AFA’s national initiative to promote early detection and intervention for those concerned about memory loss as well as to educate the public about successful aging.

With this initiative, the goals are to:

  • Provide free, confidential memory screenings to those with memory concerns or who want to check their memory;
  • Eliminate the stigma and fears associated with dementia;
  • Encourage those with memory problems to follow up with an exam by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis, treatment, social services and community resources;
  • Educate the public about Alzheimer’s disease and successful aging; and
  • Alleviate the fears of those who do not have a problem.

For more information click here.


Join Us This Week for our Caregivers' Conference

Caregivers Conference

Public Service Commission Approves First Three Years of Power Line Undergrounding Plan

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia issued Order No. 17697 approving the Joint Application of the Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to undertake the first three years of a plan to significantly improve electric reliability in the District by placing selected electric distribution feeder lines underground.  The Order also authorizes an Underground Project Charge (UPC) to recover Pepco’s costs for the project and capping the total amount at $42.472 million for the initial Triennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan.  The Order approved 21 projects in Wards 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8.  The full undergrounding project is expected to extend for a period of 7‑10 years at a total cost of approximately $1 billion.  Work is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2015.

The undergrounding project is being carried out through a unique public-private partnership between the regulated investor owned utility and DDOT that was authorized by the “Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Act of 2014.”  The Act, which was unanimously approved by the D.C. Council in February 2014, implements the recommendations of the Power Line Undergrounding Task Force that was established by Mayor Vincent Gray in 2012 to provide recommendations on how to address a long standing concern about storm-related power outages.  The 18 member Task Force included government officials, regulators, local utility industry executives, and neighborhood residents.  Pursuant to the Act, DDOT will undertake the construction of the underground conduits and associated roadwork and Pepco will undertake the work of removing overhead lines and transformers and placing them underground.  Pepco’s costs will be financed by the UPC approved in today’s Order.  The Act provides that DDOT’s costs will be financed by up to $375 million in bonds issued by the District and secured by a second charge on customer’s bills.  The application for the Financing Order authorizing the issuance of those bonds is pending before the Commission and is scheduled for consideration at the Commission’s November 21st open meeting.

The plan was jointly filed by Pepco and DDOT on June 17, 2014.  The Commission held six community hearings and a formal evidentiary hearing as part of a thorough review of the plan. The Order:    

 1.      Approves and authorizes Pepco and DDOT to implement the first three years of the undergrounding project (2015-2017);

 2.      Approves and authorizes imposition, charging, and collection of the volumetric UPC for all customers except those participating in the assistance program for low income customers, January 1, 2015.  For the typical residential customer using an average of 750 kWhs per month, the charge in 2015 is estimated to be 17 cents a month. $0.17.  Small commercial customers who use an average of 1,236 kWh per month, will pay an estimated 72 cents a month; 

 3.      Approves and authorizes an annual true-up mechanism for the adjustment of the UPC, to assure that the amount collected matches actual costs incurred by Pepco in undertaking the undergrounding work; 

 4.      Directs the Joint Applicants to create the UPC Education Task Force further implement the DC PLUG Education Plan and details additional requirements to keep District residents and businesses informed about the timing and other details of underground construction plans in their neighborhoods; and

5.      Provides for ongoing submission and review of detailed plans for each feeder by the Commission and parties as construction proceeds.  

The Commission expects that the undergrounding project will greatly enhance the reliability and resilience of the electric distribution system as well as minimize the impact of more frequent severe weather events on electric distribution customers in the District.

A copy of the Order and additional information about the Application of the Triennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan  is available on the Commission’s website at www.dcpsc.org/.

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is an independent agency established by Congress in 1913 to regulate electric, natural gas, and telecommunications companies in the District of Columbia.

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Spotlight on Aging Newsletter

Spotlight on Aging Newsletter
 

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Spotlight on Community Living Newsletter

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Click here for the DCOA Calendar of Events!

DCOA Calendar

DCOA in the Media

Mayor's Third Annual Senior Symposium
May 7, 2014

Video: DCN-16 Coverage on YouTube

The Washington Informer, May 15, Pg. 20

28th Annual Salute to DC Centenarians
March 24, 2014

WJLA-TV article and video

FOX5DC article and video

VIDEO DCN-16 on YouTube

Age-Friendly DC Forum, 9/21/13

Washington Times article 9/26/13

Washington Post InBrief 9/19/13

Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant 2013

Washington Informer, June 26, 2013

The Washington Post Brief, July 3, 2013

The Washington Sun

Video: DCN-16 Coverage Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant 2013

Mayor's Second Annual Senior Symposium

Video: DCN-16 Coverage Senior Symposium

WJLA-TV article

Washington Informer Symposium article

27th Annual Salute to DC Centenarians media coverage links

Washington Post article and photo gallery

WJLA/News Channel 8, article, video and photo gallery

WJLA video coverage

Fox5DC article and video coverage

WTOP article and photo gallery

WAMU 88.5FM How to Live to be 100 in DC

Other Media Links

VIDEO: DCN-16 Did You Know? Overview of DCOA

Washington Post article DC Program Reflects National Trend Toward Moving Older Americans Out of Nursing Homes 1/2/2014

Washington Post article Alzheimer's First State Plan 11/19/2013

Washington Post Brief Smart911 Presentations 11/20/2013

DCOA Interview WHUR 96.3 FM Insight Segment on the  "Daily Drum" 2/19/13

Video: DCN-DCOA Performance Oversight Hearing 2/21/13 Part I

Video: DCN-DCOA Performance Oversight Hearing 2/21/13 Part II

Video: DCN-DCOA Performance Oversight Hearing 2/21/13 Part III

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