April Pepco Numbers: Over 26k shutoff notices issues in one month

The summer of shutoffs is officially here. After pausing shutoffs due to mounting pressure from customers and elected officials, Pepco is officially beginning to cut power to residents across DC - just in time for our annual heatwaves!

In their monthly report, Pepco sent out 26,375 shutoff notices to DC residents in April alone. It is widely understood that disconnection notices are a tactic by utility companies to pressure households into paying their bill on time or face the consequences of a sudden shutoff. However, when strapped for cash, many households resort to activities that can be harmful to their physical, mental, and financial well-being to pay their bills, such as forging other expenses like groceries, home, and car payments, per the Energy Justice Lab.

High utility bills also lead to an increased threat of heat-related illnesses like stroke, which threaten both the comfort and health of residents, sometimes fatally.

Pepco’s decision to roll out shutoffs once again is even more deplorable as they raked in $47 million in residential revenue from April alone. This is a $4 million increase from this time last year, even as households adjust their energy usage from Pepco’s higher-than-normal pricing.

We will continue to provide updates on Pepco’s operations and pricing, and how it affects you here in the District.