Former PSC Chairman Thompson becomes energy lobbyist after resigning position
Shocking no one, the man that sided with monopoly corporations to raise rates and slow-walk fully-funded projects is now an energy lobbyist. Emile Thompson is best known for his nonstop approvals to raise electric and gas rates during an affordability crisis, adding an additional $200 per year to bills for regular service. Alongside approving rate hikes, which gave Pepco shareholders a nearly guaranteed 10% profit through ROE, Thompson rubber-stamped Project PIPES, a controversial Washing Gas project that ripped pipes from the streets at exponential costs, yet failed to decrease gas leaks.
Thompson’s time at the PSC was marred by constant deference to Pepco and Washington Gas at the expense of DC’s public. His handling of Pepco’s 2024 rate case was so poor that the DC Court of Appeals overturned his approval since Thompson’s commission failed to even follow standard procedure. In addition, Thompson allowed cost-saving energy projects to languish on the shelf, rarely ever disciplined utilities for noncompliance, and tried to keep DC hooked on the expensive, volatile wholesale market PJM.
When Thompson’s commission came under scrutiny during the mayoral primary, he published press releases, op-eds, and even social media posts on official PSC accounts to deflect blame. It goes without saying, this is incredibly unusual for a regulator to be playing defense in the media like this.
While he could have stayed at the PSC until early 2027, Thompson announced his resignation for August 14 with a letter that mirrored the tone of his previous media statements. Then, days later, Danovo Energy Solutions announced it hired Thompson as its new Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. Danovo (part of Quanta Services) is a consulting and technical firm that works with utilities, power generators, and government bodies (like state PSCs). Interestingly, Pepco contracted Quanta for a study regarding EVs in DC.
Following Thompson’s departure, Ted Trabue was elevated to interim chairman at the PSC. It’s worth noting that like Thompson, Trabue failed to receive DC Council approval for another four-year term at the PSC, even though Mayor Bowser submitted his nomination for reapproval.