Pepco power shutoffs more than triple in one month, signaling energy emergency

DC’s energy affordability landscape has taken a turn for the worse. Power shutoffs and disconnection notices have skyrocketed while utility debt for both standard and low-income residents remained unchanged from July to August. According to data from Pepco’s latest August numbers, DC residents are collapsing under the weight of high summer bills and the impossible choice of paying for electricity versus other essentials like groceries, water, and rent.

Here are the details for August 2026:

• Revenue: $53.9 million

  • Decrease of 5.2% from July

• Utility Debt (all residents): 78,028 or 23% of all residents

  • No significant change; decrease of 0.17%)

• Utility Debt (low-income residents): 11,253 or 55% of low-income residents

  • No significant change; decrease of 0.83% from July

• Disconnection Notices (all residents): 25,673

  • Exponential increase of 218% from July

• Power shutoffs (all residents): 840

  • Exponential increase of 222% from July
    

Power shutoffs and disconnection notices more than doubling in one month constitutes an energy affordability emergency. Residents across DC were hit with shockingly high bills during hot, muggy temperatures, combined with expensive summer rates and improperly high Pepco distribution costs.

It’s without question that consistent unsustainable Pepco bills will expose DC communities to health risks and long-term financial hardship, to say nothing of the impending impacts to DC’s economy. If you are looking for energy assistance, please explore resources on We Power DC’s page.

Currently, Commissioner Richard Beverly is still pushing for refunds from Pepco and an end to the multiyear rate hike structure. With the PSC deadlocked at only 2 commissioners, it appears Pepco’s redo rate hike scheduled for November is on another pause.