Pepco revenue continues to increase as nearly a quarter of DC residents fall into utility debt

With Pepco’s official February numbers released, utility affordability remains dire in DC. In just one month, Pepco raked in $56.7 million in revenue—(the utility refuses to post estimated monthly operating profit). During this time, 24% of all residential households were marked as behind on their bills, with many incurring fees and added interest. When considering low-income households, the number jumps to a whopping 57% in debt to Pepco. With numbers this high across the city, it’s clear that electric bills are far too high and assistance programs are far too weak.

During this month, 538 households were disconnected from service due to nonpayment and other factors. These shutoffs leave a bad taste in the mouth considering Pepco also consistently breaks rules and defies orders from its regulatory authority, the Public Service Commission. Just last week, Pepco failed to comply with a PSC order on cost transparency with solar interconnection, further delaying timelines (and inflating costs for households).

It’s difficult to see a greedy utility drive DC households into debt when that same utility defies authority, blocks progress, and continues to leech money out of DC. We need public power now.