Pepco’s Summer of Shutoffs: 17,000 disconnection notices issues in May

Pepco’s mandatory May report is in, and it’s just as expected: shutoffs, utility debt, and extra burden for DC’s low-income residents. As DC’s economy continues to stumble from Trump’s chaos and firings, coupled with upticks in cost of living, DC residents are feeling the squeeze.

In May, Pepco sent out 17,357 disconnection notices to residents while collecting $27,622,077 in a single month. The rising heat hit residents (and their bills hard): a total of 1,545 residences were shut off from power by Pepco. This is a massive increase from 113 shutoffs in April.

Already, this summer is shaking out to be one of power shutoffs that leave our communities and neighbors in the dark and the broiling heat. As a deadly heat dome settles over the eastern seaboard, many DC residents are choosing between their power bill and other necessary expenses like food and transport. We need drastic change now to make our utility affordable. We need to cut out shareholder greed and return the power to the people.