As A Leader In The Development Of The DC PLUG Program, See How OPC Has Ensured That Ratepayers Are Positioned To Receive The Benefits Of This Nearly $1 Billion Dollar Investment

- DC Court of Appeals Decision denies AOBA petition
- DC PLUG First Triennial Plan Projects Schedule
- Commission Denies Request to Reconsider Its November 24, 2014 Undergrounding Order
- Commission Establishes Undergrounding Project Consumer Education Task Force
- Forum for Contractors interested in working on the DC Power Line Undergrounding Project announced
- Proposed Construction Locations
- LISTEN HERE: E-briefing on the District of Columbia's Triennial Underground Plan
- LISTEN HERE: E-briefing on Pepco's Application for a Financing Order
- Final Community Hearing for Citywide Power Line Project on September 9, 2014
- Pepco Requests Power Line Undergrounding Financing Order
- DCPSC grants OPC's request to hold additional community hearing regarding Pepco/DDOT's joint Triennial Application
- Review the Triennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Project Plan
- Undergrounding Brochure
- Power Line Task Force: Office of the City Administrator
PSC Undergrounding Initiative Orders
Formal Case No. 1116
- Order Establishing Evidentiary Hearing in Triennial Application Proceeding
- Order Approving Pepco/DDOT's Triennial Application
- Order Denying AOBA’s Application for Reconsideration
- Order Granting Pepco’s Application for Clarification
Formal Case No. 1121
- Order Denying Requests for the Establishment of an Evidentiary Hearing
- Order Approving Pepco’s Application for a Financing Order
- Order Denying AOBA’s Application for Reconsideration
Proposed Underground Routes
- Proposed Underground Routes - DC PLUG Year 1
- Proposed Underground Routes - DC PLUG Year 2
- Proposed Underground Routes - DC PLUG Year 3
On May 3, 2014, The Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Act of 2013 (B20-0387) became law in the District of Columbia. This new law authorizes the undergrounding of up to 60 of the City's worst performing feeder distribution lines across Wards 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 of the District. Moreover, it marks the culmination of a nearly two-year effort by Mayor Vincent C. Gray, the City Council, the Office of the People's Counsel ("OPC" or "Office"), the D.C. Public Service Commission ("Commission" or "PSC"), and other stakeholders to effect a historic public-private partnership between the District and the Potomac Electric Power Company ("Pepco" or "Company") to improve the reliability of the District's electric-distribution system, which has been plagued with repeated power outages for decades.
Now that this legislation has become law, Pepco and the PSC will have to work quickly to fulfill several key requirements and meet the statutory mandates. Specifically, within 45 days of the law's May 3, 2014 effective date (i.e., June 18, 2014), Pepco must file with the Commission for review and approval its plans detailing the specific overhead distribution lines to be placed underground over the next three years. Pepco must also provide cost data and other relevant information related to all aspects of its undergrounding plan. Once the Commission rules on this forthcoming filing, OPC and the general public will know exactly when and in which communities/Ward(s) Pepco and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation ("DDOT") will begin their undergrounding work.
Within 90 days of the laws implementation (i.e., August 1, 2014), Pepco must file an application with the Commission for review and approval for a financing order with respect to the repayment of bonds for DDOT undergrounding activities funded by the newly-effective law. The Commission's financing order will authorize Pepco to recover from ratepayers the PSC-approved costs necessary to enable the District to pay the debt service and other financing costs associated with bonds issued pursuant to the law. The costs approved by the Commission in both of these proceedings will be incorporated in a surcharge, which will be included in D.C. ratepayers' future Pepco bills.
Under the newly-effective law, OPC will serve as a party of right, will continue to represent the interests of consumers, and will provide all interested persons with information on how to participate in the proceedings before the PSC. Each of these Commission proceedings will also feature a public hearing, which will provide D.C. ratepayers an additional opportunity to voice their thoughts and concerns regarding Pepco's proposals.