The OPC CONNECTION – June, 2022

OPC Efforts Lead to Favorable Outcome for Consumer Seeking Solar

OPC fights unduly burdensome interconnection fees clearing the way for consumers to install solar on their homes and contribute to the District’s clean energy and climate goals.

Eager to join the clean energy movement and lower their electric bills, the Kinnaird family signed up for a residential solar system that would connect to Pepco’s electric gird. The Ward 4 residents anticipated that the system would receive permission to connect to the grid without fees due to the size of their system. Many neighbors with similar systems didn’t have to pay fees. However, Pepco wanted the Kinnairds to pay over $5,000 to connect, a fee too much for them to handle.

Desperate to get their system operational in December 2021, the Kinnairds reached out to OPC for help. Because informal negotiations with Pepco were not successful, OPC assisted the Kinnairds with their formal complaint with the Public Service Commissions in January 2022. To the Kinnairds’ relief, Pepco ultimately gave the green light to connect without any costs to the family. On June 6, the company shared that: “With the continued high volume of [solar] applications, some of which require upgrades, the company has been actively analyzing how to minimize or eliminate costs related to customer interconnections and we have as part of a cycle review of our practices determined that your system no longer requires distribution system upgrades to safely and reliably interconnect to Pepco’s system.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to finally reach the end of this journey. We are grateful for OPC’s support and guidance through this process,” the Kinnairds state.”

The Office is assisting several consumers with similar complaints about high interconnection fees. It was anticipated that small residential systems would be exempt from connection fees and evaluated under a less complex and faster process. In addition to ensuring consumers have access to small residential solar, earlier this year, OPC filed a petition with the Public Service Commission seeking an investigation into Pepco’s practices that consumers also have complained about related to offsite community solar generation known as Community Renewable Energy Facilities. CREFs provide an avenue for equitable access to solar by allowing residents and businesses to subscribe to a CREF and earn credits that reduce their electric bills.

Ensuring that consumers don’t hit roadblocks on their path to solar is important to OPC. If you believe Pepco is charging unduly burdensome fees to connect to the grid, you can file a complaint with OPC here or call (202) 727-3071.

OPC Radio Connect is back on the air with a new podcast! This month we introduce you to the first in a series of interviews with women and leaders of color in the energy, climate, and sustainability fields who are helping to shape the District’s utility future. People’s Counsel Sandra Mattavous-Frye talks with Dr. Donna Cooper, Pepco Region President, and utility Attorney Adrienne Claire of Thompson Coburn LLP about the routes they have taken to career success and advice for those beginning careers in public utilities. Check out this podcast and other OPC Radio Connect segments here.

OPC Water Services Division Joins National Clean Water Gathering

Staff from OPC’s Water Services Division (WSD) met leading environmentalists and discussed key water conservation issues at the River Rally National Water Conference in Washington in early June.

Highlighting the 50 th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the conference focused on urgent policy issues impacting water now and in the future. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DC Department of Energy and Environment were among agencies that led workshops designed to help today’s water professionals set goals and construct strategies. WSD’s partnerships with federal and District agencies contribute to the city being ahead of the curve in fostering water sustainability.

Conference participants included conservationists, academics, and politicians who discussed ways to make progress toward an equitable and sustainable water future. Among the key speakers was U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D) Michigan who gave a passionate presentation on the impact climate change has had in her hometown. In addition, Colette Pichon Battle, climate justice activist and founder of the Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy in Louisiana, sounded the call for everyone to elevate water sustainability for the future by learning from the mistakes and missteps of the past.

The River Network’s mission is to empower and unite communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain life and is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Advocating for access to clean and affordable water is a critical mission for OPC’s Water Services Division. Connecting with other advocates on a national platform strengthens OPC’s work in this arena.

People’s Counsel Sandra Mattavous-Frye recently discussed what equity means for utility consumers in an interview airing on the DC TV channels of the Office Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment. The People’s Counsel’s feature is part of the “Voice of the People” series supporting the work of the Mayor’s Office of Racial Equity. The agency is responsible for collaborating with District agencies, residents, and external stakeholders to make meaningful progress toward a more racially equitable city. See People’s Counsel Mattavous-Frye’s comments here.

Did you know that the cost of transmission, or moving electricity from where it is generated to local utilities and your homes, has increased dramatically in the last several years? Much of this increase is driven by the need for new transmission equipment to meet increasing customer usage or to replace older outdated equipment. However, some of these costs could be avoided with new technology that takes better advantage of the transmission system we already have.

Dynamic line ratings (DLRs) is a cost-saving option. DLRs use sensors to provide real-time information on transmission capacity, or the amount of electricity that can flow across a line. This is important because capacity over powerlines is influenced on a minute-to-minute basis by environmental factors such as changes in air temperature, high winds, and even the intensity of the sun.

DLRs can detect these changes and provide instant feedback to grid operators and utilities to help better manage the flow of electricity across transmission lines, often over many states and utility systems. This real time management can potentially avoid the need for costly new facilities.

To ensure that this technology is used to provide the maximum benefit to consumers, OPC along with consumer advocates from Illinois, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey recommend that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) adopt DLR standards.

Among OPC’s recommendations, utilities alone should not have the final say on the use of DLR technology. Instead, input from a wide variety of stakeholders, especially consumers, should be considered. Second, DLR implementation should focus on areas where there is congestion on the transmission system, just as highway improvements are focused on areas with traffic congestion. Third, DLR implementation should consider both technical and cost issues.

Finally, OPC recommends that the use of DLRs become part of transmission planning so that costly transmission projects may be avoided. OPC will continue to advocate the interests of DC consumers on this issue as FERC looks to develop rules for DLR implementation later this year.

OPC looks forward to seeing you in-person. We welcome the opportunity to speak at your Advisory Neighborhood Commission, civic association or community group meeting onsite or virtually. We can give updates on utility issues, trends, and outline how we serve. Call (202) 727-3071 if your group would like our staff to stop by or “Zoom in.” Contact the organizations listed below if you would like links to attend the meetings we’ll be visiting virtually.

Department of Aging and Community Living 11th Annual Senior Symposium  
Location:Ballou Senior High School 3401 4th Street SE
Date:June 28
Time:9 am – 3 pm

ANC 7D Meeting  
Location:Virtual
Date:July 12
Time:6:30 – 7:30 pm

Federal City Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 15th Annual Community Day  
Location:Ballou Senior High School 3401 4th Street SE
Date:July 30
Time:11 am – 3 pm

Do you have feedback or an idea for an article that could be featured in an upcoming edition of the OPC Connection? We want to hear from you! Just drop our editorial team an email @ in**@op****.gov or tweet us @DCOPC.