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Securing a More Sustainable Future
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The Office of the People’s Counsel (OPC) was championing clean energy as early as the 1980s. It recognized the potential environmental benefits of clean energy, yet it also understood the potential risks that technological advances posed to the ratepayers. OPC took a firm stance in defense of ratepayers’ interests, believing that utility shareholders — not consumers — should bear the costs of progress and the burden of shaping a more sustainable environment.
1988 Community involvement and uproar 2008 in 1988 halts construction of a Pepco
generating plant at Benning Road.
One of OPC’s early sustainability efforts focused on Integrated Resource Planning (IRP), which was introduced in 1986. This type of assessment requires utilities to develop energy plans that balance demand-side efficiency and supply-side options for low-cost energy provision. The Office procured significant savings for both residential and commercial ratepayers through its advocacy for effective conservation programs and the incorporation of energy-saving strategies into utilities’ energy supply plans. OPC’s approach served as a model for many other states, which have adopted similar IRP initiatives.
OPC participates in legislative solutions to improve infrastructure, implement sustainable practices, and promote usage of clean energy, all while ensuring a safe, equitable, reliable, and affordable utility environment.
Reliability of utilities plummets in D.C. due to natural
calamities and aging infrastructure. Recession deals 2000 and 2010 a heavy blow, increasing economic crises.
Sandra Mattavous-
Frye appointed the fifth 2011 People’s Counsel.
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