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OPC’s Holistic Vision for Sustainability:
A Safe, Equitable, Reliable, and Affordable Utility Environment
Ensuring a Safe Consumer Environment
Over the years, utilities have proposed expansions and changes that put consumers’ safety and environmental health at risk — such is the tune of progress. Their top priority isn’t the consumer, unfortunately. In fulfillment of its role, OPC has stayed on top of these cases to advocate for reduced rate increases and prioritization of consumer safety in utility expansion measures.
Tackling Gas Rate Hikes, Reliability, and Safety:
Washington Gas Light Company and AltaGas Merger
In 2018, AltaGas, a Canadian utility company, and the Washington Gas Light company (WGL) initiated a merger proposal. OPC recognized that this merger would fail to serve the public interest and posed financial risks to consumers — including increased consumer service costs and rates.
After extensive negotiations, OPC secured benefits for consumers to the tune of a $20.5 million WGL rate credit, $6 million for workforce development initiatives, creation of a workforce academy that trained young D.C. residents for jobs in the utility field, financial support for the District’s clean energy goals, a one-time bill credit, and a two-year rate freeze, improved system reliability, and commitments to repair portions of the infrastructure to reduce gas leaks. AltaGas also pledged $4.2 million37 in assistance for low-income residents in regard to affordable housing and emergency utility bill assistance.
Investigating Dangerous Gas Leaks: PROJECTpipes and WGL Gas Leaks
WGL has a multiyear plan to upgrade portions of its aging gas infrastructure called PROJECTpipes. It
is a multibillion-dollar plan that has existed since 2014 and is scheduled to be completed over the next two decades. OPC has actively participated in this project and repeatedly raised concerns about the associated cost and safety. In early 2024, OPC filed a petition with the Commission, requesting a pause for PROJECTpipes to 1) ensure it is consistent with the city’s climate goals, 2) to ensure WGL is using the proper modeling software to identify leaks, and 3) to scale back many of the proposed projects to make it less expensive.
Petition to Investigate, WGL’s Infrastructure
In April 2021 and 2022, OPC filed petitions with the PSC, requesting that they conduct a comprehensive review of WGL’s infrastructure — including the company’s failure to reduce Grade 2 leaks as required by the order approving the merger of WGL and AltaGas. The PSC denied both requests.
On February 14, 2024, the Office filed a third petition. In this petition, OPC staff referenced a letter
from members of the D.C. Council, which stated that PROJECTpipes is not consistent with the city’s climate future. In addition, OPC’s review of leak data showed that the number of Grade 1 leaks, the most dangerous leaks, were increasing. OPC argued that these reasons alone were compelling enough to initiate an investigation of WGL’s entire infrastructure to ensure its safety and consistency with the city’s evolving climate needs.
On February 23, 2024, the PSC extended PROJECTpipes for one year to provide WGL the opportunity to repair the riskiest pipes while the PSC and other stakeholders determine whether to move forward with the project.
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OPC’s Journey to Protect Utility Consumers