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Responding to the Changing Cries of the People
05
Change is a constant companion in the District. Between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, alone, approximately 8,02347 new residents poured into its communities. Job growth surged at a remarkable rate and is projected to increase by 7.6%48 through 2026. With each new resident, job, and business, the demand on city services, including utilities, escalates. The new era brought
with it increased demands on the aging utility infrastructure and real-time exposure to the impacts of human-made climate change, and it exacerbated the residents’ health and welfare situations. The Office of the People’s Counsel (OPC) recognized that change was necessary to accommodate the needs of a changing city.
2020 Global pandemic rattles the world. OPC takes immediate action in pushing for legislation that safeguards consumer rights to utility service amid dire circumstances.
2018
OPC is granted responsibility for representing D.C.’s water consumers in issues regarding service termination, billing, and quality issues.
2019
D.C.’s aggressive clean energy act in 2018 spurs OPC’s study on “Equity Assessment
of Electrification Incentives in the District of Columbia,” a roadmap to a just energy future.
Climate Action Section is formed within OPC to balance rising energy consumption with climate goals and
2021 to chart a sustainable path forward. 47