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Unfortunately, the financial fallout of the pandemic continued to have a negative impact beyond the initial resolutions. While moratoriums prevented disconnections during the public health emergency, mounting bill debt remained a significant concern, posing a long-term challenge for many households. OPC asked the utilities to establish flexible payment plans for consumers with high bills and to forestall disconnections when possible.
A Case in Point:
Washington Gas Light Company Rate Case
Amid the lingering economic impact of the pandemic, Washington Gas Light Company (WGL) filed a request with the PSC in April 2022 to increase natural gas rates by $53 million. If approved, this rate hike would have translated to a 20.4% increase in the average residential gas bill, amounting to approximately $16.48 per month. OPC, consistent with its commitment to consumer advocacy, swiftly responded.55
In its brief to the PSC, OPC staunchly opposed WGL’s rate proposals, citing their unjust and unreasonable nature. OPC argued that this request would unreasonably shift the risks to ratepayers for costs that might not align with the District’s future climate goals.
The PSC eventually approved the rate increase in December 2023. WGL was granted a $24.6 million rate hike, despite consumers’ economic struggles. However, because of OPC’s intervention in the case, the increase was nearly 50% lower than what WGL originally requested — but it was still a staggering amount in light of everything that had happened in the years prior. On another note, OPC achieved a decisive victory for consumers when the PSC rejected WGL’s request to include two proposals they alleged were climate action initiatives. WGL did not show that the programs provided equitable benefits for consumers or advanced the District’s climate action goals, however, and thus they were rejected.
The aftermath of the pandemic continues to cast a long shadow, yet OPC remains steadfast in its commitment to responding to the changing cries of the people in the District of Columbia.
OPC’s Journey to Protect Utility Consumers
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From right, People’s Counsel Sandra Mattavous- Frye, Rep. James Clyburn (SC), and Deputy People’s Counsel Karen Sistrunk at a community gathering where Clyburn was the keynote speaker.