| Background:
On August 5, 2024, Washington Gas Light Company (WGL) requested a rate increase of $45.6 million, which would increase customer rates by 16%. The Office of the People’s Counsel’s (OPC) review of WGL’s request revealed significant concerns:
In April 2022, WGL filed for a rate increase of over $50 million in Formal Case No 1169. After strong opposition from OPC, the PSC granted WGL a much smaller rate increase of $24.6 million. Then, just seven months later, WGL filed this request for an additional $45.6 million.
OPC’s analysis suggests that WGL should not receive an increase above $9.42 million. Frequent rate increases will make gas service unaffordable for many District residents, especially the elderly and economically disadvantaged.
OPC continues to oppose excessive PROJECTPipes costs particularly as the gas pipeline replacement project has made little progress and has been consistently over-budget.
Also troubling are WGL’s proposed increases to the residential and small commercial customer charges. WGL’s proposed residential customer charge for D.C. would be 75% higher than WGL’s Maryland charge and 67% higher than WGL’s Virginia charge. In addition to increasing the energy burdens on ratepayers, increasing the customer charge reduces customer incentive to control monthly costs through energy efficiency and conservation efforts.
Hearing dates and times:
Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Benning Neighborhood Library (Dorothy I. Height), 3935 Benning Road, NE, Meeting Room 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.;
Monday, April 21, 2025, at Petworth Neighborhood Library, 4200 Kansas Avenue, NW, Meeting Room 1, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in the Commission Hearing Room at 1325 G Street, NW, Suite 800, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Instructions to testify:
To testify at the community hearing, please contact the Commission Secretary by the close of business three (3) business days prior to the community hearing, by sending an email to PSC-CommissionSecretary@dc.gov.
To submit written statements, email
PSC-CommissionSecretary@dc.gov, or submit through the Commission’s eDocket system at
https://edocket.dcpsc.org/public/public_comments referencing the Formal Case No. 1180 docket.
If you have questions or need assistance in preparing your comments, please contact OPC by phone at (202) 727-3071 or email at info@opc-dc.gov. |
