History

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The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, formerly the Public Utilities Commission of the District of Columbia, was established by Congress and signed off by President William Howard Taft in 1913 as part of the District government for the purpose of regulating the transportation, electric, gas, and telephone companies serving the city.

Browse the archived events publications below to learn more about our history.

Publications and presentations
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the DCPSC published “The First Hundred Years Protecting the Public Interest, 1913-2013,” a retrospective book that debuted on March 18, 2016, with a panel discussion featuring DCPSC Commissioners and other historians. Additionally, the DCPSC held a centennial anniversary symposium at Gallaudet University on March 15, 2013, and presented at the D.C. Historical Society on November 15-16, 2013.

Former DCPSC Executive Director Dr. Phylicia Fauntleroy Bowman also presented on the history of diversity at the Commission and among local utility companies at the D.C. Historical Society in November 2014.

History of electric, gas and local telecommunications regulation in D.C.

History of DCPSC Commissioners
Since 1913, when the Commission was established, there have been more than 70 Commissioners. These individuals were former public servants, lawyers, economists, planners and members of the military, among other occupations.