Open Meeting Summaries

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) approved six actions items before the Commission at its February 21st Open Meeting.

The matters include:

1. Formal Case No. 1150, In the Matter of the Application of Potomac Electric Power Company for Authority to Increase Existing Retail Rates and Charges for Electric Distribution Service. This Order grants the Petitions to Intervene of the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, DC Climate Action, the DC Consumer Utility Board and Solar Untied Neighbors of DC, the District of Columbia Government, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, the Healthcare Council of the National Capital Area, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, the Maryland DC Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association, the Small Business Utility Advocates (“SBUA”), Tesla, Inc., and the U.S. General Services Administration. The Commission also grants SBUA’s Motion for Special Appearance of Out-of-State Attorneys.

2. Formal Case No. 1151, In the Matter of the Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 on the Existing Distribution Service Rates and Charges for Potomac Electric Power Company and Washington Gas Light Company. This Order grants the Petitions to Intervene of the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, the Healthcare Council of the National Capital Area, the U.S. General Services Administration, the Small Business Utility Advocates (“SBUA”), and the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority. Intervenors are entitled to participate fully in this proceeding. The Commission also grants SBUA’s Motion for Special Appearance of Out-of-State Attorneys.
 

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) approved six actions items before the Commission at its February 14 th Open Meeting.

The matters include:

1. Formal Case No. 1130, In the Matter of the Investigation into Modernizing the Energy Delivery System for Increased Sustainability. This Order adopts the modernizing the distribution energy delivery system for increased sustainability (“MEDSIS”) Vision Statement at Attachment A of this Order and establishes the process for soliciting and retaining a MEDSIS consultant to be paid from a portion of the Formal Case No. 1130 MEDSIS Pilot Project Fund.

2. Formal Case No. 1144, In the Matter of the Potomac Electric Power Company’s Notice to Construct Two 230 kV Underground Circuits from the Takoma Substation to the Rebuilt Harvard Substation and From the Rebuilt Harvard Substation to the Rebuilt Champlain Substation. This Order directs the Potomac Electric Power Company (“Pepco”) to refile its NOC-1, combined with NOC-2, as a single new comprehensive Capital Grid Application (“Capital Grid Application”) within 60 days from the date of the Order. Pepco is directed to include in its Capital Grid Application the information requested in this Order. Interested persons are invited to provide comments and reply comments within 90 and 120 days, respectively, from the date of Pepco’s Capital Grid Application filing. In line with this procedural schedule, the Commission will hold in abeyance the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia’s request for an evidentiary hearing and the requests for intervention status until Pepco submits its Capital Grid Application. 

3. Formal Case No. TA 10-2, In the Matter of the Joint Application of MassComm, Inc. d/b/a Mass Communications and Windstream Holdings, Inc. for Approval to Transfer Control of MassComm, Inc. This Order dismisses the Joint Application of MassComm, Inc. d/b/a Mass Communications (“MassComm”) and Windstream Holdings, Inc. (“Windstream”) for approval to transfer indirect control of MassComm to Windstream for lack of Commission jurisdiction.

4. TT00-5, In the Matter of Verizon Washington, DC Inc.’s Public Occupancy Surcharge General Regulations Tariff, P.S.C.-D.C. No. 201. This Order and Notice of Final Tariff approves the Rights-of-Way Compliance Filing for the Surcharge Rider of Verizon Washington, DC Inc. (“Verizon DC”) for 2017. Verizon DC’s Rights-of-Way Compliance Filing for 2017 shall be effective upon the publication of the Notice of Final Tariff in the D.C. Register. 
 

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) approved six actions items before the Commission at its January 31st Open Meeting.

The matters include:

1. Formal Case No. 1115, In the Matter of Washington Gas Light Company’s Request for Approval of a Revised Accelerated Pipeline Replacement Plan. This Order denies Washington Gas Light Company’s Application for Reconsideration of Order No. 19194, which requests that the Commission reconsider its determination that meter relocation costs should be excluded from the PROJECTpipes surcharge.

2. Formal Case No. 1125, In the Matter of the Promotion of the Utility Discount Programs. This Order approves the District Department of Energy and Environment’s (DOEE) Invoices for the Fourth Quarter of Fiscal Year 2017 for the payment of Utility Discount Program administrative expenses. The District of Columbia Universal Service Trust Fund is directed to pay $11,396.72; Potomac Electric Power Company is directed to pay $38,892.99; Washington Gas Light Company is directed to pay $39,744.14; and DC Water is directed to pay $39,660.93 to DOEE within 15 days of the date of this Order. The Commission also grants DOEE’s Motion to File the Invoices Out of Time.

3. Formal Case No. 1150, In the Matter of the Application of Potomac Electric Power Company for Authority to Increase Existing Retail Rates and Charges for Electric Distribution Service. This Order schedules a status conference, pursuant to Commission Rule 129, in this proceeding on February 22, 2018, in the Commission Hearing Room, 1325 G Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20005, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Commission Staff shall preside over the status conference. The Joint Motion to Adopt a Procedural Schedule is denied; and Potomac Electric Power Company’s Motion to waive Commission Rules 121.2 and 121.7 is held in abeyance. Finally any person desiring to intervene in the proceeding shall file a petition to intervene with the Commission no later than February 9, 2018.

4. PEPIA2017-01, Potomac Electric Power Company’s Request for Approval of an Independent Accountant. This Order grants Potomac Electric Power Company’s (Pepco) request for approval of an independent accountant, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), to conduct a limited engagement review and prepare a report, pursuant to Chapter 39 of the Commission’s rules, for the 12 months ending December 31, 2017. Pepco is directed to file with the Commission a copy of its engagement letter with PwC upon execution by both parties. Pepco is further directed to file the limited engagement report no later than 90 days from the date of this Order.

5. Consumer Complaint No. 2017-9075225, Dionne Joemah v. Potomac Electric Power Company. This Order denies the Application for Reconsideration of Order No. 19192 filed by Dionne Joemah.

6. Formal Case No. 1142, In the Matter of the Merger of AltaGas Ltd. And WGL Holdings, Inc. This Order grants in part and denies in part the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia’s (OPC) Motion to Strike, Alternative Motion to Hold This Proceeding in Abeyance and Establish Additional 1 Procedures, Motion to Extend the Briefing Schedule, and Request for Expedited Ruling. The Commission denies OPC’s motion to strike and the alternative motion contained in OPC’s Motion, but grants OPC and other parties nine additional days from the original due date to respond to the Initial Briefs of the parties. Reply Briefs are now due February 7, 2018. The Commission also changes the date for the closure of the record in this proceeding from January 30, 2018 to February 7, 2018.
 

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) approved five actions items before the Commission at its January 17 th Open Meeting.

The matters include: 

1. Formal Case No. 1137, In the Matter of the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Authority to Increase Existing Rates and Charges for Gas Service. This Order adopts with modifications the Commission Staff’s evaluation criteria for Washington Gas Light Company’s Multifamily Piping Program (MPP) during the four-year pilot to assist in the Commission’s evaluation of the MPP pilot.

2. Formal Case No. 1145, In the Matter of Applications for Approval of Biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plans and Financing Orders. This Order denies the Application for Reconsideration of Order No. 19167 filed by the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington; and grants the Joint Application of the Potomac Electric Power Company and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation for Clarification or, in the alternative, Reconsideration of Order No. 19167.

3. Formal Case No. 1149, In the Matter of the Investigation into the Structure and Application of an Experimental Rate Class for Both Senior Citizens and Disabled Residents in the District of Columbia. The Commission determines this proceeding is an open and collaborative process and exploratory in nature. Therefore, the Commission has determined that party status is not required to participate in this proceeding and accordingly denies as moot the petitions to intervene that were filed.

4. Formal Case No. 1027, In the Matter of the Emergency Petition of the Office of the People’s Counsel for an Expedited Investigation of the Distribution System of Washington Gas Light Company; GT97-3, In the Matter of the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Authority to Amend its Rate Schedule No. 6; and GT06-1, In the Matter of the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Authority to Amend General Service Provision No. 23. This Order determines that Washington Gas Light Company’s (WGL) Response to Order No. 19101 is satisfactory and, therefore, denies the Office of the People’s Counsel’s request to penalize WGL for what it believes are deficiencies in the response.

5. Formal Case No. 1027, In the Matter of the Emergency Petition of the Office of the People’s Counsel for an Expedited Investigation of the Distribution System of Washington Gas Light Company; GT97-3, In the Matter of the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Authority to Amend its Rate Schedule No. 6; and GT06-1, In the Matter of the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Authority to Amend General Service Provision No. 23. This Order approves the computations of the Final Reconciliation Factor of Washington Gas Light Company’s (WGL) Plant Recovery Adjustment (PRA) surcharge contained in WGL’s Final Reconciliation Filing. The Commission also approves WGL’s proposal to return the over-collection of the PRA. WGL shall indicate the three-month period in which the refund will occur in a filing with the Commission within ten days of the date of this Order.
 

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) approved three actions items before the Commission at its November 8 th Open Meeting.

The matters include:

1. Formal Case No. 1145, In the Matter of Applications for Approval of Biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plans and Financing Orders. This Order grants the Joint Application of the Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) for Approval of the First Biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan and the Financing Order Application. To facilitate compliance and consistency with applicable statutory provisions, this Order adopts the definitions set forth in the “Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Amendment Act”. This Order also accepts the 2014 and 2016 Joint Stipulations filed by the Office of the People’s Counsel, Pepco and DDOT with respect to certain technical aspects of system design, construction and operation of the Plan and with respect to the D.C. Power Line Undergrounding (DC PLUG) Education Plan. With respect to the DC PLUG Education Plan and Undergrounding Project Consumer Education Task Force, this Order adopts the additional provisions outlined in Order No. 17697, as clarified by Order No. 17770. The United States General Services Administration’s Motion to reject or suspend the current Application and plan and/or to waive or hold in abeyance the filing of future biennial plans is denied. Finally, the Joint Applicants are directed to comply with all other directives included in this Order in the manner and time periods as set forth in this Order.
 

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) approved three actions items before the Commission at its November 1st Open Meeting.

The matters include:

1. Formal Case No. 988, In the Matter of the Development of Universal Service Standards and the Universal Service Trust Fund for the District of Columbia. This Order approves the calendar year 2018 budget and assessment calculation for the District of Columbia Universal Service Trust Fund (DC USTF), which differs slightly from the proposed budget filed by the DC USTF Administrator, Solix, Inc. on September 26, 2017. The budget for calendar year 2018 shall be $518,375. The assessment rate shall be 0.000679 or 0.0679% of reported and estimated intrastate retail revenue in the District of Columbia. The approved budget is included as Attachment A to this Order.

2. Formal Case No. 1142, In the Matter of the Merger of AltaGas Ltd. and WGL Holdings, Inc. This Order directs the parties to file the following documents in preparation for the evidentiary hearing beginning on December 5, 2017. By November 22, 2017; parties are to file a joint stipulation of material disputed issues; and prehearing statements identifying witnesses whose testimony covers material issues in dispute, the precise nature of the expected testimony, and an explanation as to why the oral testimony will provide some meaningful insight that the written testimony does not. The evidentiary hearings will be conducted in accordance with the Joint Stipulation and the hearings will be limited to the material disputed issues specified in the Joint Stipulation.

3. Telephone Application 2013-06, In the Matter of the Joint Application of GTT Americas, LLC and Transbeam, Inc. for Approval to Transfer Control of Transbeam, Inc. to GTT Americas, LLC. This Order dismisses the Joint Application of GTT Americas, LLC and Transbeam, Inc. for approval to transfer control of Transbeam, Inc. to GTT Americas, LLC and its direct parent company GTT Communications, Inc. for lack of jurisdiction. 
 

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) approved four actions items before the Commission at its September 20th Open Meeting.

The matters include: 

1. Formal Case No. 892, In the Matter of the Joint Application of Crown Castle International Corp., LTS Group Holdings LLC, Lightower Fiber Networks I, LLC, and Lightower Fiber Networks II, LLC for Approval to Transfer Indirect Control of Lightower Fiber Networks I, LLC and Lightower Fiber Networks II, LLC to Crown Castle International Corp. This Order approves the Joint Application of Crown Castle International Corp., LTS Group Holdings LLC, Lightower Fiber Networks I, LLC, and Lightower Fiber Networks II, LLC, to transfer indirect control of Lightower Fiber Networks I, LLC, and Lightower Fiber Networks II, LLC to Crown Castle International Corp. Commission approval of this Joint Application for transfer of control shall become effective upon the issue date of this Order.

2. Formal Case No. 1126, In the Matter of the Office of the People’s Counsel’s Complaint Against Washington Gas Light Company Regarding the Unlawful Compensation of Competitive Service Providers in violation of its Rate Schedule Number 5. This Order denies the Petition to Intervene Out of Time and Request for Clarification or, alternatively, an Injunction filed by NOVEC Energy Solutions, Inc.

3. Formal Case No. 1137, In the Matter of the Investigation into the Quality of Service of Washington Gas Light Company, District of Columbia Division, in the District of Columbia. This Order grants Washington Gas Light Company’s Motion to Extend the Effective Date of Termination of Interruptible Sales Service under Rate Schedule 6A. Washington Gas Light Company shall not accept any new customers on Rate Schedule No. 6A and Rate Schedule No. 6A for Interruptible Sales Service will be eliminated as of August 1, 2018.

4. PEPACR-2015-01, In the Matter of the Annual Consolidated Report of the Potomac Electric Power Company; and PEPACR-2016-01, In the Matter of the Annual Consolidated Report of the Potomac Electric Power Company. This Order accepts the 2015 and 2016 Annual Consolidated Reports (ACR) filed with the Commission by the Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco). In addition, this Order responds to certain matters addressed in comments responding to Pepco’s 2015/2016 ACRs and identifies other matters raised in such comments that will be deferred and addressed at a later date in future order(s) or rulemaking(s), as further described in this Order.
 

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) approved 21 actions items before the Commission at its September 6th Open Meeting.

The matters include:

1. Formal Case No. 712, In the Matter of the Investigation into the Public Service Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure and RM03-2014-01, Utility Consumer Bill of Rights. This Order denies as moot Sunrun, Inc. and Solar Energy Industries Association’s Motions for Extension of Time to File Reply Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Chapter 3 of Title 15 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.

2. Formal Case No. 892, In the Matter of the Joint Application of GTT Americas, LLC, Pivotal Global Capacity, LLC and GC Pivotal, LLC d/b/a Global Capacity for Approval to Transfer Control of GC Pivotal, LLC to GTT Americas, LLC. This Order approves the Joint Application of GTT Americas, LLC (GTTA), Pivotal Global Capacity, LLC, and GC Pivotal, LLC d/b/a Global Capacity (Global Capacity) to transfer control of Global Capacity to GTTA. Commission approval of this Joint Application for transfer of control shall become effective upon the issue date of this Order.

3. Formal Case No. 977, In the Matter of the Investigation into the Quality of Service of Washington Gas Light Company, District of Columbia Division, in the District of Columbia. This Order grants Washington Gas Light Company’s request for waiver of certain rules in the Commission’s Natural Gas Quality of Service Standards to avoid penalty provisions for failure to meet the quality of service standards.

4. Formal Case No. 988, In the Matter of the Development of Universal Service Standards and the Universal Service Trust Fund for the District of Columbia. This Order grants Verizon Washington, DC Inc.’s Request for DC Universal Service Trust Fund Funding Application for the Second Quarter of 2017 for the provision of Lifeline telephone service to low-income District of Columbia customers.

5. Formal Case No. 990, In the Matter of Development of Local Exchange Carrier Quality of Service Standards for the District. This Order grants the Motion for Waiver of the Out-of-Service Clearing Time performance standards for residential performance standards for May 2017 filed by Verizon Washington, DC Inc.

6. Formal Case No. 1017, In the Matter of the Development and Designation of Standard Offer Service in the District of Columbia. This Order grants, in part, and denies, in part, the Retail Energy Supply Association’s (RESA) Application for Reconsideration of Order No. 18829 as described in this Order. In addition, the Commission grants RESA’s request for clarification.

7. Formal Case No. 1115, Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Approval of a Revised Accelerated Pipe Replacement Program. This Order grants in part and denies in part the Petition for Leave to Intervene filed by DC Climate Action (DCCA) on June 20, 2017. DCCA’s request for full intervention is 1 denied. However, the Commission grants DCCA limited intervention upon the conditions and limitations described in this Order.

8. Formal Case No. 1119, In the Matter of the Joint Application of Exelon Corporation, Pepco Holdings, Inc., Potomac Electric Power Company, Exelon Energy Delivery Company, LLC and New Special Purpose Entity, LLC for Authorization and Approval of Proposed Merger Transaction. This Order grants the Application for Reconsideration of Order No. 18799 of the Potomac Electric Power Company and clarifies Order No. 18799 as outlined in this Order.

9. Formal Case No. 1125, In the Matter of the Promotion of the Utility Discount Programs. This Order approves the District Department of Energy and Environment’s Invoices for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2017 for the payment of Utility Discount Program administrative expenses.

10. Formal Case No. 1125, In the Matter of the Promotion of the Utility Discount Programs. This Order reviews the Utility Discount Program Education Working Group’s (UDPE WG) Consumer Education Program (“CEP”) Plan for Fiscal Year 2018 and directs the UDPE WG and the District Department of Energy and Environment to take certain actions prescribed by the Order.

11. Formal Case No. 1142, In the Matter of the Merger of AltaGas Ltd. and WGL Holdings, Inc. This Order denies the Motion of the D.C. Consumer Utility Board Petition for Intervention but grants Limited Appearance status in this proceeding in accordance with 15 D.C.M.R. § 107.

12. Formal Case No. 1144, In the Matter of the Potomac Electric Power Company’s Notice to Construct Two 230 kV Underground Circuits from the Takoma Substation to the Rebuilt Harvard Substation and from the Rebuilt Harvard Substation to the Rebuilt Champlain Substation. This Order extends the comment period on the Potomac Electric Power Company’s Notice of Construction by an additional 90 days thus rendering as moot, the Office of the People’s Counsel’s Motion for Enlargement of Time to file comments.

13. Formal Case No. 1145, In the Matter of Applications for Approval of Biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plans and Financing Orders. This Order grants the petitions to intervene filed in this case by the United States General Services Administration, Washington Gas Light Company, the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, and the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority. The Commission also incorporates the records of Formal Case Nos. 1116 and 1121 into the record of this proceeding.

14. Formal Case No. 1146, In the Matter of the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for a Certificate of Authority Authorizing it to Issue Debt Securities and Preferred Stock. This Order approves the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for a certificate authorizing the Company to issue and sell debt securities and preferred stock in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400.0 million.

15. Gas Tariff 95-3, In the Matter of the Washington Gas Light Company’s Application to the Withdraw the Watergate Tariff. This Order denies Watergate West Inc.’s Application for Reconsideration of Order No. 18827.

16. Formal Case No. 1027, In the Matter of the Emergency Petition of the Office of the People’s Counsel for an Expedited Investigation of the Distribution System of Washington Gas Light Company; GT97-3, In the Matter of the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Authority to Amend its Rate Schedule No. 6; and GT06-1, In the Matter of the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Authority to Amend General Service Provision No. 23 and Formal Case No. 1115, In the Matter of Washington Gas Light Company’s Request for Approval of a Revised Accelerated Pipeline Replacement Plan. This Order denies Washington 2 Gas Light Company’s Application for Reconsideration of Order No. 18815.

17. Formal Case No. 1027, In the Matter of the Emergency Petition of the Office of the People’s Counsel for an Expedited Investigation of the Distribution System of Washington Gas Light Company; GT97-3, In the Matter of the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Authority to Amend its Rate Schedule No. 6; and GT06-1, In the Matter of the Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Authority to Amend General Service Provision No. 23. This Order reviews Washington Gas Light Company’s (WGL) Response to Order No. 18738 and directs WGL to file various information it WGL’s 2017 Annual Report as directed by this Order.

18. Gas Tariff 00-2, In the Matter of Washington Gas Light Company’s Rights-of-Way Surcharge General Regulations Tariff, P.S.C.-D.C. No. 3. This Notice of Final Tariff approves Washington Gas Light Company’s Rights-of-Way Fee Surcharge update effective upon publication of this Notice of Final Tariff in the D.C. Register.

19. Electric Tariff 00-2, In the Matter of Potomac Electric Power Company’s Public Occupancy Surcharge Electricity Tariff, P.S.C.-D.C. No. 1. This Notice of Final Tariff approves the Potomac Electric Power Company’s Public Occupancy Surcharge Electricity Tariff effective upon publication of this Notice of Final Tariff in the D.C. Register.

20. Electric Tariff 2017-01, In the Matter of Potomac Electric Power Company’s Energy Assistance Trust Fund Surcharge Rider, Rate Schedules for Electric Service in the District of Columbia, P.S.C. of D.C. No. 1. This Notice of Final Tariff approves the Potomac Electric Power Company’s Surcharge Rider to be effective on October 1, 2017, upon publication of this Notice of Final Tariff in the D.C. Register.

21. PEPCCR-2017-01, In the Matter of the Potomac Electric Power Company’s Quarterly Call Center-Customer Care. This Order grants the Potomac Electric Power Company’s motion to discontinue certain quarterly reporting requirements relating to Pepco’s customer call center operations.
 

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) approved seven items before the Commission at its July 24th Open Meeting.

The matters include:

1. ASMT 2017, Assessments for Fiscal Year 2017: These Orders assess public utility companies, competitive local exchange carriers, competitive natural gas suppliers, and competitive electric providers for their percentages of the Commission’s and the Office of the People’s Counsel’s Fiscal Year 2017 appropriated budget. Each company is directed to deposit its share of the appropriated budget to the District of Columbia Treasury within 30 days of the date of receipt of the Orders.

2. Formal Case No. 892, In the Matter of the Joint Application of Broadview Networks, Inc., ATX Licensing, Inc., A.R.C. Networks, Inc., Eureka Telecom, Inc., Broadview Networks Holdings, Inc. and Windstream Holdings, Inc. for Approval to Transfer Indirect Control of the Broadview Licensees: This Order approves the Joint Application of Broadview Networks, Inc., ATX Licensing, Inc., A.R.C. Networks, Inc., Eureka Telecom, Inc., Broadview Networks Holdings, Inc., and Windstream Holdings, Inc., for the transfer of indirect control of Broadview Licensees to Windstream.

3. Formal Case No. 1115, Application of Washington Gas Light Company for Approval of a Revised Accelerated Pipe Replacement Program: This Order approves the Final Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) filed by Washington Gas Light Company on May 15, 2017. The AUP auditors shall begin the engagement immediately.

4. Formal Case No. 1119, In the Matter of the Joint Application of Exelon Corporation, Pepco Holdings, Inc., Potomac Electric Power Company, Exelon Energy Delivery Company, LLC and New Special Purpose Entity, LLC for Authorization and Approval of Proposed Merger Transaction: This Order grants the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia’s (OPC) Motion for Leave to submit Comments on Pepco’s Root-Cause Analysis Report (Pepco’s Report) and accepts OPC’s Comments. The Commission further directs that all concerns with Pepco’s Report be addressed by Pepco, OPC, and Commission Staff at future PIWG meetings, and Pepco shall supplement the Report and file it with the Commission within 90 days from the date of this Order.

5. Formal Case No. 1142, In the Matter of the Merger of AltaGas Ltd. and WGL Holdings, Inc.: This Order establishes the Public Interest Factors to be considered in this merger proceeding. The Public Interest Factors are included in Appendix A to this Order. The Commission also establishes the procedural schedule, which is attached as Appendix B to this Order. To take into account the adopted procedural schedule, the Commission waives certain deadlines in the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure for this proceeding. For this proceeding only, the Commission delegates to the General Counsel the authority to issue orders on uncontested procedural matters. Finally, the Commission provides further guidance relating to filing requirements and the evidentiary hearing and this case shall be classified as an “other investigation” for purposes of D.C. Code § 2 34-912.

6. Formal Case No. 1143, In the Matter of the Commission’s Consideration of a Demand Management Program for Electric Vehicle Charging in the District of Columbia: This Order grants the Petition to Intervene of the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, Tesla, Inc., the District of Columbia Government, Greenlots, Sierra Club, and DC Solar United Neighborhoods. All intervenors are entitled to participate fully in this proceeding.

7. Formal Case No. 1139, In the Matter of the Application of the Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) to Increase Existing Retail Rates and Charges for Electric Distribution Services: This Order authorizes reduces Pepco’s rate request to $36.888 million, which cuts Pepco’s request by 52%. For the typical residential consumer, this will increase the monthly bill by $2.09. However, the $2.09 increase will be fully offset for all residential customers, including Master Meter Class (Apartment Building customers), with the use of $15 million of Merger-provided Customer Base Rate Credits (CBRC) resulting in a $0 increase for two years. Similarly, the Commission is utilizing $2.3 million of the CBRC to give significant rate relief for certain small commercial class customers. This decision reduces Pepco’s requested return on equity (ROE) from 10.60% to 9.5% which provides a fair and appropriate return, and will allow Pepco to obtain any necessary capital investment and maintain its investment-grade credit rating which is important because in deciding any rate case the Commission must consider both the interests of ratepayers and the needs of a private investor-owned utility to attract investors and raise capital. Having a financially healthy utility that can attract investors and acquire debt at low interest rates is in the best interest of all District ratepayers.
 

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) approved three items before the Commission at its July 6th Open Meeting.

The matters include:

1. Formal Case No. 1138, In the Matter of the Investigation into Washington Gas Light Company’s New Billing System and Process and the Potential Impact on the Customers and Competitive Natural Gas Suppliers in the District of Columbia. This Order directs Washington Gas Light Company (WGL) to file a report on the status of its new billing system as prescribed by the Order; WGL is to participate in a technical conference within 20 days of the date of this Order to discuss WGL’s billing charges for competitive service providers (CSPs) and default customers; WGL is to file details of its credit requirements, as explained in this Order, to make the bill-ready billing format available to CSPs within 60 days of the date of this Order, and to begin incorporating CSPs into its billing system within 90 days from the day a CSP files an application with WGL. WGL is also directed to provide periodic reporting on the status of these activities on three-month intervals, with the first interval beginning August 1, 2017. Finally, the Commissions moves Commission Data Requests No. 1 issued on April 25, 2017, and WGL’s Data Responses dated May 10, 2017 in the record of Formal Case No. 1138.

2. Gas Tariff 95-3, In the Matter of Washington Gas Light Company’s Application for Authority to Withdraw Watergate Tariff. This Order grants Washington Gas Light Company’s (WGL) Application to withdraw the tariff for Steam and Chilled Water Rates (Watergate Tariff) for Service to the six Watergate buildings located in the District of Columbia effective upon the expiration of the underlying agreement. The Commission denies Watergate West Inc.’s requests for a hearing on WGL’s Application and for the Commission to defer its decision for six months to allow the parties to negotiate a modified agreement. The withdrawal of the Watergate Tariff shall become effective upon publication of a Notice of Final Rulemaking in the D.C. Register and upon the expiration of the underlying agreement.

3. Gas Tariff 00-2, In the Matter of Washington Gas Light Company’s Rights-of-Way Surcharge General Regulations Tariff, P.S.C.-D.C. No. 3. This Notice of Final Tariff takes final action approving Washington Gas Light Company’s (WGL) Surcharge Update tariff filing. WGL’s Surcharge Update tariff filing shall become effective upon publication of this Notice of Final Tariff in the D.C. Register.