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

The matters include: 

1. Assessments for Fiscal Year 2018. These Orders direct public utility companies, competitive local exchange carriers, competitive natural gas suppliers, and competitive electric providers to deposit their share of the Public Service Commission’s and the Office of the People’s Counsel’s Fiscal Year 2018 appropriated budgets as directed by this Order into the District of Columbia Treasury within 30 days of the date of this Order.

2. Formal Case No. 1017, In the Matter of the Development and Designation of Standard Offer Service in the District of Columbia. This Order initiates the 2018 Biennial Review of Standard Offer Service. Interested parties shall have 30 days from the date of this Order to file comments and 45 days to file reply comments.

3. Formal Case No. 1125, In the Matter of the Promotion of the Utility Discount Programs. This Order approves the Utility Discount Program Education Working Group’s (“UDPE WG”) Consumer Education Program (“CEP”) Plan for Fiscal Year 2019 (“Proposed FY 19 CEP”) and the Proposed FY 2019 Utility Discount Program (“UDP”) administrative budget and the Proposed FY 2019 CEP budget. The Commission directs the District Department of Energy and Environment to continue its monthly reports and to continue to provide the UDPE WG with a proposed UDP administrative budget and CEP budget for the next fiscal year by December 31 of the prior fiscal year.

4. 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. This Order grants Washington Gas Light Company’s request to clarify the applicability of D.C. Code § 41-108. After reviewing this matter, the Commission modifies Order No. 19324 to exclude any funds deemed abandoned by operation of law.

5. Formal Case No. 1130, In the Matter of the Investigation into Modernizing the Energy Distribution System for Increased Sustainability. This Order approves the recommendations of Smart Electric Power Alliance as described in this Order. SEPA shall file a final working group report, including recommended Commission actions and next steps, for each group within one (1) year from the date of this Order.

6. Formal Case No. 1148, In the Matter of the Investigation into the Establishment and Implementation of Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Programs Targeted Towards Both Affordable Multifamily Units and Master Metered Multifamily Buildings Which Include Low and Limited Income Residents in the District of Columbia. This Order establishes an Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Working Group to develop a Whole-Building, Deep Energy Retrofit Program targeted primarily towards both affordable multifamily units and master-metered multifamily buildings in the District of Columbia, which include low and limited income residents and consumer education and outreach measures.

7. 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, and 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 approves the Joint Motion for Approval of the Non-Unanimous Full Settlement Agreement and Stipulation filed by the Potomac Electric Power Company, the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia , the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, the District of Columbia Government, the Maryland DC Virginia Solar Energy Industry Association, D.C. Climate Action, Baltimore-Washington Construction and Public Employees Laborers’ District Council, Tesla, Inc., Small Business Utility Advocates, DC Consumer Utility Board and Solar United Neighbors and finds that the underlying electric distribution rates contained in the Settlement Agreement are just and reasonable.

8. 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 Washington Gas Light Company’s request for additional time to implement the new distribution rates approved by the Commission in Order No. 19395.

9. RM27-2017-01, In the Matter of the Commission’s Investigation into the Rules Governing Local Exchange Carrier Quality of Service Standards for the District. This Order adopts amendments to Chapter 27 (Regulation of Telecommunications Service Providers) of Title 15 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations. These rules shall become effective upon the publication of a Notice of Final Rulemaking in the D.C. Register.