18. Active Residential and Non-Residential Competitive Gas (CGS) Suppliers Licensed to Serve in D.C. in CY 2012–CY 2016

The number of Active Residential Competitive Gas Suppliers (CGS) increased by one in CY 2016 from nine in 2015. The number of Active Non-Residential CGS remained at 13 in CY 2016.

In 2016, the total number of CGS participating in the natural gas Customer Choice Programs in D.C. remained unchanged from the previous year.

Source: DCPSC

19. U.S. DOT Ratings for the DCPSC’s Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Program in CY 2012–CY 2016

The DCPSC’s Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Program (NGPSP) is evaluated annually by U.S. DOT/PHMSA* in the areas of gas pipeline construction, operation, maintenance, records, drug and alcohol inspections and operator qualifications.

The DCPSC’s goal is to achieve a rating equal to or better than the DOT target set each year. There is no 2016 audit result since the audit has yet to occur.

When the 2016 audit report is completed, the results will be available in the 2017 DCPSC Annual Report.

  *DOT/PHMA - U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Source: DCPSC

20. Competitive Gas Suppliers' (CGS) Share of Customers and Share of Usage in CY 2012–CY 2016

Competitive Gas Suppliers' (CGS) residential and non-residential share of usage decreased and increased, accordingly by 1% in 2016. CGS' share of residential customers decreased by 1% and share of non-residential customers remained flat in CY 2016.

Source: DCPSC

21. Number of Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Field Inspection Activities Performed in CY 2012–CY 2016

The number of natural gas pipeline safety field inspection activities increased from 117 in CY 2014 to 192 in CY 2015 and continued to increase to 386 in CY 2016. The increase in activities was due to the recruitment and completed training of additional pipeline safety engineers/inspectors, acquisition of additional transportation and full deployment of all inspectors. .

Source: DCPSC

22. WGL's Average Residential Natural Gas Bills in DC, MD and VA (200 therms of usage)* in CY 2012–CY 2016

The average WGL bill includes the purchased gas charge, transmission charges, distribution charges and all applicable taxes, fees and surcharges. The average bill in D.C. is higher than in Maryland and Virginia because of taxes and rights-of-way fees. The average bill has tended to decrease as the purchased gas charge has declined since CY 2012.

Note: 200 therms of usage applies to all three jurisdictions served by WGL (DC, MD and VA).

*As of January of each year
Source: WGL and DCPSC

23. Enrollment in WGL's Low Income Residential Essential Service (RES) Program* in CY 2012–CY 2016

Participation in WGL's low income Residential Essential Service (RES) program decreased by 36% in CY 2014, according to the enrollment numbers provided by WGL.

On July 14, 2014, the Council of the District of Columbia enacted the Residential Essential Service Subsidy Stabilization Emergency Amendment Act of 2014 (Act), which returned jurisdiction and responsibility over RES to the DCPSC.

On September 8, 2014, in accordance with the Act, the DCPSC, by Order No. 17624, opened Formal Case No. 1127. The Order designated the RES as the discount program for low-income natural gas customers in D.C., adopted the income level eligibility criteria duplicating the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) income requirements and designated DOEE as the entity to administer the outreach and enrollment for the RES Program. There was an 82% increase in the number of RES participants in CY 2015 from 3,932 in CY 2014 to 7,150 in CY 2015. In CY 2016,the number of RES participants increased by 5 from 7,150 in CY 2015.

* The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) was responsible for the determination of the eligibility from 2009 to 2015. WGL was responsible for actual enrollment of eligible customers. The enrollment numbers for the chart are provided by WGL.

24. WGL's Rights-of-Way Fees in CY 2012–CY 2016 ($ Per Therm)

WGL’s Rights-of-Way (ROW) fee has two parts, a Current Factor and a Reconciliation Factor. The Reconciliation Factor recovers any over or under collection resulting from the application of the Current Factor to customers’ bills in the previous year. WGL’s fee appears as a separate line item on customers’ bills. WGL files revised Current and Reconciliation Factors annually in GT 00-2. The DCPSC audits the fees to verify the costs. The graph shows an upward trend in the current factor and a decrease in the reconciliation factor between December 2014 and December 2016.  WGL files its Rights-of-Way fees in compliance with the Company’s tariff, DCPSC No. 3, Third Revised Page No. 56.

Source: DCPSC

25. WGL's Net Purchased Gas Charge (PGC) in CY 2012–CY 2016 (Cents Per Therm)

WGL’s commodity gas cost is called the Purchased Gas Charge (PGC) and it appears as a separate line on the bills of customers who have not chosen another commodity gas supplier.

The Company files a report in a PGC docket each time the PGC changes. The DCPSC audits WGL’s PGC bi-annually to verify the costs.

The average net PGC continued to decline from a five year high of 61.59 cents per therm in CY 2012 to 41.64 cents per therm in CY 2016.

Source: DCPSC