4. System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) in CY 2013 – CY 2017

The System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) is the average frequency of sustained interruptions per customer served in a predefined area (lower number means better SAIFI performance).

Based on Pepco’s reporting, Pepco’s SAIFI was better (lower) than the Industry average, the PSC EQSS (Electric Quality of Service Standards) and Pepco’s SAIFI metric in the recent merger commitments for 2016 (0.91) and 2017 (0.82) in F.C. Case 1119, the Pepco/Exelon Merger.

Source: Pepco's 2017 Consolidated Report

5. System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) in CY 2013 – CY 2017

The System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) is the average length of time that the customers served in a predefined area are interrupted. In other words, SAIDI measures the average duration of system outages (lower number means better SAIDI performance).

Based on Pepco’s reporting, Pepco’s SAIDI was generally better (lower) than both the Industry average and the PSC EQSS goal. An exception was noted in 2016 when Pepco’s SAIDI (1.92) was slightly higher than the Industry Average (1.88). Pepco’s SAIDI for 2016 (1.92) and 2017 (0.96) were also better (lower) than Pepco’s merger commitments metric for 2016 (1.96) and 2017 (1.78)

Source: Pepco's 2017 Consolidated Report

6. Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI) in CY 2013 – CY 2017

The Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI) is the average time required to restore service to the customers experiencing a sustained interruption. In other words, it measures the average duration of outages per customer (lower number means better CAIDI performance).

Pepco’s CAIDI decreased from 2.35 in 2013 to 2.34 in 2014, but went back up to 2.73 in 2015. Pepco’s CAIDI has been trending down from 2.73 in 2015 to 2.35 in 2016 and to 1.74 in 2017. Pepco’s CAIDI values generally have been above and worse than the Industry average except for 2017 when Pepco’s 2017 CAIDI (1.74) was below and better than the Industry average of 1.83.

Source: Pepco's 2017 Consolidated Report

7. Average Residential Electric Bills in D.C., MD, & VA* in CY 2013 – CY 2017

In D.C., Pepco’s average residential electric bill includes generation, transmission and distribution and all additional charges, including federal and D.C. taxes and surcharges. In 2016, the average monthly consumption for residential customers (both winter and summer seasons) was 604 kWh.

In 2017, the average monthly consumption for residential customers was 649 kWh.In CY 2017, average residential electric bills continued to be lower in DC than in Pepco’s MD service territory. The average bills in DC were slightly lower than in Northern VA, where electric service is provided by Dominion Power. The distribution charge (including fees, taxes and surcharges) represents about 30% of the electricity bill.  

The other 70% of the average residential bill is made up of the cost for electricity itself (which is sold by licensed retailers whose rates are not regulated by the Commission or by Pepco in its role as the default provider of Standard Offer Service, or SOS) plus transmission.

*Average monthly usage varied between 501 kWh in winter and 855 kWh in summer. Virginia statistics refer to Dominion Power in Northern Virginia.

Source: Pepco and DCPSC

8. Enrollment in Pepco's Low Income Residential Aid Discount (RAD) Program* in CY 2013 – CY 2017

The number of participants enrolled in Pepco’s Low Income Residential Aid Discount (RAD) increased by 1,348 in 2017, from 16,542 in 2016 to 17,890.

The PSC, in Order No. 17545, dated July 14, 2014, opened Formal Case No. 1120 to investigate the structure and application of low-income assistance for electricity customers and to design a discount program for low-income electricity customers that will work within the District’s current restructured market.

The Commission convened a Technical Conference on July 23, 2014 and five additional meetings ending on March 19, 2015. On December 15, 2015, the Commission, in Order No. 18059, adopted a new methodology for computing the Residential Aid Credit (RAD) for eligible low-income electricity customers. The methodology for computing that Residential Aid Discount was changed to reflect a Residential Aid Credit equal to the full distribution charge each month, thereby allowing portability of the discount.

* Numbers for the past five years have been taken at the calendar year end, from reports in docket ARDIR.

Source: Pepco and DCPSC

9. Total Number of Manhole Events (Explosions, Fires and Smoking Manholes) in CY 2013 – CY 2017

The Commission's manhole inspection and repair program provides oversight of Pepco's manhole inspections and repairs. Reportable manhole events for CY 2017 decreased by 23 events when compared to CY 2016. Reportable events may be considered a subset of underground (UG) equipment failures, and are comprised of equipment failures for which there is a significant visual result (smoke, flames, cover displaced). Among UG equipment failures, the most frequent involves cable.  Of the 44 manhole events in 2017, 36 were classified as Smoking Manholes, two were classified as Manhole Explosions, and six were classified as Manhole Fires.

Source: Pepco's 2017 Annual Consolidated Report

10. Explosions as a Percentage of Total Manhole Events in CY 2013 – CY 2017

From CY 2013 through CY 2017, most of the reportable events were manhole smoking events. Explosions as a share of manhole incidents decreased from 34% in 2013 to 17% in CY 2014 to 12% in CY 2015 and continued to decline to 10% in CY 2016 and to 5% in 2017.

Source: Pepco's 2017 Annual Consolidated Report

11. Number of Explosions for Slotted vs. Solid Manhole Covers in CY 2013 – CY 2017

Slotted manhole covers are designed to minimize the impact of manhole events by allowing gas and smoke to vent from manholes in the event of an underground failure. Slotted manhole covers allow energy to disperse more easily when an event occurs, thereby preventing buildup of gases to potentially explosive proportions. The trade off when installing slotted covers is that they allow more water and street run-off contaminants to enter the manhole than solid covers.

In CY 2017 there were no explosions in manholes with slotted covers. Two (2) explosions occured in manholes with solid covers. This number was five (5) less than in 2016 continuing the downward trend of explosions in manholes with solid covers.

Source: Pepco's 2017 Annual Consolidated Report

12. Pepco's Public Space Occupancy Surcharge (Rider PSOS) in CY 2013 – CY 2017 ($ Per kWh)

Pepco’s Rights-of-Way (ROW) Fee is called a Public Space Occupancy Surcharge Rider (Rider PSOS) and it appears as a separate surcharge on Pepco’s customer bills. Pepco files proposed PSOS updates once a year in docket ET00-2. The surcharge update consists of two parts reflecting: 1) the payments to be made by Pepco to the District of Columbia for the current year, and 2) the over or under recovery from the prior year. The PSC audits the PSOS to verify the costs the Company pays the District to lease space in underground conduits.

The PSOS rate per kilowatt-hour decreased from $0.00209 in CY 2016 to $0.00207 in CY 2017.

Source: DCPSC

13. Default and Active Competitive Electric Suppliers (CES) Serving the District in CY 2017