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PSC takes Washington Gas STRIDE semiannual filings under advisement amid law-change concerns
Summary
The commission took Washington Gas’s semiannual STRIDE report and revised 2025 project list under advisement after staff recommended partial approval and the Office of People’s Counsel urged review under the new Next Generation Energy Act provisions effective June 1, 2025.
The Public Service Commission took under advisement Oct. 1 the Washington Gas Light Company’s 2025 semiannual STRIDE (system replacement) status report and a revised 2025 STRIDE project list after staff recommended approval of some removals and the Office of People’s Counsel asked the commission to reconsider previously approved plans in light of recent statutory changes.
Staff presented its review of Washington Gas’s filing, saying the utility sought to remove 52 distribution projects from its 2025 STRIDE project list. Staff recommended approving removal of 25 projects (not the full 52) because 27 of the proposed removals had recorded costs in 2025 and therefore should remain on the list. Staff said approving the recommended revisions would allow work to proceed without disrupting contractors or causing layoffs.
The Office of People’s Counsel urged the commission to use the record to ensure the utility’s five-year STRIDE plan complies with the Next Generation Energy Act provisions that took effect June 1, 2025, including new documentation and prioritization requirements tied to risk, cost-effectiveness and alternatives to replacement. Staff said its initial review found the existing plan compliant with the previously approved case, but acknowledged further legal analysis might be necessary to determine whether the new statute should be applied to previously approved plans or require additional documentation for future work. Commissioners said they would weigh potential disruption to ongoing projects and asked staff for a memo about statutory compliance. The commission did not adopt a final decision on the filings at the meeting and will issue follow-up material.
