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Maryland PSC Hears Mixed Public Testimony on Pepco’s $680M Multi‑Year Rate Plan
Summary
The Maryland Public Service Commission heard in-person and virtual testimony both supporting and opposing Pepco’s multi‑year rate request in Case No. 9702; supporters stressed community investment and supplier‑diversity benefits while opponents urged prudency reviews and objected to passing certain past costs to ratepayers.
The Maryland Public Service Commission on Thursday took public testimony on Potomac Electric Power Company’s (Pepco) proposed multi‑year base‑rate plan in Case No. 9702, hearing both support and opposition from community groups, business leaders and health‑care providers. Commissioner Michael Richard presided; Chair Hoover participated virtually.
Supporters at the hearing said Pepco’s investments and community programs justify the company’s request. Antoine Thompson, chief executive of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition, said, “We strongly support the Pepco request,” citing the company’s work deploying electric‑vehicle chargers in environmental‑justice communities. Alexander Austin, president and CEO of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, pointed to Pepco’s local spending, saying the company spent “more than $400,000,000 within the Pepco region in 2023 alone” and is a partner for regional projects.
Several speakers highlighted supplier‑diversity and workforce programs. Lisa Moore, owner of LG Moore LLC, described her experience as a longtime Pepco contractor and said Pepco spent nearly $20,000,000 with diverse local suppliers in Prince George’s County in 2022. Rosalind Stiles, president of the National Association of Minority Contractors’ Washington metropolitan chapter, told commissioners the company’s capital plan over five years “will contribute more than 11,000 full‑time equivalent jobs,” and described Exelon/Pepco community investment and training partnerships.
Health‑sector testimony also favored the plan. Dr. Tali Elliott, chief executive officer of Mary’s Center, said the federally qualified health center serves about 65,000 people and that Pepco and Exelon have been long‑term partners; she noted Mary’s Center has provided roughly $6,000,000 a year in uncompensated care and that Pepco has administered a utility‑assistance program that has given about $750,000 to roughly 1,000 Prince George’s County residents.
Opponents raised concerns about forecasting, accountability and specific past projects. Herbert Jones of the South County Environmental Justice Coalition urged the commission to require post‑expenditure prudency reviews rather than rely on forecasts, arguing forecast‑based multi‑year plans risk higher bills for consumers. Jones specifically said costs from a failed Pepco lithium‑ion battery project at Livingston Road and a reported $57,000,000 settlement by the D.C. Attorney General over pollution in the Anacostia River should not be borne by ratepayers; as he put it, “Forecasting is like, going to Vegas.”
Commissioner Richard reminded attendees that the hearing is part of the official record for Case No. 9702 and that written comments and presentations may be submitted through the Commission’s website for inclusion in the record. No formal action or vote was taken at the session.
The commission will consider the public record, testimony and filings in deliberations on Pepco’s application.
