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Committee hears calls to fix utility delays that stall affordable housing projects
Summary
Witnesses urged creation of a DHCD‑led Housing Utility Readiness Team to coordinate PEPCO, DC Water and other agencies to reduce months‑long utility connection delays that leave finished affordable units vacant.
Committee members and affordable‑housing builders told the hearing that utility coordination — scheduling inspections, clarifying design requirements, and sharing permit status — is a recurring choke point in delivering affordable housing.
Chair White described the Plug in Housing Act as creating a "Housing Utility Readiness Team" inside DHCD to provide technical experts, faster coordination with utilities, and a shared data‑agreement so builders can track permit clearance status in one place. Suzanne Slater of Habitat for Humanity recounted a condominium project stalled for three years waiting on PEPCO and urged including DDOT, DOE, D.C. Water and PEPCO in coordination efforts.
Witnesses said DHCD coordination and a single point of contact would cut costly redesigns and legal fees. Chair White told providers he would review written recommendations and hoped to incorporate them before subsequent committee reviews.
