Allen's amendment to sunset DC Water's increased public inconvenience fee fails to guarantee immediate bill relief

Councilmember Allen moved an amendment to the Budget Support Act that would sunset the mayor’s proposed increase to the public inconvenience fee (PIF) for DC Water beginning Oct. 1, 2030, arguing the fee would otherwise be passed through to ratepayers. Allen described the intent as limiting fiscal exposure and preventing an ongoing cost that DC Water would pass into water and sewer bills. “By sunsetting the fee, the amendment limits the fiscal exposure and eliminates the future cost that could potentially be borne by ratepayers,” Allen said during his remarks.

Several members pressed Allen for specifics about how the council could ensure a future reduction in bills. Councilmember Tran White and Councilmember Parker asked whether the sunset would guarantee lower rates; Allen replied that oversight of DC Water — including appointment and confirmation of board members and committee oversight — would be the mechanism for ensuring that pass-throughs do not remain on customers' bills after the sunset. No written commitment from DC Water was presented at the meeting. The council later accepted the sunset amendment as part of the ANS in the package; separate proposed language that would have explicitly expired PIF-driven rate increases on 10/01/2030 was ruled out of order after General Counsel advised the council that it lacked authority to set utility rates directly.