Citing frustrations with Pepco, U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., wants a Senate committee to hold hearings on whether the federal government should require federal reliability standards for power.
Pepco, the electricity supplier for almost 800,000 customers in Maryland and the District, has been under heavy criticism from officials and customers frustrated at prolonged power outages — sometimes for several days — after blizzards and thunderstorms large and small.
Since the thundersnow two weeks ago knocked out power for 180,000 Pepco customers, local and state officials have suggested putting in place “enhanced reliability standards” that would allow the government to fine utilities for poor performance.
In a letter released by her office, Mikulski asks Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, to hold hearings to examine ways to “develop federal reliability standards for local transmission power lines, and ways to increase the amount of uniform, nationwide data on the frequency and causes of transmission outages.”
On Monday afternoon, two Pepco officials are scheduled to meet with the Montgomery County Council. On Tuesday, they are scheduled to give an overview on services before the Prince George’s County Council. The hearing was scheduled for last week, though Pepco postponed it, saying they had to prepare for last week’s winter weather.
