Dozens of D.C. residents railed against rising utility bills on Saturday, with one group calling for emergency legislation to prohibit winter power shutoffs.
More than 75 public witnesses — including representatives from Pepco, Washington Gas, and Verizon –signed up to speak at a hearing at the John A. Wilson building.
“The fundamental question is: Are District of Columbia residents getting their hard earned money’s worth from the utilities?” wrote Herbert Harris, Jr., chairman of the D.C. Consumer Utility Board, in sworn testimony. “The answer in our opinion is emphatically NO!!”
A small group of people marched outside the Wilson building prior to the public oversight roundtable, chanting, “Shut off Pepco, not our lights — heat and light are our rights!”
Crystal Kim, executive director of Justice First, a D.C.-based consumer advocacy group, called for emergency legislation that would put a moratorium on winter shut-offs.
She told the story of a disabled southeast resident who lived alone, was on a fixed income, and was a diabetic who needed to keep his insulin refrigerated. When Pepco threatened to shut off his power, the company suggested that the best thing for him to do was buy an icebox for his insulin, Kim said.
D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), though, pointed out that there are funds available, as well as programs through Pepco, for people who can’t afford to pay their bills.
“I don’t believe at the moment that we’re leaving people who can’t afford to pay without heat [and] light,” she said.
D.C. laws give the company the right to shut off power for customers who don’t pay, provided that temperatures are above 32 degrees on the day of disconnection.
“Shutting anyone off is the last thing we ever want to do,” said Pepco spokesman Bob Dobkin.
Due to the December snow storm and the holiday season, billing periods have increased for a small percentage of Pepco’s customers, said Thomas Graham, Pepco region president, and customers are asked to contact the company to work out a payment plan if they can’t afford to pay their bills.
