Climate Docket Dispatch
The Public Service Commission regulates the District’s utilities – Pepco and Washington Gas – and has the power to make or break our climate commitments. Read on for CCAN’s Docket Dispatch to learn about the live “dockets” at the Commission and see if our regulators are keeping up with the task.
Docket 1179
Project Pipes / District (un)SAFE
Docket 1180
Washington Gas Rate Case
Docket 1167
Gas Planning
Docket 1182
Electric Planning
Docket 1179: Accelerated Pipeline Replacement – also known as Project Pipes or District (un)SAFE
Washington Gas’s ongoing accelerated pipeline replacement project is a massive, $12 billion dollar plan to replace every methane gas pipe in the city – whether it needs it or not. Rather than targeting dangerous and polluting methane leaks, the program focuses on replacement based on pipe material, an imperfect model in which fully functional pipes are replaced all the time – and gas customers foot the bill. In the past ten years, it’s led to no reduction in gas leaks in the District. Yet Washington Gas champions this program, as this method of wholesale pipe replacement is far more profitable to Washington Gas, and more expensive to customers, than modern technologies for repairing leaking pipes.
In docket 1179, the Public Service Commission is considering District (un)SAFE – Washington Gas’s latest $215 million proposal for the third phase of its accelerated pipeline replacement program. This proposal requests 43% more than any previous phase, which means if approved, gas bills – also known as “rates” – would increase for everyone who pays them.
May 2025 Update
Over the last month, CCAN and our many partners in the Stop Project Pipes coalition hosted the Washington Gas Exposed series! Thanks to the dozens of folks who showed up to learn the truth about methane gas and the company that pumps it through our city. Missed it? Don’t worry! You can check out the recordings of each of the three sessions on our YouTube page.
What’s Next?
It’s finally time to testify! Sign up with CCAN to let us know you want to testify at an evening community hearing on District (un)SAFE.
After months of back and forth in the PSC docket between intervenors, and nearly 700 public comments filed against the proposal, the Commission is finally asking to hear from YOU. At community hearings next month, folks can speak for themselves about how continuing this program will lock us into climate chaos, higher bills, and unhealthy homes. RSVP today to receive CCAN’s testimony guide, access to 1:1 drop in “office hours,” and information on how to sign up with the Commission.
District (un)SAFE community hearing information:
- 5:30 PM on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Marion Barry Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20020
- 5:30 PM on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 (Hybrid)*, D.C Public Service Commission Hearing Room, 1325 G Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005
While we testify, the Commission will also be reviewing material issues of fact submitted by intervenors next week. Then, the Commission will decide whether to hold evidentiary hearings to work out the facts about District (un)SAFE.
- In April 2025, the PSC denied a motion from the Sierra Club and DC government to reconsider their decision to extend Project Pipes 2.
- In March 2025, the PSC approved a $34 million dollar extension of the ongoing phase of Project Pipes until the end of 2025. Commissioner Beverly wrote a scathing dissent of this decision, including this powerful condemnation of District (un)SAFE: “District SAFE is not a new plan or a plan at all. It is essentially the continuation of Pipes 2, rebranded as District SAFE. All it does is present a request for more money to develop project lists in the future just as it would have done under Pipes 2, as though the Commission never said anything about the need for a new approach. Allowing this “plan” to move forward embraces the same failed pipe replacement strategy that the Commission disavowed in Order No. 22003. To me, this entire exercise has become a waste of time and money with no real benefit to the climate.” Read his full dissent here.
- In February 2025, eight DC Councilmembers signed on to a letter urging the PSC to reject Washington Gas’s accelerated pipeline replacement program once and for all.
- In November 2024, 22 organizations called on the PSC to reject District SAFE and end the accelerated pipeline replacement program for good.
- In November 2024, almost 700 DC residents filed comments with the Commission demanding they reject the new District SAFE proposal and instead invest in leak repair
- In October 2024, the PSC granted a 2 month, $8.5 million extension of Project Pipes Phase 2
- In September 2024, Washington Gas refiled for a new phase of Project Pipes, renamed District SAFE, to greenwash their pollution plan
- In June 2024, the PSC denied Washington Gas’s application for Project Pipes Phase 3
- In April 2024, the DC Attorney General urged the PSC to pause Project Pipes
- In February 2024, the PSC said Project Pipes is not “just and reasonable or otherwise in the public interest”
- In February 2024, 11 DC Councilmembers sent a letter to the PSC opposing Project Pipes Phase 3
- In February 2024, though the PSC ultimately approved a 1-year, $50 million extension to Phase 2 of Project Pipes, PSC Commissioner Richard Beverly wrote a strong dissent and cited local advocacy and opposition
- In December 2023, the PSC temporarily put Project Pipes on “pause” after 26 organizations called on the PSC to reject Project Pipes completely
Docket 1180: Washington Gas Rate Case
In August 2024, Washington Gas submitted an application to raise gas bills or “rates” by 12%, generating $33.9 million of additional revenue for the monopoly utility. The company also asks for an increased rate of return of 7.8% and a return on equity of 10.50%. This return on equity is far higher than the average forecast for returns on an investment – meaning Washington Gas is justifying higher prices for residents like you so they can pay their wealthy shareholders extra.
The rate case also includes a weather normalization adjustment, which would add surcharges or credits to customer’s bills from October through May to stabilize bills based on average weather – allowing Washington Gas to make extra money when winters are warmer than expected – rather than simply having customers pay for the gas they use. In docket 1180, the PSC is deciding whether or not to approve this application, or a modified version of it.
May 2025 Update
Dozens of DC residents showed up to community hearings on the rate case last month, with nearly 70 folks testifying to STOP RATE HIKES. Check out CCAN’s blog post to learn more about what D.C. residents had to say about Washington Gas raising our rates. We heard from the Commissioners directly that they had never seen so many D.C. residents showing up to make their voice heard, and that we were better informed than they expected. So we know they are feeling the heat!
And while we testified, work continued on the docket! Washington Gas filed their rejoinder testimony, essentially putting in their last word to respond to testimony so far. They even dedicated pages to responding to community testimony – a rarity that shows we’re getting under their skin.
Intervenors also put together their lists of material issues of fact in the rate case. Now, we wait to see how the Commission will handle these outstanding questions.
What’s next?
We have to wait and see! There will likely be hearings at the Commission over the summer in this docket, but it’s up to our Commissioners to decide what form these will take. Check back next month to get updated!
- In April 2025, nearly 70 D.C. residents testified at community hearings against the rate hike.
- In January 2025, four intervenors filed direct testimony on Washington Gas’s proposed rate hike, and all has significant objections to Washington Gas’s proposal.
- In August 2024, Washington Gas filed an application for a rate hike. This application comes just seven months after the company’s last rate hike went into effect.
Docket 1167: Gas Planning
Docket 1167 has long been the home of Washington Gas’s and Pepco’s “climate business plans,” long term “plans” that lay out unfulfilled suggestions for programs that could address the utilities’ climate impact. Historically, the Commission has failed to require them to be implemented, even partially, by the utilities.
In response to repeated demands from residents, intervenors, and even the DC Council, the PSC is expanding the scope of the “climate business plans” docket to help envision real climate solutions regarding the future of gas in DC. The PSC has requested stakeholder comments from interested organizations and experts on the feasibility of establishing a gas planning proceeding in the District.
May 2025 Update
In the past month, intervenors filed initial comments on the feasibility of gas planning. Comments from environmental groups including Sierra Club, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, GRID 2.0 & DC Climate Action emphasized the need for a thermal planning docket to finally get us on track to hit the District’s climate goals, as did the DC government in its comments to the docket. Even Washington Gas is playing nice for now, although it remains to be seen how the Commission responds and if the monopoly gas utility really intends to take planning seriously.
What’s next?
In mid June the utilities will file renewed 15-year climate plans in this docket. In the past, these “plans” have been more a collection of far flung ideas the Commission never moves forward with, rather than real strategies for addressing the climate crisis. But real planning will continue too! Intervenors have until June 26 to send in replies to Washington Gas’s comments on the feasibility of thermal planning, and June 27 to submit comments regarding utility GHG inventory and reporting requirements.
- In February 2025, the Commission extended the deadline for stakeholder comments on gas planning from February 10 to March 27. This also updates the reply comment deadline to May 12.
- In December 2024, the Public Service Commission requested gas planning comments from stakeholders and another round of climate business plans from the utilities while planning processes are considered. Commissioner Beverly dissented, arguing “it makes no sense” to force Washington Gas to complete a plan without the benefit cost analysis due later this year, and disagrees with delays on the development of this BCA.
Docket 1182: Electric Planning
Docket 1182 was opened in November 2024 to collect comments on integrated distribution system planning (IDSP), which focuses on optimizing and modernizing the electric system to meet demands. Given DC’s climate commitments, advocates and officials hope this docket will lead to the development of a framework for Pepco’s planning that factors in the District’s increasing need for electricity due to the transition off of methane gas.
May 2025 Update
Not much this month! Pepco was supposed to respond to comments filed about IDSP, but has asked for an extension.
What’s next?
We’ll report back once we hear from Pepco – which may not be until the July Dispatch. For now, watch FC 1167, because that docket has lots of deadlines coming up that could impact the Commission’s decision on IDSP.
- In March and April 2025, experts submitted initial comments and reply comments outlining recommendations for a process to conduct integrated distribution system planning.
- In December 2024, Commissioner Beverly published a letter with additional questions for stakeholders to answer, particularly about what data and information the Commission needs to collect from Pepco and how the process could ensure a transparent outcome.
- In November 2024, the PSC asked interested stakeholders to submit comments on IDSP, including responding to a strawman proposal.
Stay tuned for more! If you have questions or want to get involved, email claire@chesapeakeclimate.org.