To: Muriel Bowser, Mayor and Brinda Westbrook-Sedgwick, Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia
Tell the DC Public Service Commission: Reject the Backroom Bowser-Exelon Deal
I urge you to stand by your original decision, and reject the merger settlement deal struck between Exelon and Mayor Bowser.
The new deal does nothing to address the fundamental "conflict of interest" and core concerns that led the Commission to rightfully reject this merger in August. As the owner of a large fleet of aging and financially risky nuclear reactors, Exelon has a fundamental interest in raising our electricity rates and suppressing the growth of local, affordable, distributed clean energy.
The settlement deal will allow Exelon to hit DC residents with several years' worth of accumulated rate increases starting in March 2019. Exelon's so-called "concessions" on renewable energy could actually inhibit our development of distributed clean energy resources by preventing companies other than Exelon from developing them.
Ultimately, this merger would still bring huge new risks to ratepayers and offer virtually no benefits.
The new deal does nothing to address the fundamental "conflict of interest" and core concerns that led the Commission to rightfully reject this merger in August. As the owner of a large fleet of aging and financially risky nuclear reactors, Exelon has a fundamental interest in raising our electricity rates and suppressing the growth of local, affordable, distributed clean energy.
The settlement deal will allow Exelon to hit DC residents with several years' worth of accumulated rate increases starting in March 2019. Exelon's so-called "concessions" on renewable energy could actually inhibit our development of distributed clean energy resources by preventing companies other than Exelon from developing them.
Ultimately, this merger would still bring huge new risks to ratepayers and offer virtually no benefits.
Why is this important?
In August, regulators at the DC Public Service Commission unanimously rejected the proposed merger between Pepco and Chicago-based energy giant Exelon. The commissioners said the deal was an inherent conflict of interest and would harm the city’s commitment to clean, renewable energy. Thousands of DC residents voiced their opposition to the merger and over half of DC's ANCs passed resolutions opposing the merger.
But, despite this clear rejection by both regulators and the public, Mayor Muriel Bowser cut a backroom deal with Exelon. Now she’s trying to push this deeply flawed settlement, which addresses none of the core problems, through the PSC with an "expedited" process.
But, despite this clear rejection by both regulators and the public, Mayor Muriel Bowser cut a backroom deal with Exelon. Now she’s trying to push this deeply flawed settlement, which addresses none of the core problems, through the PSC with an "expedited" process.