Issue Position: Pepco

Issue Position

The delivery of power to our community--to our homes, our businesses, and more--is essential to our quality of life. Marc believes that ensuring reliable service from Pepco is a consumer protection issue. But the storms of the recent past demonstrate that Pepco must do better in making our delivery systems more resilient. The unreliability of swift recovery jeopardizes the well-being of our citizens and hampers our economic growth. If elected to serve, Marc will:

Champion reforms that lead to more reliability in the delivery of power by focusing on responsible and necessary tree-trimming, placing critical wires underground, and technological solutions that enable adaptation for rapid recovery.

Strengthen the role of the Public Service Commission (PSC). Pepco's performance must be judged during "blue sky," minor storm, and major storm conditions. Proposed rate increases must account for reliability during all types of conditions, but in particular there is little excuse for poor performance when the sun is shining and there is little wind. Incentives must be reoriented, and Marc will ensure that the PSC has the authority it needs.
Provide strict oversight of Pepco and the Public Service Commission to ensure that the dollars all residents pay for power are used responsibly and invested back into the grid. If the Public Service Commission needs more resources to do its job, Marc will fight for them. But the Public Service Commission must also return to its traditional role as a protector of the public interest and not private companies. Marc has worked with public interest advocates to strengthen the Public Service Commission and publicly opposed the appointment of a utility executive to regulate utilities.
Work with stakeholders to identify solutions for preventative, up-to-date maintenance of energy delivery. Solutions that encourage investment and protect consumers are imperative.
Empower Pepco customers by improving their ability to report outages and access more precise information about restoration using 21st Century technology. This will help consumers more quickly report problems and have more information about when they can expect their power to be restored. Accessibility and transparency are key to improving the delivery of power to our homes and businesses, and Pepco must be held accountable to providing these solutions.

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