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D.C. Mayor Bowser Comes Full Circle on Proposed Exelon-Pepco Takeover – Will No Longer Support Latest Deal

March 1, 2016

D.C. Mayor Bowser Comes Full Circle on Proposed Exelon-Pepco Takeover – Will No Longer Support Latest Deal

Statement of Allison Fisher, Outreach Director, Public Citizen’s Energy Program

Note: Today, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she can no longer support the settlement deal that would have halted environmental progress for the District and raised utility rates. Earlier today, the Office of the People’s Counsel issued a press release opposing the same settlement deal. Public Citizen has been actively involved in both alerting and mobilizing D.C. residents against the proposed merger. Public Citizen members who live in the District of Columbia emailed, phoned and testified before the commission opposing the merger.

We are pleased that Mayor Bowser has publicly rejected the latest Exelon-Pepco takeover deal. This version, like the original, is fundamentally flawed. After a little more than a year, it is still clear that no amount of fiscal sweeteners, backroom deals or pro-Exelon television ads could distract from the obvious threats to consumer finances and the environment. The next step for the mayor’s office is to reject any further consideration of a merger with Exelon, whose business model – increase profits and offset heavy losses in its unregulated nuclear plants – is in conflict with the best interests of Pepco customers and is misaligned with the District’s clean energy goals. It’s past time to put a stake in the heart of this proposal.

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