MEDIA ALERT: Experts Available Friday to React to Exelon-Pepco Merger Decision
Feb. 25, 2016
MEDIA ALERT: Experts Available Friday to React to Exelon-Pepco Merger Decision
On Friday, District of Columbia residents will learn whether city regulators will cave to power and influence, or protect residents.
At the D.C. Public Service Commission’s (PSC) meeting, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., the commission will announce whether it has approved Exelon’s request to take over Pepco.
Public Citizen has been actively involved in the case, representing consumer interests. Many Public Citizen members who live in the District emailed, phoned and testified before the commission to oppose the merger. In addition, the organization was a party to the merger case before the Maryland Public Service Commission.
And in January, Public Citizen asked the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability to conduct a review of Exelon’s lobby activities during the most critical period of the Exelon-Pepco merger battle – from July, just months before the PSC rejected the corporation’s proposed takeover of Pepco, through the end of December. This includes the period during which Exelon and the administration of Mayor Muriel Bowser negotiated and announced a settlement that paved the way for the merger.
Exelon’s business model and practices are at odds with Pepco’s ability to serve D.C.’s consumers. That model – which seeks to balance losses experienced in its wholesale power plant division with Pepco’s guaranteed revenue – is in conflict with the best interests of Pepco customers and is misaligned with the District’s clean energy goals, Public Citizen maintains.
Available for comment are:
- David Arkush, managing director of Public Citizen’s Climate Program, darkush@citizen.org, (202) 454-5132, c. (202) 550-0107;
- Tyson Slocum, director, Public Citizen’s Energy Program, tslocum@citizen.org, (202) 454-5191, c. (202) 256-3152; and
- Allison Fisher, outreach director, Public Citizen’s Energy Program, afisher@citizen.org, (202) 454-5176, c. (704) 604-3750.
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