Re: [ChevyChase] Final Exelon/Pepco Hearing - Jan. 20 - PSC Misrepresenting Testimony Against Merger
Andrea Rosen
From: Power DC, power...@gmail.com
PSC Misrepresenting Public Testimony Against Pepco-Exelon Merger, Say Merger Opponents
DC Residents, Business Leaders Opposed Again Outnumber Merger Supporters at PSC Hearing
Final Hearing Scheduled for January 20
WASHINGTON, DC – District of Columbia residents and business leaders turned out last night, in spite of the L’Enfant Metro station fire, to again express strong opposition to the proposed Pepco-Exelon merger and call the DC Public Service Commission’s (PSC) attention to several errors in the proceeding to date.
Those errors, including the PSC mischaracterizing two dozen witnesses' testimonies from the first two public hearings, have led Power DC to call on the PSC to correct the process moving forward in order to ensure a fair and accurate representation of the public’s position on the proposed merger.
The third public hearing on the proposed merger, held at the Southwest Library in Ward 6, saw witnesses opposing the merger again outnumbering supporting witnesses (fifteen against versus ten in favor, by Power DC’s count), and supporting witnesses again mostly representing groups that receive charitable donations from Pepco.
Nina Dodge of DC Climate Action noted that an analysis of the PSC’s docketing of written testimony on the proposed merger contains two dozen mislabelings of filings opposing or expressing fundamental doubts about the merger.
“DC Climate Action has worked closely and productively with the Public Service Commission and its staff for years, which is why I am distressed to have found a large misrepresentation by the Commission of public testimony and letters docketed between December 17, 2014, and January 9, 2105,” said Dodge. “There are 24 mistaken descriptions and all but one of them misrepresents citizens or organizations opposing the merger, including Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. The Commission's docketing does not do justice to the public who have taken the trouble to register their opinions, and is misleading to anyone looking to the summary descriptions for a guide to public reaction to the merger.”
Sherrill Berger of the Grid 2.0 Working Group was among those whose testimony opposing the merger was mislabeled as supportive. “I was surprised to see that my clear statements against the Pepco-Exelon merger on December 17 had been recorded as supporting the proposed merger, and I was shocked that almost two dozen other opponents were also misrepresented,” said Berger. “When I notified the PSC in writing of their mistake, I was told to re-submit my testimony. It should not be witnesses’ responsibility to ensure the record is correct. The people of the District do not support this merger, and we ask that the PSC reflect our opinions accurately.”
Several DC residents also testified on the proposed merger’s likely economic harm to the District and Pepco in favor of Exelon’s investors and market position.
“This is a Wall Street-driven takeover designed to create a payoff for Exelon’s managers,” said Patrick Bahn, a resident of Northeast DC. “Electricity demand is falling, making business models like Exelon’s that rely on selling more electricity dangerously outdated. Pepco needs to figure out how to adapt to the new market reality, not saddle itself with billions of dollars in debt and depreciating nuclear assets. Being forced to meet the demands of Wall Street will crush any opportunity for that, and in ten years will leave a husk of a company, gutted assets, destroyed workforces and a PSC left to pick up the pieces.”
Ward 6 resident and business owner Jim Schulman opposed the merger on behalf of the Chesapeake Sustainable Business Council, citing the merger’s moving of decision-making power outside of DC. “We are greatly concerned with the potential move of management of our region’s long-standing electrical utility outside of the Mid-Atlantic,” Schulman said. “This is not just a matter of a change of address. It represents a potential shift of decision-making power, employment and investment to people and shareholders that have no direct relationship with the Mid-Atlantic or its people. This should be of utmost concern to the PSC.”
The final PSC hearing on the proposed merger is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20.ABOUT POWER DC: Power DC is a coalition of DC citizens, business leaders and community advocates opposed to the purchase of Pepco by Exelon. Its members represent electricity customers from across the District of Columbia concerned about electricity prices, reliability, renewable and efficient energy and local control over our energy supply. More information is available at www.PowerDC.org and https://twitter.com/PowerDCnow
Posted by Linda Schmitt
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