Councilmember Hans Riemer on Pepco

Dear Friend:

Recently, I wrote to you about the large profits Pepco was earning as its outage performance was declining. With million of dollars per year in after-tax profit, Pepco does not need a rate increase to pay for system improvements.

Many of you asked: “What can be done to improve Pepco?” Pepco is regulated by the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) and Pepco’s status as a private company and its regulation by an appointed commission establish one central fact: no single elected official on the state or county level has the power to control its operations. But if we all work together, we can make a difference.

Here’s what you can do.

1. Contact the Maryland Public Service Commission
The PSC will be considering a set of rule changes to strengthen the company’s accountability and a rate hike requested by Pepco to cover the cost of its improvement program. Since the PSC is Pepco’s direct regulator, please call them at 1-800-492-0474 today to let them know what you think.

2. Contact the Governor and your State Legislators
Pepco is subject to state law. Governor O’Malley and Delegate Brian Feldman are working on legislation to impose reliability standards on Pepco and fine the company for non-compliance. It is vitally important that this legislation pass with real teeth. Please contact your state legislators and ask them to co-sponsor and vote for the bill. To get contact info for your legislator, go to www.mdelect.net.

3. Sign our Petition
Sign our petition stating that Pepco’s reliability and service are intolerable, urging the establishment of standards and fines, advocating that the company not receive any rates increases until it improves service and asking that executive pay be tied to power reliability.

4. Spread the Word!
Pepco will not change its ways easily. We will need a LOT of signatures on this petition to show the company, the PSC and the state government that we are serious about demanding improvement. So please forward our petition to your friends, neighbors, Facebook and Twitter followers, listservs and any other contact media to which you have access.

No one person, including me, can tame Pepco alone. But we can work together to get the power service we all deserve.

Join us.

Hans Riemer

Montgomery County Councilmember