THE EXELON-PEPCO MERGER IS A BAD DEAL FOR D.C.
The proposed Pepco-Exelon merger threatens DC residents and local businesses with higher energy bills and lower reliability. The merger reverses the District’s progress on local renewable energy and energy efficiency, and it moves decision making for the District’s grid from here in DC to a powerful corporation’s headquarters in Chicago. Exelon’s corporate interests are not aligned with the policy objectives of the District of Columbia, and Exelon’s acquisition of Pepco is not in the public interest.
Instead of brokering a losing deal with a utility already in decline, city officials should work with our local utility and local innovators to build a system that delivers clean, efficient, reliable, local energy to keep our bills low, enhance security and increase local economic resilience. We urge the District Government to show leadership: reject the Exelon merger and foster an electricity system that is good for DC residents.
Instead of brokering a losing deal with a utility already in decline, city officials should work with our local utility and local innovators to build a system that delivers clean, efficient, reliable, local energy to keep our bills low, enhance security and increase local economic resilience. We urge the District Government to show leadership: reject the Exelon merger and foster an electricity system that is good for DC residents.
Signed,
Brookland Solar Co-op Center for Biological Diversity Chesapeake Climate Action Network DC Chapter of Sierra Club DC Climate Action DC Consumer Utility Board (DC CUB) DC Divest DC Environmental Network (DCEN) DC Fiscal Policy Institute DC For Democracy DC Jobs with Justice DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN) DC Statehood Green Party DC Tenants' Advocacy Coalition (TENAC) DC Working Families Empower DC Energy Justice Network Friends of the Earth Food and Water Watch Green Neighbors DC Grid 2.0 Working Group Interfaith Power and Light Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC) Moms Clean Air Force Nuclear Information & Resource Service (NIRS) Potomac Grange #1 Public Citizen The Washington Peace Center DC deserves a better utility than PEPCO, but Exelon will actually be worse. Exelon is desperate to get ahold of PEPCO's customer base to save its failing nuclear business. We only need to look across to what Exelon is doing in Illinois to see what the future with Exelon will be like. Our religious communities work hard every single day to make the clean energy future a reality--by buying wind energy, putting solar on their roofs, and speaking out for strong clean energy laws. We envision an energy market that defines DC as a leader in advancing clean energy and setting the stage for a stable, healthy climate. Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA) opposes the Exelon-Pepco merger, for it's clear that Exelon will move us in the wrong direction on renewables and efficiency." This deal is bad for local citizens. It would lead to higher prices and a lower quality of service. Worse, it would restrict our ability to generate more power locally using solar and wind technologies." |
Do you agree?
The proposed merger is a bad deal for DC residents who want reliable energy at a reasonable rate. Many families are exploring clean energy sources like solar which is becoming more cost competitive and accessible in D.C. If Exelon moves into the District it will put an end to the progress we have made to give D.C . residents choice over their energy sources.” The acquisition of Pepco by Exelon threatens to saddle households with all the risk and none of the rewards.” If approved, this merger will only serve to increase Exelon's already significant buying power in Congress. Given Exelon’s current reliance on polluting technologies, it is likely to use its considerable influence to continue advocating for the use of fossil fuels and nuclear power, rather than moving the nation down the path to a renewable future." We are unequivocally opposed to this merger as proposed. Not only would it give Exelon a near-monopoly over the region's utility market, but also it would severely restrict D.C.'s ability to transition to the clean, affordable, and reliable electricity grid we need." The decision over which company will have the right to provide electricity to the Washington region affects all of us, and the District's leaders should do all they can to ensure that utility provider have the interests of our community and residents at heart. That means energy provided in an environmentally friendly way that is reliable and as low-costs as possible. The DC Fiscal Policy Institute opposes the Exelon-Pepco merger because we fear that it will lead to higher rates that hurt all of us, but especially the area's lowest income residents." Exelon's track record of opposing renewable energy programs and underperforming on energy efficiency are part of the problem, contributing to the ongoing addiction to dirty fossil fuels. Handing Exelon a near-monopoly in the region means giving more power to a staunch opponent of policies for solar and wind power. The merger is bad for DC residents and bad for the planet." |