Declaration

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.

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.

Exelon blocked renewable energy programs and is holding the state to ransom for a $580 million per year subsidy to prop up its nuclear plants. Becoming the largest utility in the country and monopoly control over the regional energy market is great business for Exelon, but it only means rising utility bills, less local control, and less energy choices for DC ratepayers."
- Tim Judson, Executive Director, Nuclear Information & Resource Service (NIRS)

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."
- Maria Langholz, DC Program, Interfaith Power & Light

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."
- Anya Schoolman, President, DC Solar United Neighborhoods

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Add your voice

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.”
- Ronnie Edwards, ANC member, Ward 5A

The acquisition of Pepco by Exelon threatens to saddle households with all the risk and none of the rewards.”
- Tyson Slocum, Director, Energy Program, Public Citizen

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."
- Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch

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."
- Mike Tidwell, Executive Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network

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."
- Ed Lazere, Executive Director, DC Fiscal Policy Institute

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."
-Phil Ortiz, DC Divest

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