DC Elected and Community Leaders Call on Mayor Bowser to Oppose Exelon-PEPCO
Neighborhood groups join DC Council to urge merger’s rejection
WASHINGTON, DC – Today citywide and neighborhood elected officials from across the District of Columbia urged DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to join them in opposition to the proposed takeover of PEPCO by Chicago-based Exelon, calling the deal “against the will and best interests of the District”.
“This is a bad deal for the District and its citizens,” said Mary Cheh, DC Councilmember from Ward 3, joining a group of elected officials and community leaders from across the District on the steps of the Wilson Building. “Local leaders clearly see through the false claims of Exelon that this takeover of Pepco would benefit the community. The proposed merger will only benefit Pepco shareholders and executives, and the Exelon Corporation. And it will come at the expense of our residents and small businesses. That is why we stand united in calling for its rejection.”
DC Council members and local leaders appeared together for the first time to call on Mayor Bowser to take a position against the deal, and for DC government officials not to settle with PEPCO and Exelon, before the DC Public Service Commission renders its decision this summer.
“This merger represents a crucial turning point for our city,” said Charles Allen, DC Councilmember from Ward 6. “I’m concerned about how this merger would affect rates, service reliability, and our commitment to a cleaner, greener energy future. My constituents have spoken up loud and clear against this merger – it’s a bad deal for DC.”
"As a leader in the city, I could not in good conscience allow this merger to go through without expressing my serious concerns with the deal," said David Grosso at-large DC Councilmember. "Here in the District of Columbia, we've made great strides to encourage and promote programs and initiatives that spur the use of renewable energy sources. Contrary to that effort, Exelon has a history of opposing the use of renewable energies and we cannot allow them to come in to D.C. and contribute to the unraveling of our progress."
The Council members were joined by leaders of the District’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, which advise DC government on the interests of DC’s citizens, as well as community organizations from across the District. More than half of the District’s ANCs have passed resolutions opposing or challenging the merger, while none have publicly endorsed it.
“There is a reason why none of the District’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions has endorsed the proposed Exelon-PEPCO deal,” said Judi Jones of Ward 4’s ANC 4B. “It’s because DC residents don’t want higher rates, we don’t want to lose our access to clean and efficient energy, and we don’t want Exelon-PEPCO. Every ANC in Ward 4 has said no to Exelon-PEPCO, and we want Mayor Bowser to hear us and stand up for her constituents by opposing this bad deal for the District.”
“It would be tragic if our Mayor, our DC government and our Public Service Commission ignore the voice of the people and let this merger go forward,” said Sherice Muhammad of Ward 7’s ANC 7D. “Voters across the District are watching this deal closely, and we will hold our representatives accountable when Exelon raises our rates and stands in the way of clean energy as they have done in so many other communities. Mayor Bowser, it is finally time. You need to side with the people of the District of Columbia and oppose this merger before it is too late.”
The formal public comment period in DC ends on May 27. Maryland is expected to make its final decision on Friday, May 15.
For more information, visit PowerDC.org.
“This is a bad deal for the District and its citizens,” said Mary Cheh, DC Councilmember from Ward 3, joining a group of elected officials and community leaders from across the District on the steps of the Wilson Building. “Local leaders clearly see through the false claims of Exelon that this takeover of Pepco would benefit the community. The proposed merger will only benefit Pepco shareholders and executives, and the Exelon Corporation. And it will come at the expense of our residents and small businesses. That is why we stand united in calling for its rejection.”
DC Council members and local leaders appeared together for the first time to call on Mayor Bowser to take a position against the deal, and for DC government officials not to settle with PEPCO and Exelon, before the DC Public Service Commission renders its decision this summer.
“This merger represents a crucial turning point for our city,” said Charles Allen, DC Councilmember from Ward 6. “I’m concerned about how this merger would affect rates, service reliability, and our commitment to a cleaner, greener energy future. My constituents have spoken up loud and clear against this merger – it’s a bad deal for DC.”
"As a leader in the city, I could not in good conscience allow this merger to go through without expressing my serious concerns with the deal," said David Grosso at-large DC Councilmember. "Here in the District of Columbia, we've made great strides to encourage and promote programs and initiatives that spur the use of renewable energy sources. Contrary to that effort, Exelon has a history of opposing the use of renewable energies and we cannot allow them to come in to D.C. and contribute to the unraveling of our progress."
The Council members were joined by leaders of the District’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, which advise DC government on the interests of DC’s citizens, as well as community organizations from across the District. More than half of the District’s ANCs have passed resolutions opposing or challenging the merger, while none have publicly endorsed it.
“There is a reason why none of the District’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions has endorsed the proposed Exelon-PEPCO deal,” said Judi Jones of Ward 4’s ANC 4B. “It’s because DC residents don’t want higher rates, we don’t want to lose our access to clean and efficient energy, and we don’t want Exelon-PEPCO. Every ANC in Ward 4 has said no to Exelon-PEPCO, and we want Mayor Bowser to hear us and stand up for her constituents by opposing this bad deal for the District.”
“It would be tragic if our Mayor, our DC government and our Public Service Commission ignore the voice of the people and let this merger go forward,” said Sherice Muhammad of Ward 7’s ANC 7D. “Voters across the District are watching this deal closely, and we will hold our representatives accountable when Exelon raises our rates and stands in the way of clean energy as they have done in so many other communities. Mayor Bowser, it is finally time. You need to side with the people of the District of Columbia and oppose this merger before it is too late.”
The formal public comment period in DC ends on May 27. Maryland is expected to make its final decision on Friday, May 15.
For more information, visit PowerDC.org.
