Your Electricity Bill Will Rise This Summer. Guess Why?

A blog by Ayla Frost, CCAN’s DC Organizer

This summer, you may want to keep an eye on your electricity bills. As we know, climate change is making our summers hotter, and more households are cranking up the air conditioning. But that isn’t the main reason your bill is going up. Pepco’s latest rate hike – or bill increase – follows a pattern of rate hikes that it’s been forcing on customers for years. 

Why is Pepco raising rates?

Source: Brattle Economic Analysis of Clean Energy Tax Credits Report

This June, the rates we pay for electricity are rising due to a bias against clean energy by D.C.’s regional power grid operator, PJM. PJM (Pennsylvania – New Jersey – Maryland) serves as “air traffic control” for the electrical grid, coordinating the movement of electricity to meet demand. 

Utilities like Pepco get their electricity through PJM’s regional grid, and currently, the cost for that energy is skyrocketing. This is because fossil fuels are less reliable than solar and wind plants and more prone to fail during extreme weather. As PJM consistently prioritizes unreliable fossil fuels over clean energy, it has to tap into additional resources to keep the grid afloat when fossil fuels fail – creating additional cost that is, of course, passed on to consumers.

This means that Pepco customers can expect to pay up to 18% more on their Pepco bills starting this June. And that’s not all. This rate hike fits into a larger pattern of rate increases by Pepco and other utilities in the DC region. 

Just five months ago, in January, Pepco was responsible for another rate hike which increased electricity rates in DC for the third year in a row. Why so many hikes? Quite honestly, because they can. Pepco practically has a monopoly on our electricity in DC, and is regulated by DC’s Public Service Commission, which is responsible for protecting consumers, regulating monopolies, and conserving natural resources. Unfortunately, right now, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is failing to protect D.C. residents from higher bills. In fact, the PSC has already approved Pepco’s “Climate Ready Pathway DC Multi-Year Plan,” which means D.C. can expect more hikes in the coming years. 

DC residents are already struggling to pay for housing, groceries, health care, education, and so much more. This alarming pattern of rate hikes creates a serious crisis of energy affordability in DC.  Everyday people can’t keep footing the bill for energy monopolies’ corporate greed. The D.C. Council needs to step in to protect ratepayers from this energy affordability crisis. In the meantime, resources are available to help D.C. residents to cope with high utility bills. 

How can I lower my utility bills?

Apply for assistance! The D.C. government offers many services to help residents afford their utility bills. You also may qualify for utility discounts or credits. Starting in October, you may be able to save money through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is one of many programs currently targeted by the Trump administration, and its future remains uncertain. 

Electrify your appliances. You’ll save money on your bills if you upgrade your old appliances, including water heaters, clothes dryers, and gas stoves. DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) offers programs to help you afford the switch to energy-efficient electric appliances like heat pumps, smart thermostats, and induction stoves. If you’re eligible, swapping out your appliances might be completely free!

Increase your energy efficiency. If you qualify for the Weatherization Assistance Program, you can receive an energy audit and free upgrades to increase the efficiency of your home. These won’t make your home electric, but they can help save you money, and weatherization will also help the environment. 

Get solar panels. DCSEU offers Community Solar and Solar for All programs to install solar panels on your roof for free, if you qualify! DC also offers Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) for solar energy generation. These can be traded or sold, in effect earning you dividends for providing green energy. 

But these programs rely on funding from our city’s budget, and every year advocates have to defend D.C. residents’ right to affordable energy that doesn’t pollute our planet. Check out our handy guide to home electrification and weatherization and discover how you can make your home cleaner, healthier, and more energy efficient here. 

How can I stand up for my DC neighbors?

We need you with us – get involved! Join a local organization to help solve this affordability crisis caused by corporate greed and lack of utility regulation. Take the Climate Action Survey to join our team of volunteers pushing back on Washington Gas’s plans to lock DC into fossil fuels – all while profiting as much as possible. Fired up about holding Pepco accountable? Join We Power DC to advocate for publicly owned utilities in DC. 

About the author: Ayla Frost (she/her) joined CCAN in January 2024 as DC Intern, and has worked as a full-time DC Organizer since September 2024. Ayla grew up in Oakland, California, but her childhood was marked by frequent trips to family in Baltimore, Maryland.

Over time, she developed a deep fondness for both of the bays in her life – the San Francisco Bay and the Chesapeake Bay – and became determined to do what she could to protect the natural world. As she learned more about the climate sphere, her real passion in the climate world was listening, connecting with, and uplifting the voices of people. 

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D.C Residents Speak Out: Public Testimonies Challenge Washington Gas’s Excessive Bills

Crowds have stepped up at multiple hearings to protest the utility monopoly’s high bills and health risks, and call for PSC to reject proposed rate hikes. 

“A system that leaks methane throughout is not clean, nor is it affordable.”

— D.C resident Deirdre Joy during Public Testimony on April 21, 2025. Tweet

These words, spoken by D.C. resident Deirdre Joy at a recent Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing, capture the frustration and urgency felt by many in our community. Washington Gas’s proposed 12% rate hike has sparked widespread opposition, as residents grapple with soaring utility bills and the environmental damage caused by outdated fossil fuel infrastructure. 

On April 10, nearly 40 people packed a small meeting room at the Benning Neighborhood Library in Ward 7. With a hot mic and the attention of the D.C. utility regulators – the Public Service Commissioners – every person who testified spoke against Washington Gas’s latest proposed rate hike. And again, less than two weeks later, on April 21, another 40 gathered in the basement of the Petworth Neighborhood Library. Over a dozen residents testified, and again, every single resident asked the Commission to reject the rate hike. 

“I think in my two and a half years at the commission, this is the largest gathering I've seen of public witnesses coming to testify on any of our cases.” 

— Public Service Commissioner Ted Trabue at the April 21 community hearing

“As a customer to Washington Gas, I expect, and I thought your requirement was, to provide natural gas to my house under 24-hour monitoring and constantly upgrading your bill. And that should be part of the contract of a utility company. I have not gotten a letter saying that y'all no longer do that, that y'all have taken the money that is supposed to be with the monitoring and the upgrading. And I don't know what you've done with it. Have you given it to yourselves? Because you haven't given me any money back. And so to ask me now to give you more money for something I have been paying you for all along to keep your infrastructure safe, and now I feel like I'm being blackmailed to give you this increase or I'm going to die.”

— Public testimony from Gail Sullivan, April 10, 2025

From residents complaining about $200 gas bills even before a rate increase to testimony given by the “Monopoly Man from Washington Gas,” the message from D.C. residents is clear: we’re fed up with high bills for fossil fuels. 

“The company should be focusing on fixing leaks and remedying the most hazardous issues and not embarking on a huge expansion of the entire infrastructure, particularly at a time when we should be less reliant on fossil fuels.”

— Public testimony from Marka Peterson, April 10, 2025 Tweet

“When I think about 24 percent increase [in utility bills] in two years…many working people would dream of having that kind of increase in their salaries. And…everything is heading the other way. So it's not consistent with the way the  world is right now to allow wealthy companies to raise their rates so high when…the community they're serving is losing its ability to pay. And… it's putting people in jeopardy by not only affecting their health but also making it harder for them to live without having adequate funds to take care of themselves.”

—  Public testimony from Peter Weiss, April 21, 2025

“A system that leaks methane throughout is not clean, nor is it affordable. Washington Gas's last rate hike, as others have mentioned, went into effect in January 2024, barely a year ago. PEPCO has already been approved for a 12 percent rate hike over the next two years. Another 12 percent on gas bills is unacceptable. Higher rates now make no sense to me as a consumer. For one thing, it means I'm investing more in a system that is harming the planet when alternatives exist.”

— Public Testimony from Deirdre Joy, April 21, 2025

Sitting in the crowd at both hearings, I was struck not just by how many folks had chosen to spend a beautiful spring evening at a community hearing, but also by the sense of solidarity in the room. From a sing-along testimony to a chorus of applause after each speaker, every speaker had the room behind them – literally and figuratively. 

Want to be a part of this grassroots movement against even higher bills for fossil fuels? Come to the PSC’s last community hearing on April 29, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the PSC Hearing Room, 1325 G Street, NW, Suite 800. 

Full transcripts of the April 10 and April 21 hearings are available online, and more information on D.C.’s skyrocketing utility burden is available on our blog.

Meet Meredith Prescott: CCAN’s New Invasive Vines Organizer

Hello! My name is Meredith (she/her) and I am thrilled to be joining the CCAN community as the Invasive Vines Program Manager.

My relationship with nature began in the wild forests and rocky coastlines of rural Maine, where I spent my childhood exploring. I moved to DC in 2015 to study Public Health at George Washington University, where I also had my first taste of service learning in local parks.

Studying public health while doing volunteer work in urban green spaces helped me see the fundamental connection between the two. I quickly learned that in DC, both parks and public health tell a story of inequality. It shocked me to learn that we can predict expected health outcomes in DC simply on geography alone. Which side of the Anacostia River you live on may literally add a decade or more to your life expectancy. And in these same areas where residents have worse health outcomes, we also see underfunded and underutilized public parks.

After graduating from GW, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. With the Student Conservation Association, I brought groups of high school students to complete conservation projects both in Rock Creek Park in NW DC and National Capital Parks-East (NACE) in SE DC. Both parks are rich in biodiversity and provide much needed sanctity from the city with their trails, picnic areas, and recreation spaces. However, the difference in management and upkeep of these two green spaces could not be more stark. In Rock Creek, you will see residents enjoying miles of well-maintained hiker/biker trails and pristinely mowed picnic areas. Meanwhile, NACE parks in SE DC often feel like a jungle of neglect, with trails made impassable by erosion and overgrowth, trash littering the ground, and entire swaths of forest overtaken by invasive species. This makes sense when you consider that Rock Creek Park receives over five times the funding per acre. (Additionally, the National Mall receives 80 times more funding for its 146 acres than NACE parks does for its 8,000 acres).

Despite the challenges and frustrations, my work in these parks has been incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about maintaining green spaces; it’s about empowering people. For many of our young people, hands-on service to the land is a much needed way to take action in what sometimes feels like a powerless fight against the climate crisis. It inspires me to see young people who may engage in this work primarily to fulfill a volunteer requirement and emerge with a sense of community, passion, and gratitude for the ability to spend time outdoors.

In my time working in DC parks, I have built trails, planted trees, installed countless erosion control structures, and even constructed a boardwalk or two. However, there has been no project that is both rewarding and low-maintenance like invasive species removal. It’s a tangible, hands-on way to make a noticeable difference in a short time and a great way to build community around outdoor work. We may not be able to fix the systemic issues that have gotten us to this point in the climate crisis, but we can all go outside and tackle those invasive vines one by one. And in the face of massive biodiversity loss at a global level, it is more necessary than ever.

I am thrilled to kick off this new chapter with CCAN, reigniting this volunteer program and working towards making every green space accessible and thriving. Every vine pulled is a step towards a greener, more equitable world. Let’s get to work!

Click HERE to learn more about CCAN’s efforts to save trees from invasive vines. If you’re interested in getting involved, email meredith@chesapeakeclimate.org

 

Funding for this project is provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with Casey Trees. 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

CCAN Calls for Immediate Halt to Plan to Cut 1,200 Trees in Rock Creek Park

Mature trees are a vital part of regional ecosystem and climate resilience. CCAN joins other groups urging NPS to save the trees.


WASHINGTON, DC — Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and other environmental activist groups are speaking out against the proposal to remove over 1,200 trees from Rock Creek Park as part of a new plan to rehabilitate Rock Creek Golf Course. The environmental assessment, from the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) and National Links Trust (NLT), calls for the removal of 1,200-plus trees – amounting to the loss of approximately 8 acres in tree canopy – “to restore the course to its former glory.”

Mike Tidwell, executive director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated: 

“Rock Creek Park is a national treasure and an integral part of Washington, D.C.’s history, as well as a vital resource in our regional fight against climate change. If we want to preserve historic integrity and natural ecosystems, we should do everything we can to protect this park. There must be a way to fix the golf course’s problems without slashing eight acres of century-old trees.” 

Trees are one of our most potent resources  for combating climate change. Many of the trees in Rock Creek Park, sometimes called the “Lungs of DC,” are over 100 years old, each sequestering dozens of pounds of carbon each year. They also provide countless other benefits to people and wildlife, including helping to filter air and water, controlling stormwater, conserving energy, and providing wildlife habitat. 

The proposed NPS plan will eliminate swathes of forest cover, including significant portions of the densest forest patches in the site. Endangered Species like the Long Eared and Indiana Bats – whose populations have already been significantly harmed by the fungal white-nose syndrome – currently use these forests to roost and forage. Additionally, the Hay’s Spring Amphipod, which is only found in Rock Creek Park, shares habitat with the golf course and relies on forest cover for stormwater treatment. These species and others will lose valuable habitat they need to survive.

In 1927, when the proposed golf course design was conceived, the world had limited understanding of climate change and its devastating effects. Today, at a time when the District of Columbia has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, sacrificing a significant part of this treasured park area in order to spruce up an outdated golf course design is anachronistic and environmentally unsustainable. 

CCAN encourages citizens to act now and tell NPS to halt its plans to cut down over 1,200 trees in Rock Creek Park. National Park Service is accepting comments on this proposal until November 4, 2023 at 11:59 PM mountain time.

In addition to CCAN, other environmental groups are speaking out by calling for an extension to the comment period, including: Casey Trees, DC Environmental Network, DC Voters for Animals, Mighty Earth, Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative, People’s Alliance for Rock Creek (PARC), Ward 8 Woods Conservancy, City Wildlife, Capitol Hill Energy Co-Op, Sierra Club DC Chapter, Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats, Sticky Fingers Diner, Capital Nature, Green Compass, LLC, Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA), Citizens’ Climate Lobby DC Chapter, Nature Forward (formerly known as Audubon Naturalist Society), Langdon Park Forest Stewards, Anacostia Riverkeeper, and Anacostia Watershed Society.

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The Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with climate change  in the Chesapeake Bay region. For 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

All your questions about going electric in DC — answered! 

DC residents can lower their utility bills and make their homes safer and cleaner! 

The Inflation Reduction Act act provides money to states to pay for home electrification. Starting as soon as fall 2023, DC will be using this money to pay for complete home electrification for low income homeowners, provide some assistance to those with higher incomes, and to provide renters with rebates for electric appliances. Beyond this, DC has additional funding available through “Solar For All” and the “Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program” (LIHEAP). 

The most important thing you can do right now is sign up with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network to be contacted about free home electrification programs as soon as they become available. 

Have questions about how you can go electric in DC for less? We have the answers! While some solutions listed below are income-dependent, others are for all income levels, so read on to see what works for you. 

Q: I already have trouble affording my electric and gas bills. How can I start saving money right now? 

A: Once you apply for LIHEAP (Low income home energy assistance program) it will opt you in to Solar for All community solar, which acts as a discount on your electric bill. You can also apply for the Weatherization Assistance Program and/or the Emergency Mechanical Assistance Program. These won’t make your home electric, but they can help save you money. Weatherization will also help the environment. 

Q: Are there any other programs you would recommend to improve my home? 

A: The DC Partnership for Healthy Homes can help you fix in-home health hazards if you income qualify. Check their web page for the specific problems they can help with.

Eligible households include:

  • Children with severe and poorly controlled asthma;
  • Children less than 6 years old with a blood lead level of concern; and
  • District residents with a child less than 6 or a pregnant household member, whose home contains health and safety threats.

Q: How can I sign up to save money using solar energy? 

A: The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU)’s Community Solar or Solar for All programs may be able to reduce your utility bills and help the environment at no cost to you. Fill out their form and their expert customer service staff will contact you. [something about community solar for renters?

If qualified, you will be able to upgrade your natural gas HVAC system to energy-efficient equipment that will save you energy and money, including a smart thermostat, electric heat pump, and electric heat pump water heater, where applicable. All who qualify must be District homeowners or renters living in single-family homes with 4 units or less, meet the same income limits above for the Solar for All Program, and your home must have an existing natural gas heating or water heating system.

I don’t qualify for Solar for All. Can I still get solar panels? 

Of course. Find a list of contractors at the bottom of this page.  

DC offers Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) for solar energy generation. These can be traded or sold, in effect earning you dividends for providing green energy. Because of this, private companies may offer to install solar panels for free (and take the SRECs) or,if you purchase the panels yourself, you will likely get a monthly SREC payment. Please consult this guide for more detailed information. 

Remember, companies get paid by the panel, and may try to see you panels that are not situated to optimally generate electricity.  A reputable company will recommend the panels that can make electricity effectively, not just cover any available space with panels. 

Q: I want to electrify my home as soon as possible! What can I do using my own money? 

A: There are three first steps you can choose from: 

  • Use the energy star website to find a home energy audit contractor. The contractor will assess your home energy usage and can recommend next electrification steps.
  • Have an electrician come to your house and install plugs that can handle an electric stove, water heater, dryer, and most importantly, heat pump. That way, when your appliances break, you can quickly install electric ones.
  • If your appliances are not likely to break soon, finance a purchase of solar panels, and use the money you save to pay for home electrification. 
What are some useful guides to the entire home electrification process?