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Utility Regulation in the District of Columbia

Utility Regulation in the District of Columbia. October 4, 2011. District of Columbia Public Service Commission. Created by Congress in 1913 to regulate natural gas, electric, local telephone, common carriers Independent Home Rule Charter agency

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Utility Regulation in the District of Columbia

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  1. Utility Regulation in the District of Columbia October 4, 2011

  2. District of Columbia Public Service Commission Created by Congress in 1913 to regulate natural gas, electric, local telephone, common carriers Independent Home Rule Charter agency Two Commissioners and Chairman appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the D.C. Council Staggered four-year terms

  3. DC PSC Commissioners Betty Ann Kane Richard E. Morgan Lori Murphy Lee

  4. PSC Staff Staff of 73 attorneys, engineers, economists, consumer specialists, and administrative support personnel

  5. Organizational Structure

  6. Commission’s Budget • FY 2011–$9.971 million • $2.525 million – Non-Personnel Services (NPS) • $7.446 million – Personnel Services(PS) • 72.6 - No. of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Positions

  7. Commission’s Operating Budget Assessments • The Commission assesses the 3 utility companies (Pepco, Verizon, and Washington Gas), alternative electric and natural gas suppliers, and Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) who are serving the District for its annual operating budget. • In March of each year, the Commission conducts an annual survey to obtain the revenues of electric, natural gas, and telephone utility companies and alternative electric and natural gas suppliers and Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) serving the District for the previous calendar year. • New CLECs pay $25,000 for their first year of operation per the 1996 D.C. Telecommunications Competition Act. • Other companies’ shares of the Commission’s budget are based on their shares of total utility industry revenue in the District, minus the aggregate amount of the first-year CLECs’ payments.

  8. Formal Case Assessments • The Commission assesses the utility companies (Pepco, Verizon DC, and Washington Gas Light) for the cost of formal proceedings. • Rate Cases – The Commission can assess no more than one-quarter of one percent of the jurisdictional value of the utility company, per case. • Non-Rate Cases –The Commission can assess no more than one twentieth of one percent of the jurisdictional value of the utility company for the calendar year.

  9. Our Job at The Commission Electricity Natural Gas Customer Service Telecommunications Pay Telephones

  10. Changing PSC Mission From Balancing Interests of Utility Company Ratepayers and Shareholders To Serving the Public Interest

  11. Mission Statement • The mission of the District of Columbia Public Service Commission is to serve the public interest by ensuring that financially healthy electric, natural gas and telecommunications companies provide safe, reliable and quality utility services at reasonable rates for District of Columbia residential, business and government customers. • We do this by: • Motivating customer– and results–oriented employees; • Protecting consumers to ensure public safety, reliability, and quality services; • Regulating monopoly services to ensure their rates are just and reasonable; • Fostering fair and open competition among service providers; • Conserving natural resources and preserving environmental quality; • Resolving disputes among consumers and service providers; and • Educating consumers and informing the public.

  12. The PSC Is Like a Court • The Commissioners are the judges. • All staff involved in formal cases are advisors to the Commissioners. - Commissioners’ staff, the Offices of the General Counsel (OGC), Executive Director, and Technical and Regulatory Analysis (OTRA) are all advisors to the Commissioners. - In some cases, the Office of Consumer Services (OCS) staff also serve as advisors. • The Administrative staff is similar to the Clerk of the Court. - The Office of the Commission Secretary and the Administrative Offices (Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Human Resources, and Information Technology) • OCS provides mediation services to consumers and businesses re complaints re utility service providers and pay telephone service providers and OGC staff serve as hearing officers when formal hearings are requested. • OCS manages a pay telephone program. • OTRA manages the natural gas pipeline safety program.

  13. The PSC Functions as a Quasi-Judicial Agency • Issues orders • Makes rules • Conducts utility company audits and investigations

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