DC Councilmember Janeese Lewis George decisively won the Democratic mayoral primary against former Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, putting her on a clear path to become the District’s next mayor in January. Energy affordability was a key issue in the race, and Lewis George topped McDuffie by 19%, winning more primary votes than any mayoral candidate in the history of home rule.
Our Role: Sierra Club DC Chapter volunteers canvassed neighborhoods across DC, knocking on thousands of doors for Lewis George and other candidates we supported. Sierra Club members volunteered at polling places for our candidates, helped collect signatures to get candidates on the ballot, and spread the word about why DC needs climate champions in elected office.
This year, the Sierra Club DC Chapter set up an independent PAC for the first time. The PAC educated voters on where the candidates stood on environmental and climate issues through direct mail, digital advertising, and social media. In the mayoral race, the two leading candidates had starkly different visions and records on clean energy and energy affordability, and the PAC ensured voters understood those differences.
The Big Picture: DC’s mayoral election was defined by growing concern over rising energy costs and utility accountability as residents faced large rate hikes from Pepco and Washington Gas in January. Since 2021, two of the three commissioners at the DC Public Service Commission (PSC)–which regulates monopoly utilities in DC and is supposed to ensure our utilities provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy–have approved $550 million in spending by Washington Gas and Pepco. All this spending showed up in people’s energy bills as skyrocketing delivery charges.
Tired of the PSC’s deference to multi-billion-dollar corporations, advocates and DC residents launched a campaign to put the spotlight on poor leadership under Chairman Emile Thompson and to call for new leadership at the PSC. During her campaign, Lewis George committed to delivering affordable energy, with a critical first step: appointing commissioners who would put community concerns first when considering rate hikes.
Where We Stand: Despite growing frustration with current PSC leadership, Mayor Muriel Bowser sought to reappoint PSC Chairman Thompson and Commissioner Ted Trabue, threatening to leave DC residents with more of the same corporate greed that has fueled the District’s energy affordability crisis as a parting gift. But today, Councilmember Charles Allen, who gained oversight of the PSC when McDuffie resigned from the Council to run for mayor, announced emergency legislation to allow the next mayor to appoint their replacements.
Allen's action came as the commission’s credibility continued to nosedive. A judge forced the commission to vacate a controversial multi-year Pepco rate hike after it rubber-stamped the utility’s request without holding a public hearing. The PSC preemptively moved to reconsider $150 million in spending for Washington Gas it approved earlier this spring after intervenors called out the same evasion of public input. Even as the commission reconsiders Pepco’s rate hike, it has ignored calls to order Pepco to offer refunds and restore rates to their original level, leaving customers stuck paying higher rates until the PSC decides on the Pepco rate hike.
Meanwhile, Washington Gas continues to overspend, asking the PSC to approve another extension for the second phase of its controversial pipeline replacement program. Despite already spending hundreds of millions of customers’ money, “Grade 1” gas leaks in DC increased 40% from 2014 to 2022, according to DC government data.
What’s Next: On June 29, the DC Council will host a public hearing on potential solutions to rein in utility spending and hold utilities like Washington Gas and Pepco accountable for out-of-control spending that drives up energy bills.
The same day, the PSC is scheduled to hold a hearing to reconsider its recent approval of $150 million for the third phase of Washington Gas’ pipeline replacement program (though several parties have requested a later hearing date). The hearing comes after consumer and climate advocates lambasted the PSC for greenlighting the spending request without a public hearing.
This year’s election sent a clear message: DC voters want action on affordability. Lewis George promised us a future in which utilities will be held accountable, and the District’s energy affordability crisis will be addressed. The Sierra Club plans to hold her accountable to that pledge so everyone in DC can get relief from out-of-control utility bills rubber-stamped by captured regulators.