Karen Sistrunk, Office of the People's Counsel for the District of ...

Opt-Out v. Opt inA Consumer Advocate’s PerspectiveKaren SistrunkDeputy People’s CounselThe Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources InitiativeWorking Group MeetingApril 20, 2012 • Philadelphia, PAOffice of the People’s Counsel(202) 727-3071www.opc-dc.gov1

• Office of the People’s Counsel represents theinterests of utility consumers.• The Office’s policy initiatives are designed toensure that consumers receive safe, adequateand reliable utility service at rates that are justand reasonable.3

April 2007, Pepco filed an Application to deploy AMIin DC.February 2009, President signs the American Recoveryand Reinvestment Act of 2009; Smart Grid InvestmentGrantIn June 2009, the District of Columbia City Councilpassed the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Actauthorizing Pepco to deploy AMI.The AMI Act did not include an opt-out provision.4

• AMI deployment began in September 2010• Consumers began asking about their ability to opt-out• OPC has not settled on a position as to whether opt-outshould be approved; facts are needed to inform ourposition.• December 2012, OPC requested the Commission openan investigation into the technical and economicalfeasibility of Pepco providing an opt-outprovision. OPC’s request and reconsideration weredenied.5

• June 2010, parties filed comments and replycomments on the issue of dynamic pricing• May 2011, the Commission denied Pepco’sdynamic pricing proposal to address a numberof issues and policy concerns regardingdynamic pricing.6

Office of the People’s Counsel(202) 727-3071www.opc-dc.gov8