Testimony on Washington Gas Light Company’s Application to the District of Columbia

Prepared on behalf of the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia

Author: Senior Economist Elizabeth A. Stanton, PhD

Senior Economist Elizabeth A. Stanton submitted testimony before the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia on behalf of the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia in response to the Washington Gas Light Company’s (WGL) application to the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia for authority to increase existing rates and charges for gas service. Dr. Stanton found that the WGL proposals provided limited emission reductions and that in order to achieve the goal of 60% emission reduction by 2030, the District of Columbia needs WGL climate-related proposals to provide for serious emission reductions in the near-term.

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District of Columbia Public Service Commission Formal Case No. 1167 Affidavit regarding Washington Gas and Light Company's 5 and 30 Year Plans

Author: Liz Stanton, PhD

July 2022

In July 2022, Senior Economist and Director Liz Stanton, PhD, filed an affidavit with the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia on behalf of the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia regarding Washington Gas and Light Company’s (WGL) 5- and 30-Year Plans as part of Formal Case No. 1167. The affidavit addressed WGL Plans’ lack of accounting for justice and equity in planning, lack of planning for fuel sources, and the need for a new cost-benefit analysis to properly analyze WGL’s Plans.

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District of Columbia Public Service Commission Formal Case No. 1167 Affidavit regarding Potomac Electric Power Company's 5 and 30 Year Plans

Client: The Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia

Author: Liz Stanton, PhD

June 2022

In June 2022, Senior Economist and Director Liz Stanton, PhD, filed an affidavit with the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia on behalf of the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia regarding materials submitted by Pepco as part of Formal Case No. 1167. The affidavit addressed Pepco’s lack of accounting for equity in planning and distribution, discrepancies between Pepco and Washington Gas and Light Company’s (WGL) climate plans, and lack of program reassessment and evaluation.

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Equity Assessment of Electrification Incentives in the District of Columbia

Client: The Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia

Authors: Tanya Stasio, Bryndis Woods, PhD. Joshua R. Castigliego, Liz Stanton, PhD

December 2021

On behalf of the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia, Researcher Tanya Stasio, Senior Researcher Bryndis Woods, PhD, Researcher Joshua Castigliego, and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD examine a potential pathway for reducing emissions in the District of Columbia: equitable electrification–a transition away from fossil fuels while taking into consideration equity implications, in both existing and future decarbonization efforts.

A baseline equity analysis of the distribution of energy expenditures, median income and other vulnerability indicators reveals significant disparities across the District. To account for the existing disparities of income and access within the District and ensure beneficial electrification efforts are equitable, AEC identified the following priorities: (1) Ensuring that community engagement influences DC Public Service Commission and District Government decision-making regarding beneficial electrification programs; (2) Prioritizing beneficial electrification investments in neighborhoods impacted by environmental injustice and addressing common decarbonization barriers, and; (3) Ensuring that beneficial electrification programs do not increase the energy burden for EJ and other vulnerable communities.

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Media Coverage

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Utility Reporting Practices

Client: District of Columbia Office of the People’s Council

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD

March 2021

On March 26, 2021 Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD presented on gas and electric utility reporting practices to the DC Climate NOI Reporting Working Group on behalf of the District of Columbia Office of the People's Council. Dr. Stanton addressed current reporting requirements for the District's utilities, how these requirements compare to those around the United States, and potential best practices for reporting.

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Testimony on Washington Gas Light Company's 2020 Rate Case

Source: The Connection Newspapers — *Source:* *The Connection Newspapers*

Client: Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD

August 2020

On behalf of the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia, Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD provided Applied Economics Clinic expert testimony to Formal Case No. 1162 before the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. In her testimony, Dr. Stanton discussed Washington Gas Light Company's Application and rate proposals in the context of the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 and other relevant climate and clean energy goals. Dr. Stanton's analysis found that Washington Gas failed to meaningfully address or support the District's climate-related goals, including emission reductions, in an equitable and cost-effective manner.

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