Pepco-Exelon Merger: More to Discuss

Like the man (Yogi Berra, that is) said: “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

The controversial proposed $6.4 billion merger between Pepco, the District’s venerable energy company, and Exelon, the huge Chicago-based power company, appeared scuttled back in August, when the deal was rejected by the Public Service Commission. The proposal triggered a public battle that continues, with members of the business and political establishment on one side and community organizers and environmentalists on the other.

At the time, Mayor Muriel Bowser applauded the commission’s actions. Soon thereafter, she and her team went into negotiations with representatives of the two companies and other parties. They emerged with a settlement agreement that includes promises of protections for ratepayers, new jobs and a nod to solar energy.

A majority of the Council has joined with the mayor in support of this settlement agreement, which goes back to the Public Service Commission in mid-December after a public-comment period.

Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh — along with Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen and At-large Council members David Grasso and Elissa Silverman — remain strongly opposed to the merger.

Proponents, including former two-term Mayor Anthony Williams, have argued that the merger will be largely beneficial to the District. The biggest argument for the proposal has been the claim that in the absence of a merger energy rates would take a big jump; a merger, advocates say, would allow Pepco to keep rates where they are.

There has been a lot of back-and-forth talk about side deals and political shenanigans. None of this should be germane to the issues at hand. It appears that some of the governmental considerations relate to the rapid growth and demographic changes in our city, which the merger could impact, perhaps critically, in one way or another.

The merger is a very complicated deal to us (and to many residents). It deserves a longer hearing and more forums like the ones held recently in the District. We need to hear from our elected officials as well as from D.C. officials with direct decision-making power on the issue. In an atmosphere where rumors seem to part of the conversation, transparency is a big and necessary plus.

It might be a wise idea for the Citizens Association of Georgetown, the Georgetown Business Association or other groups to hold a joint forum — or separate forums — on the issue before it comes before the commission. More knowledge and information would, one hopes, lead to a more informed debate during the intervening time.

Through Dec. 18, the Public Service Commission is accepting written comments on the merger: mail to 1325 G St. NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20005 or by email at psc-commissionsecretary@dc. gov.