Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia Grants Washington Gas Light Company's Motion for Leave to File an Answer

Strategic Insights -

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia has issued an order granting Washington Gas Light Company's motion for leave to file an answer in response to the District of Columbia Government's comments and objections to the company's updated project list. The Commission has also established June 16, 2025, as the filing date for Washington Gas Light Company's answer. This order resolves ongoing discussions regarding the company's PROJECTpipes 2 plan, which was approved in 2020, and the company's request for an extension of the plan until December 31, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia has granted Washington Gas Light Company's unopposed motion for leave to file an answer in response to the District of Columbia Government's comments and objections to the company's updated project list.
  • The Commission has established June 16, 2025, as the filing date for Washington Gas Light Company's answer.
  • The company's PROJECTpipes 2 plan was approved in 2020, and the company has requested an extension of the plan until December 31, 2025.
  • The District of Columbia Government has filed its second set of data requests, which WGL has responded to, maintaining its objection to DR 2-11, which asked WGL to produce a project list that corresponded to higher and lower budgets than the $26 million that the Commission had awarded WGL to cover the costs of the accelerated pipe replacement activity through the end of 2025.
  • The Commission has denied the District of Columbia Government's motion to compel WGL to respond to DR 2-11 because it requested speculative alternative funding levels.
  • The District of Columbia Government has argued that the extension period would be an expensive and ineffective use of ratepayer dollars, and WGL has argued that DCG has essentially proposed a new review process for project lists and a new test for project approval.
  • The Commission has granted WGL's request for an extension of time to file its answer, setting June 16, 2025, as the new filing date.

Statistics:

  • The Commission has granted an extension of the PROJECTpipes 2 plan until December 31, 2025.
  • The District of Columbia Government has filed two sets of data requests, with the second set filed on April 22, 2025.
  • Washington Gas Light Company has responded to the District of Columbia Government's data requests, maintaining its objection to DR 2-11, which asked WGL to produce a project list that corresponded to higher and lower budgets than the $26 million that the Commission had awarded WGL to cover the costs of the accelerated pipe replacement activity through the end of 2025.
  • The Commission has denied the District of Columbia Government's motion to compel WGL to respond to DR 2-11 because it requested speculative alternative funding levels.
  • The District of Columbia Government has argued that the extension period would be an expensive and ineffective use of ratepayer dollars.

Sources:

  • Formal Case No. 1154, In the Matter of Washington Gas Light Company's Application for Approval of PROJECTpipes 2 Plan
  • Formal Case No. 1179, In the Matter of the Investigation into Washington Gas Light Company's Strategically Targeted Pipe Replacement Program
  • District of Columbia Government's Data Request Set No. 2, filed April 22, 2025
  • Washington Gas Light Company's Motion for Leave to File an Answer in Response to the District of Columbia Government's Comments and Objections to the Updated Project List
  • Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia Order No. 22441