Advocates, Consumers Slam Pepco Policy

By Peter Granitz

About a dozen people protested outside the Wilson building Saturday. They blasted Pepco for shutting off heat during the winter months.

Advocates are pushing the council to put a moratorium on cutting power during the winter.

Mia Johnson says she'll do everything to make sure her power stays on. She says she paid her bill faithfully at the home she owns in Bloomingdale. But in December 2009, Johnson says, Pepco walloped her with a $7,400 bill.

She says Pepco had been using estimated rates for 33 months.

"It's unreal," says Johnson. "There's no way that two people can consume that much electricity, where we're out of the house at 6:30 in the morning and we're not in until seven or so at night."

Inside, Council Member Muriel Bowser chaired a utilities hearing. She did not indicate whether the council will take up the measure.