Author Archives: ljjanezich

Sharp Increase in Violent Crime in Near NE Drives Tonight’s Crime Meeting

by Larry Janezich

Above are the crime maps for the last 30 days for Near Northeast – PSA 104 and PSA 107.  There’s been a big jump in violent crime in PSA 104 in the last 30 days, with robbery with a gun accounting for most of it.

There will be a neighborhood crime meeting tonight at 7:00pm in Northeast Library, 330 7th Street NE (7th and Maryland Ave).

Neighbors asked for a meeting to discuss the fusillade of shots fired at the intersection of Maryland Avenue and 8^th Street, SE, on Sunday afternoon, August 16.

Representatives of MPD, City Councilmembers and the Mayor’s office are expected to attend.

For more details on crime, go to:

http://crimemap.dc.gov/

Search for crimes by address – or:

Click MPD PSA or District Tab

Select PSA or District

Click Search

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Monday, August 17

ANC 6A Transportation & Public Space Committee Meeting meets at 7:00pm at Capitol Hill Towers , 900 G Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Update from Rappaport Co. regarding redevelopment of H Street Connection.

Presentation from Department of General Services and Department of Parks and Recreation regarding proposed redevelopment of pocket park at 15th Street, NE, and North Carolina Avenue, NE.

Application for public space permit to operate a sidewalk café at 1210 H Street, NE.

Request for support of traffic calming application for 400 block of 19th Street, NE.

Presentation from Events DC regarding plans to construct a playground on the

2000 Block of C Street, NE.

Wednesday, August 19

ANC6A Economic Development & Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm, at Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

1431 E Street, NE: Owner seeks a letter of support from the ANC in connection with application to DHCD and private lender for funding to enable renovations to 10-unit building.

1313 to 1323 Linden Court, NE: Future applicant for zoning relief will provide a brief informational presentation regarding planned redevelopment of alley lots.

Thursday, August 20

PSA 108 meets at 7:00pm at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE.

Copy of letter addressed to “Eastern Market Community” delivered to Eastern Market Arts and Craft Vendors Saturday Morning

Eastern Market Tries to Reassure Community and Flea Market Vendors on Takeover

A Hint of Change in Character of the Flea Markets

by Larry Janezich

Eastern Market has responded to community and flea market vendor concerns regarding the Department of General Services (DGS) planned takeover of the weekend flea markets with a public relations communications to the community assuring that the flea markets will continue largely unchanged under the new management.  On Saturday morning, vendors of the weekend Eastern Market Arts and Crafts (A&C) Market (as distinct from the 7^th Street weekend flea markets) received a notice from Barry Margeson, Department of General Services Eastern Market manager.  The notice was addressed to the “Eastern Market Community” but apparently delivered only to the A&C vendors.

The notice began with the announcement – which flea market managers Mike Berman and Carol Wright had received last week as reported by CHC – that the flea markets were being taken over by Eastern Market because private use of the street could affect DC’s municipal bond rating.

The letter explains that a portion of the revenues from the takeover will go to upkeep of Eastern Market, and the balance will go to provide more (staff) support for the weekend manager, more security on weekends, “a summer concert series,” “a winter festival,”  and a dedicated staff member for the application process.

The letter states that “we will work hard to keep the 300 block as it is” and assures flea market vendors they will be grandfathered in as far as the tougher product quality standards which must be met by the Arts and Crafts Market vendors who are currently managed by Eastern Market.  The language leaves open the likelihood that the tougher standards will be applied to any new flea market vendors.

The flea market managers Mike Berman and Carol Wright vowed to fight the takeover attempt.  Sunday flea market manager Mike Berman launched his own public relations “Save the Market Again” campaign, announcing a letter writing campaign to public officials and a petition to oppose the takeover.   He also said he was pursuing legal options and investigating the claim that the move was based on the city’s Chief Financial Officer’s claim regarding the municipal bond issue.  Berman says he has yet to see the CFO’s opinion in writing.

The two flea market managers each pay the city $2000 a month under terms of their licenses to use the street – which is some one-third of the space they had on the Hine site, for which they also each paid $2000 a month.  The move to 7th Street has already reduced the number of vendors to about half of those who had spaces on the Hine site at maximum occupancy.  Whether the move has been good for the vendors depends on who you talk to – some vendors with need for a larger spaces say the move has hurt their business while most says it is about the same.

Flea market vendors pay the flea market managers more for space than Arts and Craft vendors pay Eastern Market for roughly equivalent space, in part because the A&C vendors are managed by city employees.  How the move by the city will affect the pricing of the spaces in both areas is uncertain.

DC regulations say that Eastern Market must  be self-sustaining and the market is hungry for additional sources of revenue.  In September of 2012, Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) Chair Donna Scheeder wrote to Deputy Mayor Hoskin’s office, asserting EMCAC control over vending on the 300 block of 7^th Street, saying the law makes clear that retailing on any public space associated with Eastern Market – including 7th Street – “should not be permitted without written consent of the Department of General Services (DGS) and the review of EMCAC.”  And, “As you may be aware, EMCAC supports vending on this block of 7th street on the condition that it be under the jurisdiction of DGS management and the Eastern Market manager. We do not approve of allowing 2 private management companies to control the space, especially during the construction on the Hine site.”  See here:  http://bit.ly/1JbOw3S

Despite EMCAC opposition, and after protracted negotiations, the two flea market vendors signed a two year contract with DGS in April of 2013 for continued use of the Hine site and then for use of 7^th Street during the construction phase of the Hine project.  Scheeder grudgingly admitted relief that a licensing agreement had been worked out for flea market vendors to use 7th Street.  See here:  http://bit.ly/1gNVrVU

In meetings held by Councilmember Tommy Wells in 2010 to solicit community input for development of the Hine site, preservation of the weekend flea markets was the community’s top priority.

City Set to Take Over Flea Markets on October 1

City Moves to Seize Eastern Market Weekend Flea Markets from Private Operators

by Larry Janezich

Last Wednesday, August 12, the Department of General Services informed the two Eastern Market flea market managers, Mike Berman of Diverse Markets Management, LLC, and Carole Wright of Washington Arts, Antiques, Crafts & Collectible Associates Inc., that it would take over the management of the longtime independent markets starting October 1.

Both markets, currently managed separately by the two operators, recently moved from the Hine playground to the 300 block of 7th Street, SE, owing to the demolition of the Hine Jr. High School in preparation for Stanton-Eastbanc’s mixed-use development project on that site.  The two weekend flea markets are separate and distinct from the Arts and Crafts Market of Eastern Market, which sets up weekends on the area around Eastern Market including the 200 block of 7th Street, SE, and on the plaza in front of the Capitol Hill Swimming Pool.  The Arts and Crafts Market is currently overseen by Barry Margeson, DGS employee and Eastern Market Manager.

Written notice to flea market operators Berman and Wright, and to Eastern Market and flea market vendors, came from Barry Margeson, who sent an email, a portion of which reads as follows:

“At the end of July, the Department of General Services (DGS) extended the Licenses to Operate for the two [managers of the weekend flea markets]…until September 30th, 2015. After that date, the Eastern Market staff, which manages the rest of the market, will begin managing the 300 block as well.

We expect that there will be questions about how this will change things for customers and for the vendors who sell on the 300 block. The truth is that customers won’t notice much change. And there won’t be much change for the vendors either: All of the vendors who sell there now will be given the opportunity to keep selling, if they wish. We figure that the majority of them will decide to do so.”

Two years ago, under the administration of Mayor Gray, the two operators and the office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development (DMPED) negotiated the terms for the continuation of the weekend flea markets during the construction phase of the Hine project.  The final agreement entailed a Mayoral order to close the 300 block of 7th Street on weekends during flea market hours, and licensing the two operators to set up their respective markets on 7th Street.

The original contract with the city to operate the flea market on the Hine playground and then on 7th Street, expired July 31, 2015, some three months after the flea markets made their move to 7th Street.

According Carol Wright, when the operators recently asked DGS through Barry Margeson for a contract renewal, Margeson told her on July 9 that a two year renewal was forthcoming, but with changes.  Wright says that on July 29, with two days left before the contract expired, Margeson instead sent a two month extension of the contract.  The next day, Wright said she was told that if she didn’t sign the two month extension by 3:00pm on July 31, she would not be able to set up the Saturday flea market the next day.  Wright says that a request for a 24 hour delay was denied, and further, that the action violated an agreement the operators had with the city that any early termination of the contract would be done only after 90 days’ notice.

Wright signed the two-month extension, she said, “under duress,” and followed up with a letter to the Mayor’s office requesting a meeting to discuss the sequence of events as outlined above.  Mike Berman confirmed that DGS had told him the terms of the contract were going to change and that two days before the expiration of the contract, he was told the contract would be extended only two months, until September 30.  When he asked what would happen after September 30, Berman said Margeson told him, “Nothing.  Fiscal issues prevent us from renewing.  It’s over.”  Berman said that one hour before a conference call with Margeson and DMPED to discuss the issue, Margeson sent the email to the vendors.

The “fiscal issues” Margeson had referred to were addressed in an email Wright received from DGS on responding to her email to the Mayor.  The DGS email states, in part:

“[t]he recent actions were taken in order to resolve an issue that the District was facing regarding that particular public space on Seventh Street. All leases and Licenses to Occupy that extend beyond a year require a review by the Chief Financial Officer of the District. Upon review, the CFO highlighted the fact that the street was financed with municipal bonds. Using bonds in this way could affect the District’s bond rating, which requires that we address this issue. Taking all considerations into account, the best solution was to extend the expired agreement for two more months and then request that the DGS on-the-ground management team begin managing the 300 block vendors in addition to their current responsibilities.”  (Ed. Note:  It is unclear why a one year contract could not be implemented.)

Wright says that the municipal bond issue is “bogus” and when she followed up with the Chief Financial Officer’s office was told that “use of 300 feet of the street by an operation as small as ours could have no effect on the city’s bond rating.”

Berman called the move a “power grab – theft.  It’s like a third world regime taking people’s business over for the government.”  He questioned why the municipal bond issue is coming up now and not two years ago, before Berman and Wright entered into protracted negotiations with the city over how to preserve the markets in the face of the Hine Development, and wondered whether the 300 block is the only street in the city where vendors operate under contract.  He vowed to “get to the bottom of this with whatever it takes,” saying he is exploring legal options, including a FOIA.  He went on, “This is how DC government treats business.  No notice, no due process, no compensation, no consideration, no communication…. Pretty ugly.”

Artist Joe Snyder, one of the vendors in the Arts and Crafts Market at Eastern Market expressed his concerns regarding Eastern Market taking over the management of the weekend flea markets, saying that the legal integration of the flea market into the Eastern Market operation is problematic. “How is it possible for Eastern Market to take over a private business,” he asks.  He also worries, “Though the market complex stands to gain considerable revenue by this bold and morally questionable move, they really are unaware of the potential chaos resulting from a forced merger.”  He questions whether the Eastern Market staff and security is prepared to deal with the management, collection of revenues, security, and logistics of a market twice the size of the current one.

Barry Margeson did not respond to a request for comment.

First District Commander Jeff Brown engages residents on National Night Out, August 4, in Folger Park

The Week Ahead…. A Capitol Hill Safety Walk and Community Crime Meeting

City Officials and MPD Scramble After Dropping Ball on Hill East Crime Meeting

by Larry Janezich

Despite the recent increase in violent crime which has alarmed Capitol Hill residents and heightened awareness of the need for a greater commitment to community policing, MPD and city officials fumbled badly in a recent effort to connect with the Hill East community on the issue.

As late as July 27, city officials were reminding Hill East residents of an August 6 PSA 108 community crime meeting at Liberty Baptist Church.  In the same email, residents were urged to participate in an August 11 community safety walk with MPD and city officials.  ANC6B Commissioner Brian Flahaven had requested MPD to schedule the community crime meeting.

Then, with no notice, the community crime meeting was cancelled.  The first word of the cancellation came from city officials who posted to Capitol Hill listservs on August 6 – the day of the meeting:

“There seems to be some confusion.  There is no PSA 108 meeting tonight.  Commander Brown [First District] is posting to the 1st District Group….Lt. Dykes and his team will be at the Hill East Community Walk on Tuesday August 11th and can answer any questions at that event.  We will meet at Eastern High School at 5:30pm and walk through the neighborhood to Potomac Metro…  In addition to MPD, other Gov’t officials will be present from Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, Dept of Human Services, Dept of Behavioral Health to answer questions.”

Apparently, MPD decided that the community safety walk would take the place of the community crime meeting but failed to tell anyone.  Flahaven let it be known that he was unhappy both because of the lack of notice and the awkwardness of a community walk as a venue for questions and answers.

By August 9th city officials and MPD had reconsidered and decided to hold the PSA 108 community crime meeting after all; that meeting will occur at 7:00pm at Liberty Baptist Church immediately following the walk.

The Tuesday, August 11 safety walk through the neighborhood with MPD, the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations, local ANC commissioners and Hill East residents will begin at 5:30 pm at Eastern High School (1700 East Capitol Street SE) and proceed south through Hill East, ending around 7 pm at Liberty Baptist Church (527 Kentucky Ave SE).  In addition to the Mayor’s Office and MPD, representatives from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, Department of Human Services and Department of Behavioral Health will be in attendance.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported an event last Thursday afternoon as follows:  Man arrested after witnesses report armed standoff outside [Potomac Avenue] Metro station http://wapo.st/1Uy6Zvp

First District Violent Crimes, past 30 days

First District Property Crimes, past 30 Days

30 Day PSA Crime Maps Show Violent Crime Up on Capitol Hill

Ed. Note:  Correction.  CHC erroneously reported that there would be a Crime Meeting PSA 108 Crime Meeting on September 6. CHC regrets the error.  Hill East PSA 108 Crime Meeting Thursday Night at Liberty Baptist Church

By Larry Janezich

Capitol Hill residents have been alarmed by the increase in violent crime this summer and MPD statistics justify those concerns.  In the First District, which includes Capitol Hill, violent crime over the past 30 days is up 23% over the previous 30 days and 41% over the same period last year.  There were three homicides in the last 30 days in the First District, one more than the previous 30 days.  Most of the increase in “violent crime” can be attributed to robbery with a gun, assault with a dangerous weapon (excluding a gun), and assault with dangerous weapon (gun).  Property crimes increased slightly over the last 30 days.

Map locating the three homicides in the First District in the last 30 days

The problem is not unique to the First District and Capitol Hill.  On Monday, Police Chiefs from across the country convened in DC to discuss the recent increase in violent crime in general and homicides in particular.  According to a report by Will Greenberg in Tuesday’s Washington Post, police have not been able to discern the reason for the increase in violence.  Some of the trends which some say contribute to the problem include gang related activity and synthetic drugs.  The officials recommended stricter gun laws, harsher penalties for gun crimes, and improving community partnerships.

On Capitol Hill, the faltering ​effort at partnering with the community is evident at the mostly poorly attended PSA (Police Service Area) meetings.  ANC6B’s Constituent Services Committee, c​haired by ANC Commissioner Brian Flahaven, has undertaken the task of assessing ways to improve communications between the ANC and MPD​. ​

To that end, MPD could do its part by strengthening the presentations at the PSAs and making them more informative – perhaps by distributing copies of crime maps for the two or three previous months to help identify trends and hotspots.

​I have attended many of these meetings and quality of information varies to a considerable extent.  ​Routinely, officials presiding over a PSA meeting read​ a list of crime statistics for the past 30 days, citing whether there has been an increase or decrease over the previous month or the same period last year and take questions from those attending the meeting.  However, officers often seem unprepared for questions regarding a particular noteworthy crime, one that has stirred neighborhood concerns and drove turnout out the meeting.  In addition, MPD officials presiding over ​a particular​ PSA meeting often express ignorance​ of or​ indifference to what is happening in a neighboring PSA, despite the fact that the residents ​of Capitol Hill obviously do not vest all of their concerns in just one arbitrarily drawn area on a map; we live, walk, dine and move between and among different PSAs on a daily basis.

​Efforts to improve communications at the ANC level would seem to be justified – one idea worthy of consideration is ​the ​inclusion of an ANC representative in the weekly or monthly MPD ​”​Core Team​”​ ​meetings.  The Core Team was established by the Office of the Mayor several years ago to operate at the ward level and is comprised of MPD, DPW, DCRA, DOH, OAG and perhaps others, to address coordinating city efforts to address problem areas.

ANC6B will consider public safety recommendations of its Constituent Outreach Committee at its September monthly meeting.  Some of these will include a proposed letter to MPD asking for reinstating publicizing of narratives associated with individual crimes – a practice dropped by MPD some years ago, but one that helps residents understand patterns of crime, if there are any to be discerned – and proposals to reinvigorate the PSA meetings.

PSA 108, featuring MPD Lt. James Dykes, meets at 7:00pm, at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE, Thursday evening.  ANC6B Commissioner Brian Flahaven says, “I encourage anyone who has questions or concerns about recent criminal activity and incidents in the neighborhood to attend the meeting. Lt. Dykes and his officers will provide the latest information and answer resident questions.”

The city has seven police districts, each divided into Police Service Areas.  Capitol Hill’s First District has 8 PSAs.  See here: http://1.usa.gov/1J3W2Kp

Below are maps of the violent crimes in PSAs on or near Capitol Hill for the last 30 days and the comparable number for the 30 days prior to that.

PSA 103 Violent Crime, Last 30 Days – up from 6 to 7

PSA 104 Violent Crime, Last 30 Days – up from 9 to 22

PSA 105 Violent Crime, Past 30 Days – up from 4 to 14

PSA 106 Violent Crime, Past 30 Days – down from 9 to 5

PSA 107 Violent Crime, Past 30 Days – down from 10 to 5

PSA 108 Violent Crime, Last 30 Days – down from 13 to 12

A useful website that is underpublicized at the PSA 108 and PSA 107 meetings this reporter has attended is the DC Police Crime Mapping website: http://crimemap.dc.gov/

A building permit on the front of the National Community Church on Barracks Row authorizes extension of the facade for a ticket booth and the installation of a theater sign on the facade of the second story. Evidently the Miracle on 8th Street is a step closer to reality.   For more, and a rendering of the sign, see the CHC posting of June 16, 2012 here:  http://bit.ly/1N38FIW

While you’re checking out that building permit for the Miracle Theater, look up and check out the fabulous pressed tin portico overhead.

Meanwhile, at 8th and L on lower 8th Street, the summer beer garden – The Brig – inches incrementally toward completion. No word yet on the “new concept” restaurant slated to occupy the former Tortilla Chicken across the street.  See previous postings on both items here: http://bit.ly/1zdKXmE

Eastern Market Scene, Sunday, c. 3:30pm

Finally, Barracks Row Main Street Announced that Frame of Mine will relocate to the space at 545 8th Street, formerly occupied by the Playseum.  That space will be shared by another yet to be named retail tenant.  For more on that, go here: http://bit.ly/1SyA3W7

The Week Ahead….Hill East PSA 108 Crime Meeting on Thursday

Light In August could describe the schedule for Ward Six ANCs this month.  There’s nothing much until some ANC6A committee meetings mid-month.  Otherwise, the featured event for the week ahead is Thursday’s PSA 108 meeting, moved from August 20 owing to the recent increase in crime in Hill East.  CHC will post crime maps from the last 30 days prior to that meeting.

Monday, August 3

1.       The Office of Deputy Mayor Courtney Snowden hosts a meeting at the Rosedale Rec Center (1701 Gales Street NE) at 6:30pm. The “Vision Tour” offers an opportunity for residents to share and discuss the future of the “East of End” of ANC 6A and 7D01…including education, families, economic development, job growth, safety and health.

Tuesday, August 4

1.       North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association (NLPNA) holds a potluck supper 7:00pm – 8:30pm in Lincoln Park.  All are welcome.

2.       National Night Out (MPD 1st District) 5:30 – 8:30pm, Folger Park, 3^rd and D Streets, SE.  Neighbors celebrate community unity, safety information, and recognize citizen volunteers.  For more, go here:  http://mpdc.dc.gov/node/206682

Thursday, August 6

1.       PSA 108, featuring MPD Lt. James Dykes, meets at 7:00pm, at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE.  ANC6B Commissioner Brian Flahaven says, “I encourage anyone who has questions or concerns about recent criminal activity and incidents in the neighborhood to attend the meeting. Lt. Dykes and his officers will provide the latest information and answer resident questions.”

2.       PSA 107, featuring Lt. Eddie Fowler, meets at 7:00pm, at SE Library.

3.       Friends of Southeast Library (FOSEL) meets at 5:30pm at Southeast Library, lower level to discuss the August FOSEL book sale, and other matters.

This long vacant former Quizno outlet at 8th and M Streets, SE, will be the new home of Las Placitas by year’s end.

The red area indicates the new location on lower 8th Street, across from the Navy Yard to the south and the Blue Castle to the west.

View of 8th Street looking north. “Las Plac’s” new home will be in the building on the right.  All photos courtesy of Google Maps.

Las Placitas To Re-locate to Lower 8th Street At Year’s End

by Larry Janezich

Capitol Hill Corner has confirmed that Las Placitas, the popular Barracks Row Restaurant, will relocate to lower 8th Street, SE, opposite the Navy Yard by year’s end.  According to management, Las Placitas will take over the long empty space once occupied by a Quizno outlet at 8th and M Streets, SE.

Capitol Hill Corner broke the story on May 13 that Las Placitas’ lease would not be renewed in in the fall in order to make way for expansion of the adjacent Matchbox Restaurant.  See here:  http://bit.ly/1PGDwuO

The promise of development of lower 8th Street, south of the freeway has been slow in coming.  Las Placitas may be the catalyst that brings fulfillment of that promise.

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Wednesday, July 29

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee meets at 7:00pm in Eastern Market’s North Hall.

Public Service Commissioners, L-R: Commissioner Fort, Chair Kane, Commissioner Phillips

Pepco representatives, L-R: Michelle Ware, Interconnection Process Manager; Virginia Beringer, GPC Strategic Outreach Manager; and James Demarest, Jr., Customer Relations and Program Director.

Pepco Slammed Over Solar Issues: Interconnection Delays,​ Inaccurate Billing​, & ​Lack of Response

By Larry Janezich

On Tuesday, the Public Service Commission (PSC) held a hearing to investigate the bottlenecks in Pepco’s approval process for installation of solar energy in DC and problems customers are having in getting concerns addressed or even acknowledged.

Public witnesses, representatives of the solar industry, the Office of People’s Counsel and Director of the DC Department of the Environment Tommy Wells all told the same story of Pepco’s shortcomings.

The most frequent problems cited by the witnesses (editor’s note: myself included)​ who appeared to testify in person and in letters filed with the commission were the following:

Delay – up to five months – in final approval for turning on the system after installation;​

Billing – Claims Pepco was not billing accurately and not giving credit for solar power produced;​

Lack of Response – a nearly total lack of response by Pepco to phone calls or email to customer questions, concerns, and complaints.

Capitol Hill resident Erik Anderson testified to his frustration at Pepco’s refusal to return calls and told the commission he had to utilize the Office of the People’s Counsel to resolve issues with Pepco.

Grant Klein, Project Manager at the non-profit solar installation coordinator DC Sun told the commission, “With an unresponsive GPC (Pepco’s Green Power Connection team), our best option has been to advise that homeowners with issues file complaints with the PSC.”

Ben Brieterman, CEO of solar installer Solar Solution said, “Regarding the delay in the decision on the authorization to operate, we don’t see this issue with any other utility we deal with.  We don’t see the unresponsiveness.  Sometimes we get a response from Pepco – residents never do.”

With respect to the lengthy delays, Dana Sleeper, Executive Director of MDV Solar Energy Industries Association, cited a recent study produced by EQ Research, which showed a sudden increase in the length of time for application processing from 2013 to 2014, when Pepco DC and Pepco MD ranked last o​n a list of 34 utilities in 13 states.

DC Department of the Environment Director Tommy Wells told the Commission that while the interconnection process has improved since 2005, “more progress is needed, and quickly.”

Wells made the following recommendations regarding the three issues troubling customers and installers most:

1. Set a deadline of no longer that 20 business days from the time a complete application for authorization to operate (ATO) is filed for issuing Pepco’s final written determination on the ATO application.
2. Within 60 days, increase the workforce dedicated to the GPC team to a level that would be adequate​ to meet the anticipated doubling of the number of applications.
3. Enact a policy to respond to customer inquiries on billing, complaints and questions within 24 hours.

Pepco representatives, testifying last, were seemingly caught flatfooted and appeared to be unaware (or indifferent) to the issues raised by the testimony prior to theirs​.  The bulk of Pepco’s presentation was a demonstration of their attempts to respond to the Commission’s order of December 20, 2012, regarding ways to improve Pepco GPC operations. Most of Pepco’s presentation concerned improvements to the GPC website, future plans for improving the online application process and explaining the 9 step solar energy installation application process.

James J. Demarest, Jr., Customer Relations and Program Director for Pepco, focusing on Pepco’s efforts to reduce delays and better deal with the applications, said education of the consumer and training of the staff were being undertaken to alleviate the bottleneck caused by incomplete applications which require multiple back and forth communications between GPC and the consumer.

Demarest told the Commission that to deal with the 127% increase in volume of applications, Pepco was hiring one additional staffer.   Given the fact that the GPC is completely overwhelmed at present, it causes one to question Pepco’s commitment to resolving the delay and communication issues.  Demarest went on to say that his staff had responded to 27 calls in the GPC “call tree” in June.  He continued, saying Pepco would continue to develop a more efficient on line application process and would welcome creation of a working group with government and solar stakeholders to work out problems.

Asked by PSC Commissioner Fort about the many complaints about post solar operation billing, Demarest said Pepco had not come prepared to discuss the billing issue but called up his Manager of Billing Services from the audience who told the commission that “​the billing service is operating as planned” and that Pepco “doesn’t have a lot of billing issues.”  Pressed further, by Fort, the Pepco representative replied that when callers to GPC leave a voice mail and refer to the bill – “that starts the investigative process.”  That​ ​come as a surprise to ​those (myself included)​ with billing issues.

The Commission will keep the record open for 30 days from Tuesday’s date to solicit additional comment.  Pepco will assess the testimony issue and issue an order directing Pepco to take specific actions to address the concerns raised at Tuesday’s hearing.

​C​ompared with other utilities, Pepco​ appears to be among the worst on making the solar transition and, in a relative sense, its ​lapses are hard to explain.  ​It may be an issue of oversight from either the city’s executive branch or the Public Service Commission.  Or it could be simple lack of market competition.  The intransigence of monopoly power will only go stronger if the city approves the proposed merger/buy-out of Pepco by energy giant Exelon.

The link to this specific case on the Public Service Commission’s website including testimony and letters submitted in connection with this case, as well as previous commission orders on Pepco solar permit processing issues is here:  http://bit.ly/1KlQcHg

For information on Pepco’s process for applying to install solar panels, Google:  Pepco GPC.

The link to file a complaint with the Public Service Commission is here: http://bit.ly/1MJiHyH

The PSC is accepting public comment for an additional 30 days.  Solar power customers who wish to register their problems with Pepco send an email to the Commission Secretary here:

psc-commissionsecretary@dc.gov – The subject line should read, “Comment for FC 1050”