4338439 ACR 20-28, “Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia Centennial Recognition Resolution of 2013”

A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

 

20-28

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

March 5, 2013

 

 

To recognize and honor the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia as it celebrates 100 years of service in the regulation of electric, gas, and telecommunications industries in the District.

 

 

            WHEREAS, the Public Utility Commission of the District of Columbia (“PUC”) was established as a quasi-judicial agency by Act of Congress on March 4, 1913 after United States President William Howard Taft signed into law the District of Columbia Appropriations Act;

 

            WHEREAS, the Act authorized the PUC to require utilities to “furnish service and facilities reasonably safe and adequate” and to ensure that any charges were “reasonable, just, and nondiscriminatory;”

 

WHEREAS, the law designated the appointment of the 3 members of the District of Columbia Board of Commissioners as the PUC Commissioners and on March 10, 1913, Cuno H. Rudolph and Chester Harding were sworn in as PUC Commissioners, while the third Commissioner was deemed to be ineligible;

 

WHEREAS, initially, the PUC had jurisdiction over electric, gas, and telephone companies in addition to mass transit, such as street cars and buses, and public motor vehicles, such as taxicabs;

 

WHEREAS, in 1926, President Calvin Coolidge signed into law legislation that revamped the PUC by giving it 2 full-time, dedicated Commissioners in addition to the Engineer DC Commissioner;

 

 WHEREAS, in 1960, jurisdiction over street cars and buses was transferred to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission;

 

WHEREAS, in 1964, the name of the PUC changed to Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (“PSC”) with the enactment of Public Law No. 88-503, the District of Columbia Securities Act;

 

WHEREAS, the 1974 Home Rule Act affirmed the PSC as an independent charter agency, added a third full-time Commissioner position, and provided that all Commissioners would be appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia with the advice and consent of the Council of the District of Columbia;

 

WHEREAS, in 1986, jurisdiction of taxicabs was transferred to the newly created Taxicab Commission, and, in 1997, jurisdiction over securities was transferred to a new Department of Insurance and Securities;

 

WHEREAS, 67 men and women have served as Commissioners over the PSC’s first 100 years of service to the District;

 

WHEREAS, for 100 years, the men and women of the PSC have worked to protect the public interest by ensuring safe, reliable, and quality utility services for District consumers;  by ensuring that rates for monopoly utility services are reasonable, fair, and just; by resolving disputes among consumers and utility service providers; and by providing information to  consumers and  the public;

 

WHEREAS, for nearly 50 years, the PSC has promoted energy conservation and the preservation of the environment through the design of energy rates and the approval of programs and policies that promote demand-side management, energy efficiency, and renewable energy, including solar;

 

WHEREAS, the PSC was the first state commission in the nation to create a Consumer Bill of Rights and it was one of the first to establish low-income discount programs for residential electric, natural gas, and local telephone customers, aiding thousands of customers each year;

 

WHEREAS, for over 30 years, the PSC has fostered competitive utility markets for natural gas, local telecommunications, and electric generation so that all customers, including residential, can benefit from multiple choices of suppliers; and

 

WHEREAS, the PSC has worked collaboratively with the D.C. Energy Office and the District Department of the Environment, the Office of the People’s Counsel, and the utility companies to educate and inform the public on the role of the PSC, how to understand utility bills, the availability of low-income discount and energy efficiency programs, customer choice, and the benefits of solar energy and the smart grid.

 

            RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia Centennial Recognition Resolution of 2013”.

 

Sec. 2.  The Council of the District of Columbia applauds the Public Service Commission for its contribution and dedication to its mission to serve the public interest by ensuring that financially healthy utility companies provide safe, reliable, and quality services at reasonable, fair, and just rates for District of Columbia residential, business, and government customers.

 

Sec. 3.  This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.