D.C. Pepco shutoff protection ended July 28. What customers should know

The District’s temporary protection against certain residential Pepco shutoffs ended Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Customers with unpaid Pepco balances below $1,000 no longer have that temporary protection, but the end of the moratorium does not mean an immediate shutoff.

Pepco told WTOP that its ordinary notification process remains in effect. Customers facing overdue bills should contact the utility promptly to discuss payment arrangements and check whether they qualify for District assistance.

What changed July 28

The 90-day moratorium covered residential Pepco customers with outstanding balances below $1,000. With the moratorium expired, those customers no longer have the temporary shield against disconnection.

The D.C. Council adopted the temporary protection amid a dispute over Pepco’s rates and concerns about the effect of higher electric bills on District residents. A Council emergency-resolution document cited the D.C. Court of Appeals’ March 5, 2026, decision vacating and remanding Public Service Commission orders connected to Pepco’s multiyear rate plan.

Why a shutoff should not happen immediately

Pepco said customers with past-due balances should not expect service to be disconnected as soon as the moratorium ends. Valencia McClure, Pepco’s senior vice president for governmental, regulatory and external affairs, told WTOP that the utility normally follows a process involving about 45 days of notice.

McClure also said Pepco typically makes roughly five contact attempts through phone calls, emails and written notices before disconnecting service. That is the utility’s stated standard practice, not a guarantee that every account will follow an identical timeline.

Pepco encourages customers who are struggling to pay to contact the utility before disconnection. Customers can ask about payment plans, budget billing and other available assistance programs.

The unpaid balance was not erased

The moratorium did not stop billing or forgive debt. Customers continued receiving electric bills during the 90-day protection, and unpaid amounts accumulated during that period remain owed.

In practical terms, the end of the moratorium allows Pepco to use its ordinary disconnection process for eligible past-due accounts. It does not turn the outstanding balance into forgiven debt, and it does not eliminate the utility’s normal notice requirements.

Why some electric bills are higher

Pepco’s Standard Offer Service rate for electricity generation in the District increased July 1, 2026. The D.C. Public Service Commission says an average residential SOS customer using 614 kilowatt-hours per month will see an estimated 7% increase, or about $9.56 more on the total monthly bill.

That figure applies to the specified average SOS customer, not every Pepco household. Actual bills vary based on usage, whether a customer receives Pepco SOS or buys supply from a third-party provider, and other charges on the bill.

The rate dispute remains under review. The DCPSC says it is maintaining currently billed electric rates during the remand proceeding and has denied requests for immediate rate suspension, restoration of earlier rates or immediate refunds. An evidentiary hearing in Formal Case No. 1176 is scheduled for Oct. 13-14, 2026.

Help available to eligible customers

Customers who may have trouble paying should contact Pepco before a disconnection date to ask about payment arrangements, budget billing and any assistance programs for which they may qualify.

District residents can also check eligibility for the Department of Energy and Environment’s Utility Discount Program. DOEE says eligible households may receive up to $475 per year off electric bills, or up to $300 annually for households without electric heat. Eligibility depends on income and other requirements, including having the utility account in the applicant’s name.

DOEE says new LIHEAP applications are closed. The agency says LIHEAP applications submitted on or before June 3, 2026, will be processed as UDP applications, while later submissions will be reviewed for UDP eligibility only.

Residents can apply for UDP online or call 311 for information about assistance and application status. Customers with unpaid Pepco balances should contact the utility and check District assistance options before the ordinary notice process reaches a disconnection date.

Sources

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