Re: [ward5] RE: [WardFive]-Underground Electric Cables

Monday 25 June 2012

Re: [ward5] RE: [WardFive]-Underground Electric Cables

From what I recall from the either roundtable/hearing on the matter 3-4 years ago though talks included what if DC govt had to provide funding. Yes, there would be a way to have a contribution i.e., the road construction, but DC could not contribute significantly. Be mindful, if this does come about, residents will have to look forward to help paying for this like with the imprevious water charge on their water bills which is helping to pay for the EPA's unfunded mandate that DC separate its water and sewer lines throughout the city.

My only problem with this is that since residents would be paying for this charge directly to Pepco, WG, Verizon as it would probably be on your monthly bills, how would the funds be accounted for to be sure this line item fund are not somehow re-directed for some other purpose, and would there be a monthly public release of the information.

It would also be helpful if Eric provide what are the Federal funds that would help pay for this. From what I recall, due to the nature of the proposed project it was seen more as for ecstatics, though there was some emphasis on National Security to see if fed funds would cover/assist. We are aware that Pepco does pursue various fed grants for some of their projects.

I don't recall the name of the project, but look at what was recently done on H St NE between 3rd-15th Sts, then 15th to Spingarn to underground the utilities cables and lay what was needed for the streetcars. This project involved the road construction companies, the utilities in this more than 1 year job. CM Wells office should have the information.

This is the same thing that Brooklanders wanted for the 12th St job.

Again, what Eric is sharing is true about infrastructure standards. However, don't forget we have our own attorneys, The Office of the People's Counsel, 202-727-3071, www.opc-dc.gov who have the expert information for the ratepayers side which would give balance to the discussion of this matter, including estimated costs at the time of the hearing, and possibly what it would cost now and immediate future, documentd, etc.

Albrette "Gigi" Ransom

From: "Eric J. Jones, MSF" <ejjones.threed@gmail.com>
To: ward5@yahoogroups.com; wardfive@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 8:04 AM
Subject: RE: [ward5] RE: [WardFive]

Like I said, it isn't that simple. As crazy as it sounds there are actually standards in place for transportation infrastructure which this would be considered in addition to the fact that there is also federal funds available for work of this nature. As for grounding the power lines there still hasn't been a direct system in place to use the funds which must be done.

Eric J. Jones, MSF

ejjones.threed@gmail.com

P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

From: ward5@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ward5@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 7:51 AM
To: wardfive@googlegroups.com
Cc: ward5@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ward5] RE: [WardFive]

So, the answer is yes. Good! Can you find out the details of how we can use the Capital Money for this type of infrastructure work? Then we wull look at bond ceiling and the rest of roadblocks. Looks like we would start with the areas that the communities and Pepco could benefit from undergrounding the wires as well as planning much needed upgrades of other utility infrastructure. Bottom line - we ha e money for trolleys, we have money for other stuff.

Thanks!

On Jun 25, 2012 6:53 AM, "Eric J. Jones, MSF" <ejjones.threed@gmail.com> wrote:

Rob,

I wanted to add a little more information to my previous response. While I'm sure that there is a work around currently the bond programs which DC has at its discretion don't actually allow for the council to enact legislation for bonds based on issues related to the transfer of energy. I know that there may be a way to do so but off of the top of my head I haven't been able to figure it out as of yet.

In addition I mentioned in my email yesterday that we would have to adjust our debt cap. Currently the DC Government has set in place a rule that the city can't spend more than 12% of its general fund revenue on debt service. There was talk to expand this to 17% late last year which didn't go through but currently the city is near its debt cap so it would have to expand its debt cap to have the ability to issue enough debt to provide cost for this.

Eric J. Jones, MSF

ejjones.threed@gmail.com

P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

From: wardfive@googlegroups.com [mailto:wardfive@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 11:39 PM
To: wardfive@googlegroups.com
Cc: ward5@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [WardFive]

I hear the surrounding situations and I understand. However Can the Capital Money be utilized to fund this type of road repair project if coordinated properly?

On Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 11:16 PM, Eric J. Jones <ejjones.threed@gmail.com> wrote:

Rob,

It isn't that simple as it would still have to be covered as a cost from a city standpoint. The issue is that even with a public private partnership the city would have to cover its half. In addition there would be additional cost for traffic issues and problems related to the impact on business which the city would also have to find funds for.

The other concern is that even if we were to approve it that it would come from bonds and wr are at our debt ceiling. We would also have to encourage the government to raise our self imposed debt ceiling which was part of our agreement with the big three in NYC.

Eric J. Jones
- ejjones.threed@gmail.com

On Jun 24, 2012 10:22 PM, "Rob" <indianrob@gmail.com> wrote:

Eric,

Is it possible to use the Capital Money to do Street repair in a joint venture with all the utility companies? At some point, many of the existing infrastructure fail. I am sure that it is time to replace all the water and sewer pipes; especially to deal with all this development that is occurring!

--
R. Ramson
3744 12th Street, N.E.,
Washington D.C., 20017
202-438-5988

"We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
(Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)

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R. Ramson
3744 12th Street, N.E.,
Washington D.C., 20017
202-438-5988

"We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
(Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)