Re: [WardFive] DC Watch Article: Power Undergrounding Project Update, Thu, 7/24/2014

Gigi,

Thank you for sharing your insight and perspective on this vitally important issue.  I have forwarded this information to other interested parties and Ward5@yahoogroups.com. Thanks again for info. 

Hazel  Thomas, Board chair

Premier CDC

On Jul 24, 2014, at 7:33 PM, "'Gigi Ransom' via WardFive" <wardfive@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Dorothy has been following what will be the massive power line(s) undergrounding effort which is scheduled to start in April, 2015.  There was the first community hearing on Formal Case No. 1116 on Monday, July 21, 2014.  I was the only one who signed up in advance to be on the official witness list.  There were 2 other witnesses added who were at the hearing.

Dorothy has here own opinion on the undergrounding of the power lines, community involvement, and proper notification to our communities about the hearing. With due respect, I have to disagree.

To get to this point in the scheduled project has taken over 2 years.  Yes, the paperwork is also massive.  The filing was over 2,000 pages.  There were the many Task Force meetings, direct/indirect Council hearings, community meeting going on at that time in some wards, the numerous ANC/Civic Association meetings attended by OPC and possibly Pepco reps that I know of.

First, the PSC has sent out notification about the 7 hearings throughout the city.  There were also Public Service ads in the Informer and I believe the WP, the notice was in the DC Register and on their e-dockets (PSC) filings and other utility info  which are easy to get by signing up on the PSC's website (www.psc.dc.gov ) to name a few.

The DC Office of the People's Counsel has also done their work numerous times to get the word out about these important hearings that will affect the designated communities, especially with the new surcharge DC ratepayers will be responsible for in order to pay for this possibly $1 Billion dollar project.  

The OPC has also held training/information meetings for our community leaders/ANCs for the affected Wards 3,4,,5,7,8. I attended. the evening one. Romaine Thomas and other Ward 5 community leaders also attended the evening session. I believe OPC held 3 community meeting on the topic, one was held on a Sat for additional convenience for our residents.

For attendees, an Information Packet was given out which included:

the now Act of the bill (A20-290, 34 pgs);

OPC's Press Release dtd June 18, 2014;

OPC's Power Line Undergrounding Fact Sheet (5 pgs)

OPC's Community Briefing on Pepco's & DDOT's Triennial Underground Plan, Sat, 6/28/14, 27 pgs (PowerPoint);

Pepco's News Release dtd Tue, June 17, 2014 (2 pgs);

Pepco's Fact Sheet;

Pepco's Proposed Underground Route of Feeders (approx 42 pgs, 11"x17" with Legend including Existing UG Primary[yellow]; Proposed UG Lateral lines [Red]; Proposed UG Primary lines [blue];

Pepco's supporting document also named "Feeders" 8x11 (42 pgs): Categories include by Ward; Voltage; Customer on Feeder; Feeder Miles; Neighborhood(s); Description. Lower Legend includes: Average Readability Performance Indices (01/2010-Dec. 2012, MSO Inclusive, and describes causes of outages;

Mayor's Power Line Undergrounding Task Force Findings & Recommendations, Final Report dtd October 2013 (116 pgs); and,

Integrated Communications Strategy: DC Power Line Undergrounding Education Plan, June 17, 2014, prepared by DDOT, One City, Pepco and OPC.

I may have misplaced 1 or 2 other documents.  One document includes the proposed budget.

OPC also sends out their e-alerts which you can also signup for on their website.

I understand Dorothy's frustration in what she sees as a lack of concern and participation by DC residents because it seems they are not getting the information.  That is an untruth.

I have to be honest and direct about this.  We are now in the year 2014.  The utility industry is complex, technical and can be hard to understand. From what I see, though still technical, Pepco, DDOT, OPC, One City has made every attempt to make the available public information as "reader-friendly" as possible.  OPC (22-727-371), our utility attorneys are there to answer any questions, come out to meetings, etc so that the community can get a better understanding of what is about to occur.  I chose to testify on the Education Plan.  

The geography, terrain, etc will be somewhat different in each of the designated locations, and there still could be short or unexpected power outages at locations while the work is being done.  From my understanding, DDOT & Pepco want to have a minimum of anticipated short outages as possible.  

Though some residents may feel that the needed information must be brought to them, it has, through the use of technology, placement of the information at libraries, and other practical means.  The Education Plan is important. There will be community outreach.

This project is big, and able-bodied and concerned residents should get/be involved and be willing to share information with the other residents on their block, buildings, etc. Also the involved task force is looking to have 100% DC businesses and workforce for the project.

Again, you can contact the Mayor's office; CM McDuffie's office; OPC's office; Pepco if you have any questions at this time.  

Sadly, the Ward 5 Community Hearing was tonight, Thu, 7/24/14, starting at 6pm, at UDC/Bertie Backus School, 5171 South Dakota Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20017.

<PSCCommissionHearing_FC1116DCPLUG_07.21.14.docx>

<PSCPublicNotice_FC1116_ScheduledCommunityHearings_07.08.2014.pdf>

<OPC_Revised Undergrounding Power Point_06.28.2014.pptx>