Pepco to Raise MD Distribution Rates
August 16, 2010
You might think this next story is like adding insult to injury, after our recent storms and a particular utility's response to the resulting outages. Hopefully it'll help everyone down the road, though.
Maryland customers of electric utility Pepco will see their distribution rates rise by 2.3% across all rate classes, resulting in $7.7 million more in revenues for the embattled utility.
For residential customers, the rate increase will be about 3.1%, which is about a 1% increase for the average Pepco bill payer. This translates to about a buck a month average increase for those in Pepco's Maryland territory, which includes much of Prince George's County, and most of Montgomery County. Pepco also serves the District of Columbia, which is not included in this hike.
Pepco had wanted about $47 million, but Maryland's Public Service Commission scaled that request way back. The commission said while it recognizes that current economic conditions are challenging, it found that a modest increase to Pepco's distribution rate was appropriate.
If your power was affected by our recent storms, and we hear horror stories about those outages all the time here at EA (we even have a few of our own), you're probably a bit miffed about the hike. And as you can imagine, people overall are ticked. From a Washington Examiner story:
"We already pay enough for subpar service," said Bobby Bloch, owner of Bobby's Crabcakes in Rockville. His business lost power for three days in the July outages and lost it again a few days later. ...
"Increase in rates is never fine with me," said Deborah Simon, owner of Waygoose Crafts in Rockville. "We have had such a huge increase in our utility rates in the last year. My power bills have almost doubled."
The distribution rate pays for the upgrades in the system, the crews to repair outages, maintaining power lines, and so on. In the same article, Pepco spokesman Clay Anderson said the increase would pay for upgrades to transformers, wires and substations. "We do understand that the outages this summer have been very, very difficult for our customers all across the Pepco region," he said. "We are continuing to strive through our operating expenses to maintain and enhance the reliability ... We ask our customers to be patient."
Keep in mind that the distribution rate in your Pepco bill is the only part of the bill that we cannot bring down for you. We do deal with the generation and transmission parts of the bill, which make up about two-thirds of your overall bill, dollar-wise.
A funny aside ... whenever I talk with a business owner or executive, property manager, or resident in the DC area about our services, a lot of them get very excited because they think that they'll never have to deal with Pepco again. They think that our services replace Pepco in the entire bill. It's more than a bit of a downer for them when they find out that, no, they'll still deal with Pepco for outages, etc.
Every golfer has a round they remember. It might be a personal best, a long putt that somehow found the cup, or a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway. For me, the most meaningful round has less to do with my score and more to do with the people gathered around the first tee. That round is the Purple Tee Classic. On Thursday, September 17, 2026 , Metro Bethesda Rotary will host the 20th Annual Purple Tee Classic at Whiskey Creek , with a 10:00 a.m. shotgun start. This will be my third year leading the tournament, and my final year in that leadership role. That makes this year especially meaningful to me. More Than a Golf Tournament The Purple Tee Classic is a day of golf, but it is really about much more than a day on the course. It brings together business owners, community members, Rotarians, friends, families, veterans, and first responders around a shared purpose. The fundraiser supports veterans and first responders, people who have served, protected, and supported our communities in ways most of us will never fully understand. Golf gives us the setting. Service gives the day its meaning. That is what I value most about Rotary. The organization creates opportunities for people to put relationships, resources, and time to work for something larger than themselves. The Rotary principle of “Service Above Self” is not just a phrase. It is something we are asked to live out by showing up, contributing, and following through. The Purple Tee Classic is one of the clearest examples of that principle in action. Why This Final Year Matters Leading a tournament like this takes more than setting a tee time and asking people to come out and play. It takes planning, coordination, communication, fundraising, and a team willing to handle the many details most participants will never see. That is one of the biggest things I want to say clearly this year: this event is absolutely a team effort. The Metro Bethesda Rotary members involved in this committee do a tremendous amount behind the scenes. They help plan, coordinate, communicate, recruit sponsors and players, and keep things moving in all the ways that make an event like this possible. A lot of that work is not flashy. It is steady, thoughtful, behind-the-scenes effort that helps turn a good idea into a real event that serves real people. I have been fortunate to work alongside fellow Rotary members who care deeply about Rotary’s mission and the causes the tournament supports. I am genuinely grateful for their time, commitment, and willingness to do the work that needs to get done. Events like this do not come together because of one person. They come together because a group of committed people keeps showing up and doing their part. It also takes the support of a broader community. Over the past three years, I have seen how a simple invitation, to play a round of golf or contribute an auction item, can become part of a much larger effort. As I prepare for my final year leading the Purple Tee, I am thinking less about the fact that my leadership role is ending and more about what I hope continues. I hope the tournament continues to bring people together. I hope new sponsors and players discover the value of supporting a community event with a clear purpose. And I hope every participant leaves Whiskey Creek remembering that the best part of the day was never just the golf. It was the difference we helped make by showing up. How You Can Help There are several ways to support this milestone event: Become a tournament sponsor. Help strengthen the event while putting your organization in front of an engaged local community. Register a foursome . Bring colleagues, friends, clients, or family members for a meaningful day on the course. Sponsor a veteran or first responder. Help someone enjoy a round of golf and participate in the Purple Tee experience. Donate an item or experience. Raffle and auction contributions add energy to the day and help expand the event’s fundraising potential. Every form of participation matters. Not everyone can sponsor at the same level, and not everyone plays golf. But everyone can consider whether they, or someone they know, might be able to help. Key Takeaways The 20th Annual Purple Tee Classic will take place at Whiskey Creek on September 17, 2026. This is my third year leading the tournament and my final year in that leadership role. The fundraiser supports veterans and first responders. Sponsors, foursomes, individual player support, and donated auction or raffle items are all important. Rotary has given me the opportunity to serve with people who care about their community and are willing to turn good intentions into action. I am grateful for that opportunity, grateful for the people I get to work alongside, and determined to make this final year leading the Purple Tee Classic a memorable one. If you would like to support the event, please visit purpletee.fundraiser.bid . You can also message me directly if you are interested or know someone who may want to help. One last round in this leadership role. One more opportunity to bring people together. And one more chance to support the veterans and first responders who deserve our gratitude.
Your guide to Energy Incentives for Maryland is here
For most business owners, the monthly utility bill is just another line item to be paid and filed away. You glance at the total, ensure it isn't astronomically higher than last month, and move on. But in 2026, with energy markets facing unprecedented volatility and complex new tariff structures, that "glance and pay" strategy is costing American businesses billions in overpayments. The good news? You don’t have to just accept these costs as the price of doing business. Everyone is talking about utility bill audits because they have transitioned from a "nice-to-have" occasional check to a critical financial strategy. At Electric Advisors, Inc., we’ve seen firsthand how a meticulous review of historical invoices can uncover significant refunds and permanent rate reductions.