Bill > B26-0704

This bill, the Public Trust in Utility Regulation Act of 2026, requires electric and gas companies, when proposing changes to customer rates, to provide the Public Service Commission (the Commission, which oversees utilities in the District of Columbia) with a detailed breakdown of any proposed capital expenditures, which are significant investments in utility infrastructure or equipment that companies seek to recover from customers through their bills. This detailed description must include the purpose, total cost, expected lifespan, location, justification for inclusion in the rate increase, and anticipated benefits to customers for each project, and the Commission must make this information publicly available online within seven days. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Commission conduct a comprehensive audit of all public utilities every three years, examining various aspects like market information, service quality, financial data including capital expenditures and depreciation, and societal impact, with the findings to be shared with the Department of Energy and Environment and the Council.