Pepco's power rates up are up 100% since 2020
People on Nextdoor are posting $500 to $800 Pepco bills and asking what happened. If you’re confused by your bill, here’s some context.
EIA data show DC’s average residential electricity price was roughly twice its January 2020 level by June 2026. That measures the price per kilowatt-hour, so you can use about the same electricity and still pay substantially more.
Then electricity supply rates increased again July 1, following approval by the DC Public Service Commission (PSC), the agency that regulates local utilities. That latest increase came after the period covered by the EIA chart.
Higher prices don’t explain every large bill. Usage, billing days, and previous balances matter too. But telling people to adjust their thermostat feels like gaslighting and only addresses part of the problem.
These costs are especially hard on households already struggling to cover essentials and renters who can’t control their building’s insulation or equipment.