Take The Pledge: DC Encourages Residents To Lower Electricity Use

WASHINGTON, DC — For the second year in a row, Reduce Energy Use DC is asking D.C. residents to take a pledge to reduce their electric power usage.

In 2020, nearly 2,500 residents took the pledge, and the 2021 goal is to get 6,000 pledges. Residents who take the pledge will have a chance to win a $300 credit on their Pepco energy account.

In 2020, the District Department of Energy and Environment, the DC Sustainable Energy Utility and Pepco worked with a coalition of partner organizations and an advisory organization to launch Reduce Energy Use DC. The goal was to raise awareness for increased energy consumption at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was causing major changes to how people use energy at home.

As more customers spend more time in their homes, the result has been higher residential customer energy use due to increased use of lighting, computers, HVAC and other electric powered equipment.

The organizers hope the campaign encourages District residents “to take action to save money and combat climate change,” Dave Velazquez, Pepco Holdings president and CEO, said in a statement.

“This initiative has such a tremendous impact because it engages a broad group of residents from every Ward, as well as critical local organizations and businesses,” Velazquez said.

In July 2019, one of the hottest years on record, Pepco customers in the District consumed more than 1.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to the emissions of more than 170,000 cars on the road for a year.

“As we look forward to the end of the public health emergency, we are continuing our commitment to providing residents with tips and resources that can help reduce their energy bills and save money,” said Tommy Wells, director of the District's Department of Energy & Environment. “While we continue to stay vigilant at home for the benefit of our community; our actions can also benefit the environment.”

Participants will be entered into one of more than 25 random drawings beginning in May for a chance to win a $300 credit on their Pepco energy bill. Winners will be selected across multiple categories, including early bird prizes, by Ward, senior residents, and customers in the Residential Aid Discount program.

Winners who are not Pepco customers can assign the $300 credit to a relative or friend or donate the funds to a nonprofit of their choice through the Pepco Gift of Energy program.

The Reduce Energy Use DC pledge period runs through July 31. District residents can take the Reduce Energy Use DC pledge by visiting ReduceEnergyUseDC.com, texting “SaveMore” to 52886, or calling 202-872-2020 or 855-673-3823.