Payment Resources Available to Customers

We want to remind our customers of payment programs for those who may be experiencing financial conditions that make it difficult to keep their accounts current during these cold weather stretches and higher usage periods. Many of these arrangements can be made directly over the phone by calling (202) 833-7500 and following the simple instructions or through a customer service representative. Either way, we are more than glad to provide help through difficult periods  throughout the year.

• Special Payment Arrangements: we have a variety of individually tailored payment arrangements available for customers aimed at bringing their account up to date over a mutually agreeable period of time. Call (202) 833-7500 and follow the simple instructions or speak with  a customer service representative.
• Budget Billing: Customers can avoid seasonal peaks in electric bills by dividing their payments evenly over the course of the entire year. This plan makes it easier to budget and pay electric bills each month, because customers know their regular payment amount.

To sign up for budget billing, customers can register either by calling customer service at (202) 833-7500 or online through “My Account,” a secure self-service option that will allow customers to:

• View and pay their bills
• Sign up for eBill (paperless billing)
• Get e-mail notification when bills are ready
• Take advantage of features that can help save energy

Once customers register for My Account, they just need to log in and click on the “Budget Billing” button.

• Extended Payment Date Plan: This allows residential customers whose main source of total household income is from government or other low-income entitlement programs to request a regular extension of their bill due dates without incurring a late charge so their bill due dates align with the dates they get their checks. To apply, call us at (202) 833-7500 or submit the enrollment form online at pepco.com.
• Energy Assistance Programs: Some federal energy assistance may be available through state and local assistance programs. Customers can get more information on those programs by calling us at (202) 833-7500.

To save energy and money, customers can call Customer Service or visit our website at pepco.com/energy/conservation/ to learn more about programs to help pay for more energy-efficient products, simple steps to conserve energy usage and how to monitor energy consumption.

Preparing for the Summer Heat

Keeping your home or business cool requires more energy as temperatures rise. But a little preparation can help you stay comfortable and manage your summer energy bills.

Here are some simple ways to help save money and energy:

• Turn off lights when you leave the room
• Close window blinds and curtains to keep the sun from warming your home or office
• If health permits, set the temperature on your air conditioner a few degrees higher – but be sure to stay comfortable
• Use window or whole house ventilating fans
• Unplug electronics when they are not in use
• Place a dry towel in your clothes dryer with each load of wet laundry to absorb dampness and reduce drying time
• Barbecue outside instead of heating up your kitchen with the stove or oven

For more ways to save, visit our Save Money and Conserve Energy section. You will find tips to help you save money and energy, as well as information about programs in your area that can help you save even more.

Be Aware of Scams

We want to alert our residential and commercial customers to several scams taking place in our area.

Fake Invoices

Some scammers, posing as third-party energy suppliers, are sending fake utility bills via email to customers, asking them to click on an enclosed link. It is suspected that, by clicking the link, your computer could become infected with a virus or malware.

For your protection, we ask that you pay your utility bill by going to our website, mailing us the hard copy of the remittance portion of your invoice or visiting one of our Customer Courtesy Centers. Do not open any email asking for payment unless it was sent by us or your respective third-party energy supplier.

Reloadable Debit Cards

Scammers are also contacting customers and telling them that their electric service will be shut off for non-payment unless they purchase a reloadable debit card (Green Dot MoneyPak or Vanilla card).

Victims are instructed to call a phone number and provide the card’s account number and unique serial number. Once the scammer obtains the card’s identifying information, the value is stolen.

Commercial customers are also being told to use the same method of payment to have a new meter installed. The caller claims that the state has mandated these meter changes. This is not true.

Always Use Caution

Many utility companies, including Pepco, contact customers in person or via phone for various reasons. If someone claims to represent our company or another entity, it is important that you verify the employee’s identification—especially if they are requesting immediate payment. When addressing past due accounts, we always offer multiple payment options.

Our employees always carry an official company identification card. If proper identification cannot be produced when asked, you should notify the police or the company with whom the individual claims to be associated. Similarly, if someone calls claiming to represent a company, ask them to verify their identity and affiliation.

If you have any doubt about the validity of a person claiming to represent Pepco, please call us immediately at 202-833-7500.

Help Is Available for High Winter Bills

This month’s extremely cold temperatures mean your heating system has been working overtime. As a result, you may notice your electric bill is higher than usual. We have several payment options and tips to help you keep your account current.

Special Payment Arrangements: We offer customized payment arrangements aimed at bringing your account up-to-date over a mutually agreeable period of time.

Budget Billing: You can avoid seasonal peaks in electric bills by dividing your payments evenly over the course of the entire year. You’ll know what to expect in your bill, making budgeting easier.

Extended Payment Date Plan: If your main source of total household income is from a government or other low-income entitlement program, you can request a regular extension of your bill due date so it aligns with the date you get your check.

Energy Assistance Programs: Some federal energy assistance may be available to you through state and local assistance programs.

Many of these arrangements can be made directly over the phone by calling (202) 833-7500 and following the simple instructions or by speaking with a customer service representative.

We have useful tools and technology which can also help you manage your electric use. Our smart provide you with detailed energy use charts and information online through My Account. Our Bill to Date feature allows you to see your current energy use and projected bill so you can know where your bill will be at the end of the month.  You can also see your daily and hourly energy use, so you can identify when you use the most energy and get tips for reducing your energy use.

We care about our customers and want you to know you can always call us for help.

Give the Gift of Energy

The holiday season is almost here! Avoid the shopping frenzy and give your loved one a Gift of Energy instead. It is the simplest way to help a relative, friend, or colleague with their monthly expenses.

Giving a Gift of Energy is no different than making a payment on someone’s account. All you need is the customer’s name and address – not an account number – to purchase the Gift of Energy.

You can purchase a Gift of Energy for a customer at one of our Walk-In Service Centers (listed below), or on our website, where a Gift of Energy contact form is available. Once the form is submitted, a customer care representative will contact you and complete the transaction via telephone. We will also send you a free holiday greeting card that can be used to notify the customer of your generosity or you may keep the gift anonymous.

You can purchase the Gift of Energy at any of the following locations:

Washington, D.C.
701 Ninth Street, NW
Hours: Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Rockville, MD
201 W. Gude Drive
Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Friday only
10 a.m. to 2 p.m

MLK Business Office, Washington, D.C.
2804 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE
Hours: Monday – Friday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Forestville, MD
8300 Marlboro Pike
Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Friday only
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We Can Help with Winter Energy Bills

Winter is just around the corner. A drop in temperature typically means you’ll be turning up your heat which can lead to higher energy bills. We understand that higher energy bills can be a major concern. If you have difficulty paying your heating bills this winter, we’re here to help.

The first thing to do is call Customer Care at 202-833-7500 before your bill becomes unmanageable. We can recommend payment arrangements where appropriate and can discuss alternative payment plans such as our Budget Billing program that can help you avoid seasonal cost spikes and keep monthly bills level.

Our Extended Payment Date Plan is for customers whose main source of income is from government programs. Since assistance does not arrive until the first of each month, qualified customers whose bill due date is before the 5th of the month may be granted an extension of their due date.

Under the Deferred Payment Arrangement Plan customers experiencing a temporary financial hardship may be eligible to make installment payments on their current bill and a portion of any unpaid balance.

Felecia Greer
Customer Advocate

2 Ways to Save: Peak Energy Savings Credit & Energy Wise Rewards Program

As the temperature rises during the summer months, so does the demand for electricity. Because of this, we’re offering customers in Maryland 2 Ways to Save energy and money this summer.

Peak Energy Savings Credit

The Peak Energy Savings Credit (PESC) lets you earn a credit off your bill when you reduce your electricity use on specially designated Peak Savings Days, when demand for electricity is at its highest. You will receive a credit of $1.25 off your bill for every kilowatt hour (kWh) you reduce your energy below your baseline.

Saving energy on Peak Savings Days can be as simple as turning off lights, waiting to run your clothes dryer until later or setting the temperature on your thermostat a few degrees higher. If you have a central air conditioner, you can also participate in Energy Wise Rewards to automatically reduce the energy use and receive guaranteed credits off your bill.

Here’s how it works:

1. No enrollment is needed. When a Peak Savings Day is announced, you’ll automatically receive a phone call the night before giving you the hours for reducing your energy use. You can also choose to be notified by text or email and set your personal notification preferences on My Account. You can decide if you want to reduce your energy use on a particular Peak Savings Day.
2. Reduce your energy use below your baseline on Peak Savings Days to earn a credit off your bill. The less energy you use on Peak Savings Days, the more money you can save.
3. View your credit on your next bill and online through My Account at pepco.com/myaccount.

Energy Wise Rewards

The voluntary Energy Wise Rewards program from Pepco makes it easy to automatically reduce your central air conditioner energy use during Peak Energy Savings Days. By signing up for Energy Wise Rewards, you will receive your choice of a web-programmable thermostat or an outdoor switch, provided and installed at no charge, and a one-time installation credit of $40-80, depending on the cycling level you choose. Then, during summer months (June through October) you will receive up to $80 in Annual Reward Credits off your bill.

During the specified time period on Peak Savings Days, we’ll automatically cycle off and on your central air conditioner or heat pump to help manage energy use. Your fan continues to circulate already cooled air through the home.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for Energy Wise Rewards by calling 1-866-353-5798 or visit pepco.com/rewards.
2. Select your cycling level – 50%, 75% or 100%. Most people start with 50% cycling, meaning that the A/C compressor will run half the time it did during the prior hour.
3. Choose your device – the web-programmable thermostat or outdoor switch and receive a one-time installation Credit of $40-$80 off your bill.

For more information, visit our 2 Ways to Save page.

We Can Help with High Winter Bills

With winter weather here, some customers may be experiencing high energy bills. That’s because colder temperatures cause heating systems to work harder and use more energy.

For those customers who have a heat pump, that unit’s resistance heater switches on when temperatures dip below about 32 degrees. When that happens, efficiency declines and costs increase.

At Pepco, we understand that high winter bills can be a concern. If you’re having difficulty making a payment, call us at 202-833-7500 before your bill gets unmanageable.

We can discuss alternative payment plans such as our Budget Billing program that allows you to make a fixed monthly payment and avoid cost spikes. We also can direct you to government assistance programs that offer help to eligible customers based on income guidelines.

And don’t forget to visit pepco.com to sign up for My Account, our online tool that can offer ways to manage energy use.

Felecia Greer
Customer Advocate

Low Income Energy Summit Update

Pepco recently hosted more than 180 social service agency representatives from Delaware and Maryland for its annual Low Income Energy Summit in Dover, Delaware.

The Summit gave service providers valuable information to better assist low- to moderate-income utility customers, many of whom have difficulty paying their energy bills.

U.S. Senator Christopher Coons of Delaware provided opening remarks and welcomed the participants to Dover. Maryland Public Service Commission Chairman Douglas Nazarian, Delaware Public Service Commission Ombudsman Matthew Hartigan and District of Columbia Public Service Commission Member Linda Jordan participated in a very informative regulatory panel.

Closing the day in Dover was Kenneth Parker, Sr. Vice President, Government Affairs & Corporate Citizenship, who told his personal story of growing up in a household that relied heavily on community support and the outreach of social service providers. “I know what you do. I benefited from what you do. You invest in people like me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Ken said.

It is important for us to take the time out to assemble our community and agency partners under one roof to educate them on Pepco programs and services. Summit discussions included several exhibitors and plenary sessions on emergency preparedness, storm response, social media and diversity.

As Customer Advocate, my job is to communicate your concerns and ideas to the Company. If you would like your voice to be heard, please contact me at customeradvocate@pepco.com.

Felecia Greer
Customer Advocate

The Gift of Energy

Yesterday, I was quoted in a pretty heartbreaking article.  Some unfortunate events landed an elderly couple in financial hardship where they couldn’t afford to pay their electric bill.  Long story short, we disconnected their power.

I have to stress that the last thing we want to do is disconnect anyone’s electricity.

Not included in the article is that fortunately, the couple received energy assistance that covered their entire bill in addition to donations from the community that were applied to their account.  It was truly an amazing feeling to know that the community stepped in and supported this elderly couple.  Which leads me to one of the reasons for this post…

This morning when I got in, I called a colleague of mine in Customer Care to get a status update on the account.  He notified me that we reconnected service yesterday morning and as an added bonus, the company received numerous anonymous donations to benefit the couple.  What was even more touching was that one of the donations was for $1200; the entire amount that was owed prior to energy assistance.  It couldn’t have been more than 10 minutes later, I received a call on the media line from a 75 year old customer offering to also pay $1200 to their account.  I let him know that the account was taken care of, but if he was still interested, he could still provide them with the “Gift of Energy.”

We typically promote the Gift of Energy during the holidays, but it’s available all year ‘round.  It’s a way for people to help out other customers or family members with their energy costs.

The other reason for this post was to let customers know that it’s a lot easier to remedy account issues before a service disconnection.  An extremely common issue is that customers don’t notify us of their financial troubles.  There are payment options available, but they can only be taken advantage of if we are aware of customer needs.  So the takeaway from that is if you or someone you know is having financial troubles, don’t wait until it’s too late to contact us to make arrangements.

‘Til the next post,

Andre