D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1316
1316.1 Electricity is delivered to District consumers by electric transmission and distribution facilities. Power plants generate high-voltage electricity, which is transported along transmission lines into the power grid to substations located throughout the District. From the substations, distribution lines deliver the electricity to transformers on the ground or mounted on utility poles. The transformers reduce the voltage so that it can be safely used by District consumers. Currently, PEPCO supplies 85 percent of the District's residential customers and 63 percent of its commercial customers; the remainder is provided by other suppliers.
1316.2 Since the decommissioning of PEPCO's oil-fired power plants at Benning Road and Buzzard Point, the majority of electricity supplied to District residents is generated by coal-fueled power plants in Maryland. Washington, DC receives this power from point-to-point or radial transmission lines that terminate in the area they serve. With the decommissioning of the District's power plants, PEPCO is in the process of transforming the radial transmission system to a networked system, which would create redundancy and make the District more resilient. This networked system project, called the Capital Grid Project, will connect multiple supply lines to critical substations, creating alternative pathways for power to flow that will support faster restoration and reduce the potential impact of unforeseen shocks and stressors.
1316.3 To maintain reliable power distribution in Washington, DC, PEPCO maintains a presence on various properties in the District for substations, fleet maintenance, and storage and service yards. PEPCO currently uses a 10-year planning horizon to estimate substation capacity. Its latest 10-year forecast determined that two new and four rebuilt substations will be needed to meet forecast load growth needs through 2030. These capital improvements are estimated at more than $943 million in investment.
1316.4 As part of PEPCO's Capital Grid Project, a new waterfront substation will provide additional capacity for the South Capitol Corridor, Buzzard Point, and the Southwest Waterfront areas. A new substation is planned for Mount Vernon Triangle that will serve north of Massachusetts Avenue (NoMa), Northwest One, and the Mt. Vernon Triangle. Four substations are being rebuilt as follows:
1316.5 PEPCO is in the midst of a number of 4 kV to 13 kV conversion projects, updating aging overhead and underground infrastructure to current standards, which will allow for more growth and be able to accommodate more distributed energy resources. Conversions are taking place in Georgetown, Fort Totten, Southwest, Congress Heights, Columbia Heights, and Barney Circle.
1316.6 Beyond the 10-year horizon, PEPCO expects to construct substations when needed to relieve future overloads at stations that are approaching capacity and to respond to future growth. However, future needs should be continually assessed and closely monitored to balance investments for the future that will be needed to serve District needs at that point in time.
1316.7 Investments should be balanced with the District's goal of reducing energy usage by 50 percent, as recommended in the Sustainable DC Plan. If this goal is met, significantly fewer upgrades in distribution infrastructure for electricity will be needed. To avoid making unnecessary improvements, Washington, DC should actively coordinate infrastructure improvements across relevant agencies and energy providers.
1316.8 Over the past several years, PEPCO has deployed an advanced metering infrastructure system and has been developing the smart grid in the District. Projects related to the smart grid include installation of smart meters, automated switching devices that isolate electrical faults and automatically restore customers by switching them to other area feeders, and underground monitoring devices that detect problems before they turn into major events. In addition to improving reliability, the smart grid also helps conserve energy through demand response and direct load control programs and supports the installation of distributed generation and conservation voltage reduction. PEPCO is leveraging the smart grid for potential projects, such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure, micro-grids, and battery installations. Collectively, these programs are anticipated to reduce overall energy consumption and demand, leading to deferral of some capital expenses.
1316.8a Text Box: Neighborhood Energy Systems
Neighborhood-scale energy systems, also known as district energy, can be a cost-effective way of improving resilience and reducing GHG emissions and energy costs. These systems can include both micro-grids and combined heat-and-power systems. Micro-grids are small, neighborhood-scale networks of electricity users with a local source of energy; while they are attached to the larger grid, they can
also function independently. A combined heat-and-power system generates electricity while simultaneously producing heating and/or cooling, which is distributed through a neighborhood-scale network by steam, hot water, or chilled water. The District's current neighborhood-scale energy facilities are operated by GSA, as well as several local universities. New systems are proposed for several major redevelopment sites by the District, DC Water, and private developers.
1316.9 Individual development projects and redevelopment on large sites will require new feeder lines to serve additional customers. Construction of these lines will impact existing development and infrastructure in a variety of ways. Underground distribution systems, which are typically required in new development, will require construction of new conduits, cables, and subsurface or pad-mounted transformers. Dense commercial or multi-family residential developments will often require the extension of new mainline underground feeder groups, potentially resulting in digging up streets and sidewalks. Public utility easements may also be needed to provide buried distribution systems inside multi-building developments.
1316.10 An increasing supply of electricity for the District is generated by a mix of renewable resources. Renewable energy requirements and incentives have resulted in deployment of 40 megawatts (MW) of intermittent solar energy to the grid, and the amount of energy supplied by solar is expected to increase in the future. As an example, by 2030 it is anticipated that 300 MW of power will be generated by solar panels in Washington, DC alone.
1316.11 The DC Power Line Undergrounding (DC PLUG) Project was recommended by the Power Line Undergrounding Task Force to significantly improve power reliability in the District. Through the collaborative task force process, the District approved a multi-year, $500 million power line undergrounding project to help prevent prolonged electric service outages during major weather events. This effort will result in the strategic undergrounding of the high-voltage feeder power lines that are responsible for the higher frequency outages in Wards 3, 4, 7, and 8. Secondary and service lines will remain above ground.
1316.12 Policy IN-5.1.1: Adequate Electricity
Ensure adequate electric supply to serve current and future District needs. This will require collaboration with PEPCO and other service providers on the location and scale of facilities to meet future development and neighborhood demand.
1316.13 Policy IN-5.1.2: Undergrounding Electric Distribution Lines
Continue to enhance the resilience and safety of electric distribution lines and reduce their visual impact through power line undergrounding. Seek equitable means to cover the high costs associated with undergrounding. Use the opportunity for undergrounding to bury other above-ground communication lines,
such as telephone and fiber lines, wherever feasible.
1316.14 Policy IN-5.1.3: Modernizing the Electric Distribution System
Modernize the energy delivery system, increase sustainability, and make the system more reliable, efficient, and cost-effective. Balance these expanded capabilities with PEPCO's basic obligation to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable energy to the District.
1316.15 Policy IN-5.1.4: Develop Neighborhood-Scale Energy Systems
Promote the development of micro-grids, District heating and cooling, and other neighborhood-scale energy strategies. Encourage large projects to assess the feasibility of neighborhood-scale energy systems.
1316.16 Action IN-5.1.A: Aging Infrastructure
Implement improvement programs that can help enhance the resilience of the transmission and distribution of electrical power, such as through system reinforcement. This may involve upgrading the system by repairing or replacing aging infrastructure or expanding the original facilities.
1316.17 Action IN-5.1.B: Undergrounding Electric Distribution Lines
Continue implementing the DC PLUG initiative, which calls for placing electric distribution lines underground throughout the District.
See the Environmental Protection Element for information about the District's Energy Emergency Plan and Comprehensive Energy Plan.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).