District of Columbia Public Benefit Funds for Rate Assistance

The Universal Service Discount Program (USDP) was established through the enactment of the Retail Electric Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1999. The programs are funded through the Reliable Energy Trust Fund (RETF), a public benefit fund that supports universal service for low-income customers and residential energy efficiency and renewable resources programs.

The ongoing Residential Aid Discount (RAD) expansion has an annual budget of $775,000 that supplements funding from PEPCO. During the 2005 program year, 13,625 electric customers received the discount for an annual savings of over $2.7 million. The expanded LIHEAP program is funded through the RETF at $850,000 per year.

See electric utility restructuring.

LEVERAGING

2004: $1.6 million
2002: $744,000
2001: $837,000

Page Last Updated: May 26, 2006