Ed. Note: ICYMI we first posted about “Pepco billing anomalies”, this season, back on December 11th, 2025.
From Pepco:
“Following one of the coldest starts to winter the region has experienced in years, Pepco customers across the District of Columbia and Maryland used significantly more energy as prolonged extreme cold drove higher heating demand.
December 2025 and January 2026 ranked among the coldest winter months of the past decade, according to Heating degree day (HDD) data, a key indicator of heating demand. Despite the extreme weather and elevated demand, Pepco’s electric system continued to perform reliably throughout the extended cold snap.
“We recognize that this winter’s unusually harsh cold has placed a real burden on many households, making it harder for some customers to manage higher energy bills,” said Amber Perry, Pepco Region President. “We truly care about our customers and want them to know they’re not alone—our team is here to help connect customers with resources and assistance during this challenging time, while continued investments in our electric system and careful operational planning enabled us to deliver safe, reliable service when customers needed it most.”
One of the Coldest Starts to Winter in Years
December 2025 was the coldest December in ten years, followed by a January that also ranked the coldest January of the past decade—more than 14 percent colder than the 10‑year average and colder than January 2025. Together, these back‑to‑back months of extreme cold made this one of the harshest winters customers have experienced in recent memory.
What This Means for Customer Bills
When cold temperatures persist, heating systems must work harder, even if thermostat settings remain unchanged, which can increase overall energy use. Customers with gas heat may also see impacts on their electric bills due to the electrical components that support HVAC systems and circulate warm air. The combination of record‑level cold in December and January helps explain higher winter energy use and how extreme weather conditions influence customer bills.
Tools, Tips and Assistance to Help Customers Manage Energy Costs
Pepco offers a range of tools and assistance programs to help customers better understand their bills and manage energy use:
Understand Your Bill: Customers can learn more about bill components, usage trends, and rate information
My Account: Customers can track energy use, receive customized energy-saving tips, and set alerts related to weather-driven usage changes
Budget Billing: Helps Smooth seasonal bill fluctuations by spreading costs evenly throughout the year
Energy Efficiency Programs: Home energy assessments and efficiency upgrades can help customers save energy and money
Customer Assistance Programs: Income-qualified customers may be eligible for bill assistance, payment arrangements, grants, or energy efficiency support, including Pepco’s recently expanded Customer Relief Fund and LIHEAP.
Maryland Legislative Energy Relief Refund: The Maryland General Assembly, through the Next Generation Energy Act, established the Legislative Energy Relief Refund that the state utilities, including Pepco, will distribute to eligible customers. Credits began to appear on energy bills in February.
For more information, customers can visit pepco.com/BillSupport.”