Washington DC Gas Planning and Rate Case
Synapse supported the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) across multiple proceedings and analyses related to Washington Gas Light Company (WGL).
Dr. Asa Hopkins testified on behalf of the OAG in WGL’s 2024–25 rate case, addressing the prudence of WGL’s capital investments and deficiencies in capital and business planning. He evaluated WGL’s competitive position with respect to electricity and the likelihood of sales reductions from competition and public policy, identifying threats to WGL’s business model and customers resulting from the company’s imprudent failure to account for this context when making capital decisions. Dr. Hopkins also addressed WGL’s failure to evaluate or use non-pipeline alternatives or to conduct long-term planning beyond a few years ahead.
In Formal Case 1179, Dr. Hopkins again testified on behalf of the OAG regarding WGL’s proposed accelerated pipe replacement program (formerly Project Pipes, now District SAFE). He evaluated WGL’s plan against the criteria established by the Public Service Commission, assessed the sustainability of WGL’s current and proposed approaches to gas system risk reduction, and proposed an alternative strategy that uses repair and retirement alongside replacement to more quickly and cost-effectively reduce risk. Synapse subsequently evaluated WGL’s replacement project selection using geospatial analysis and identified concerns with WGL’s stated and actual methods for selecting projects.
Building on this testimony, Synapse developed a white paper for DOEE and OAG on alternative approaches to increasing gas system safety compared with WGL’s replacement-based approach. The paper detailed WGL’s expensive and risky strategy, described the market and policy context in which WGL is operating, and identified alternatives—such as neighborhood-level electrification—that reduce risk faster and at lower cost. Synapse quantified the rate and bill impacts of these alternatives and demonstrated that they also reduce both safety and financial risk.