Electric disconnections in District of Columbia, 2024
District of Columbia ranks 28th of 51, 1st being the highest rate. The District of Columbia total is 15,623 disconnections on about 318,780 accounts, 4.5 per 100 below the U.S. rate of 9.4. It also counts 216,970 final-notice events. Events, not homes: an account cut off twice counts twice.
District of Columbia month by month
District of Columbia: May peaked at 2,558 disconnections, August bottomed at 1. Per 100 District of Columbia accounts the monthly rate ran from 0.00 (August) to 0.80 (May). District of Columbia averaged 0.31 a month in December to February and 0.26 in June to August: winter ran 1.2 times summer.
District of Columbia disconnections per month, 2024
- 664Jan
- 1,757Feb
- 1,152Mar
- 2,341Apr
- 2,558May
- 2,170Jun
- 357Jul
- 1Aug
- 1,021Sep
- 2,227Oct
- 814Nov
- 561Dec
| Month | District of Columbia final notices | District of Columbia disconnections | District of Columbia reconnections | District of Columbia accounts | District of Columbia per 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20,452 | 664 | 515 | 316,383 | 0.21 |
| February | 17,222 | 1,757 | 1,365 | 316,812 | 0.55 |
| March | 18,870 | 1,152 | 987 | 317,391 | 0.36 |
| April | 19,054 | 2,341 | 1,952 | 317,645 | 0.74 |
| May | 18,531 | 2,558 | 2,158 | 317,990 | 0.80 |
| June | 14,343 | 2,170 | 1,750 | 317,950 | 0.68 |
| July | 13,694 | 357 | 308 | 318,839 | 0.11 |
| August | 0 | 1 | 1 | 319,131 | 0.00 |
| September | 40,898 | 1,021 | 787 | 320,427 | 0.32 |
| October | 25,919 | 2,227 | 1,994 | 320,759 | 0.69 |
| November | 18,688 | 814 | 610 | 320,359 | 0.25 |
| December | 9,299 | 561 | 426 | 321,677 | 0.17 |
| Year | 216,970 | 15,623 | 12,853 | 318,780 (mean) | 4.90 (yearly) |
Scale District of Columbia to your town
Statewide rate for District of Columbia: 4.90 per 100. A single utility can sit far from it.
District of Columbia utilities that reported
District of Columbia: 1 utility reported. They sum to 15,623 of the 15,623 disconnections in the state total; Potomac Electric Power Co alone reported 15,623 (100%).
1 District of Columbia utilities have 5,000+ accounts and twelve months of data. Their rates run from 4.9 (Potomac Electric Power Co) to 4.9 (Potomac Electric Power Co) per 100.
| District of Columbia utility | Disconnections | Avg accounts | Per 100 | Final notices | Reconnections | Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potomac Electric Power Co | 15,623 | 318,780 | 4.9 | 216,970 | 12,853 | 12 of 12 |
District of Columbia against its neighbours
District of Columbia sits in the South Atlantic division. Its 8 division peers average 10.1 per 100; the highest is Florida at 20.6 and the lowest Maryland at 3.4. District of Columbia is 5.2 below the division average.
| District of Columbia borders | Rank of 51 | Per 100 | Gap to District of Columbia | Times District of Columbia | Final notices per 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 10th | 12.7 | +7.8 | 2.58x | 68.1 |
| Maryland | 39th | 3.4 | -1.5 | 0.69x | 71.2 |
Closest in the ranking to District of Columbia: Maine 5.2, Colorado 5.2, Pennsylvania 4.7, Oregon 4.5.
How firm the District of Columbia number is
District of Columbia response rate: 100.0% weighted by size, 100.0% by count. Utilities reported 15,623; EIA's adjustment is +0 (+0.0% of 15,623). Largest monthly relative standard error, District of Columbia: 0.0%. EIA flags no District of Columbia month. Flag codes and method.
Shutoff rule read for District of Columbia
| District of Columbia rule | What the text says |
|---|---|
| Cold weather | 310.3(a): electric utility may not disconnect residential electric service for nonpayment, missed deposit or DPA breach on the day before and the day of an NWS forecast of 32 F or below (using wind chill), nor on holidays or weekends following such a forecast. Applies where electricity is the primary heating or cooling source (as worded). |
| Hot weather | 310.3(a): same bar when the NWS forecast for DC is 95 F or above (heat index considered). |
| Protected customers | 311.1: utility must postpone disconnection for a reasonable time up to 21 days on a physician certificate or public health official notice that disconnection would be detrimental to health and safety of a bona fide occupant, provided the customer enters a DPA; one renewal of up to 21 days. 311.2: no disconnection while a dispute is pending at the Office of Consumer Services (undisputed amounts must be paid). |
| Notice before disconnection | 311.3: disconnection notice sent to billing address by first-class mail or technological means at least 15 days before disconnection (also copy to designated third party on request); notice must be on first page of the bill in bold if sent with a bill. 312: at least 2 attempts to contact, at least 2 days before disconnection. No disconnection after 5 p.m. Thursday until 8 a.m. |
| Payment plans | 306 and 311.6: utility and customer may enter a deferred payment agreement; no interest or new charges beyond those accrued at settlement; service not disconnected while a DPA is kept; written DPA within 10 business days. |
| Complaints | 320.6: utility must tell the customer of the right to contact the Commission and of Office of the People's Counsel help. DC PSC phone read this session on dcpsc.org: 202-626-5100 (1325 G Street N.W., Suite 800). |
Read: 15 DCMR 310-312, 306, 320 (Chapter 3, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities), checked 2026-10-02. 300.2: chapter applies to residential services regulated by the Commission provided by electric, natural gas and telephone utilities, and to licensed energy suppliers and telecom providers.
Not legal advice; check your District of Columbia notice.
Help in District of Columbia
District of Columbia LIHEAP eligibility as listed: Heating, Cooling, Crisis, & Weatherization: 60% State Median Income.
District of Columbia benefits as listed: Heating and cooling: $200 minimum, $1,800 maximum Crisis: $500 maximum Weatherization: $25,000 maximum.
Programs named for District of Columbia: Residential Aid Discount (RAD); Residential Essential Service (RES).
What this means for you in District of Columbia
- District of Columbia had 216,970 final notices and 15,623 disconnections: 7 disconnections per 100 notices. A notice is not a disconnection.
- District of Columbia reconnections ran at 82 per 100 disconnections. The data give no time to restore.
- Cold-weather rule in District of Columbia, as we read it: 310.3(a): electric utility may not disconnect residential electric service for nonpayment, missed deposit or DPA breach on the day before and the day of an NWS forecast of 32 F or below (using wind chill), nor on holidays or ... May was the busiest District of Columbia month by count.
- To contest a District of Columbia notice: 320.6: utility must tell the customer of the right to contact the Commission and of Office of the People's Counsel help. DC PSC phone read this session on dcpsc.org: 202-626-5100 (1325 G Street N.W., Suite 800).
- Cannot pay in full? Ask your District of Columbia utility for a payment plan, then the LIHEAP office above.
More
Sources
Form EIA-112, Residential Utility Disconnection Survey, calendar year 2024, EIA release page (released 2026-04-14, file retrieved 2026-10-07). Utility file: electric utility-level workbook; report: 2024 Residential Utility Disconnections Report. Monthly CSV
Questions
How many electric disconnections were there in District of Columbia in 2024?
15,623 in District of Columbia, of which utilities reported 15,623. That is 4.9 per 100 accounts, 28th of 51.
Does 4.9 per 100 mean 5% of District of Columbia homes lost service?
No. The 15,623 District of Columbia disconnections are events; a home cut off twice counts twice. EIA gives no count of distinct District of Columbia homes.
Which month had the most disconnections in District of Columbia?
May, with 2,558. August had 1.
How many District of Columbia utilities have a yearly rate?
1 of 1.