Songs, chants and comedic clown noises shake PSC chambers as Washington Gas faces public fury over rising leaks, soaring bills, and a massive new pipeline spending request.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The D.C. Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing on Washington Gas’s pipeline replacement program, Project Pipes, had to stop in its tracks today, as residents broke into protest songs, clapping, and noisemaking to call out what they described as the gas utility’s corporate greed and the Commission’s continued failure to protect ratepayers.  

The protest came as Washington Gas faced scrutiny for its poor safety record and its latest request to pour another $215 million of customer money into the third phase of its failing, over-budget methane gas pipeline replacement program. The company’s proposal, a 43% spending increase over its prior plan, follows a 13% rate hike, set to take effect on New Year’s Day, both measures that will significantly boost corporate profits for the utility’s shareholders. 

The hearing periodically erupted with songs, chanting, clapping, and comedic “clown noises” from local advocates and residents frustrated by years of inaction. Demonstrators held signs reading “Reject District (un)SAFE” and “PSC Do Your Job”, turning the proceeding into a spontaneous act of public resistance. 

“D.C. families are struggling to make ends meet this holiday season. Meanwhile, Washington Gas is looking to pad its profits again,” said Claire Mills, DC Campaigns Manager at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund. “In just the past few weeks, the Public Service Commission has allowed the utility to raise gas rates on District residents and extended its pipeline replacement program to tune of another $25 million — all of which will be paid by District residents. As utility regulators remain asleep at the wheel and leave Washington Gas’ corporate greed unchecked, advocates today spoke out in protest to ensure families and residents have access to affordable, reliable heating that doesn’t break the bank. Today’s disruption was a cry for accountability, and a demand that our regulators finally wake up.” 

In February 2025, eight D.C. council members urged the Commission to reject Washington Gas’s funding request, warning it does not “meaningfully advance the goal of providing both safe and reliable power to District residents.” Despite these concerns, the Commission has repeatedly approved measures that transfer costs onto consumers, including $12.5 million pipeline fee included in the 13% rate hike and a $25 million extension of the previous Project Pipes 2 earlier this fall. 

Washington Gas’s continued pipeline spending has done little to improve safety. The company’s own data shows that gas leak reports have risen as much as 25% from 2020 to 2024, and in October 2024, the utility took more than six hours to respond to a gas odor emergency.  Regulators fined Washington Gas $180,000 for “failing to adequately report gas leaks, gas emergencies, and gas outages.” Independent data shows ‘grade 1’ gas leaks rose 40% from 2014 to 2023, while researchers identified more than 400 gas leaks in 2022. Gas leaks are estimated to cost D.C. taxpayers $674 million annually. At the hearing, Earthjustice Senior Attorney Tim Oberleiton cross-examined Washington Gas’s track record on gas pipeline spending as part of the Commission’s deliberations.

For every mile of gas pipeline replaced, Washington Gas passes the cost to consumers, along with extra billing that turns into corporate profits. Washington Gas’s pipeline spending is on track to cost District residents $12 billion, bills D.C. families will keep paying for decades. Already, one in seven residents are behind on their gas bills, with Washington Gas shutting off service to nearly 3,000 customers in 2024. Meanwhile, last week, Washington Gas’s parent company, AltaGas, announced a 6% dividend increase to shareholders, citing both the recent 13% rate hike and continued capital spending as drivers behind the company’s growth. 

Watch the live stream recording on our Facebook account HERE.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement toward clean energy solutions — focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.