Data centers in District of Columbia

📜 State laws

No D.C. law written for data centers (as of October 2026) · Oct 2026
We found no D.C. Council bill or law aimed at data centers: no moratorium, no zoning rule, no special electric rate, and no tax break. Council work in 2026 has been about Pepco rates and electric bills in general (see the bills below). A neighborhood commission in Ward 1 (ANC 1E) asked the Public Service Commission in July 2026 to keep data center costs off residents' bills, but that is advice only. Source

Utility Rates and Ratemaking Amendment Act of 2026 (B26-0596) · July 2, 2026
Bill B26-0596 was introduced by Councilmember Robert White on February 13, 2026, and sent to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment. Public hearings were held June 29 and July 2, 2026. News reports say it would limit Pepco's multi-year rate plans, base rates on past (not projected) costs, and require refunds of extra profits. It is about rates in general; we did not find data center language in it. No vote yet as of the last recorded action. Source

90-day pause on Pepco shutoffs (expired July 28, 2026) · July 28, 2026
After the D.C. Court of Appeals threw out Pepco's rate plan approval on March 5, 2026, the D.C. Council passed emergency law on March 31, 2026 (8-5 vote) that stopped Pepco from cutting off homes that owed $1,000 or less for 90 days. It ended on July 28, 2026. It did not erase what people owe. Source

💡 Who pays for the power

Power supply price went up 7% on July 1, 2026 · July 1, 2026
The Public Service Commission (PSC) approved new Pepco 'Standard Offer Service' supply rates on May 20, 2026; they started July 1, 2026. For an average home using 614 kWh a month, the bill rose 7.0%, or $9.56 a month. The PSC lists higher demand from data centers in the region as one of the reasons, along with power plant closings, new reliability rules and clean energy requirements. Source

Power supply part of the bill doubled since 2020 · June 3, 2026
The PSC says the 'generation' (power supply) part of an average home bill was about $35 in 2020 and about $80 in January 2026, rising from about 50% to about 58% of the bill. On June 3, 2026, it held a public information hearing (Formal Cases 1017, 1183 and 1186) on why. Topics included capacity auction prices and data center demand growth. The People's Counsel told the PSC that data center costs are being spread to customers across the PJM grid region, including D.C., and asked that big new users pay more of the power line upgrades they cause. Source

Power line (transmission) charges up 68% from 2021 to 2025 · Jan 13, 2026
A January 2026 report for the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) found that transmission charges for an average D.C. home rose 68% from 2021 to 2025 (44% after inflation), about 9% of a typical bill. It says much of the region's forecast growth comes from new data centers, mostly elsewhere, while D.C.'s own forecast use went down 3%. D.C. customers still pay part of the new regional power lines. It recommends better data center load forecasts and pushing back at PJM and the federal regulator (FERC). Source

PSC task force on the PJM capacity auction (Formal Case 1183) · Jan 12, 2026
The PSC set up a PJM Capacity Auction Task Force (Order No. 22334, December 2024) with Pepco, the People's Counsel, the Attorney General, PJM, DOEE and PSC staff to study how the regional capacity auction raises D.C. bills. It met through at least January 12, 2026. Anyone can follow the case on the PSC eDocket under FC1183. Source

Pepco's rate plan approval thrown out by court (Formal Case 1176) · Dec 7, 2026
On March 5, 2026, the D.C. Court of Appeals vacated the PSC's approval of Pepco's 2024-2026 multi-year rate plan (a $123.4 million increase over two years), because the PSC did not hold a full trial-style hearing on disputed facts. The People's Counsel and the Apartment and Office Building Association had appealed. Current rates stay in place while the PSC redoes the case; the hearing is now set for December 7-8, 2026. This case is about Pepco's local wires, not data centers. Source

💵 Tax breaks

No D.C. tax break for data centers found · Oct 1, 2024
We found no D.C. tax break written for data centers. D.C.'s old tax breaks for 'Qualified High Technology Companies' have been cut back; the last piece, a 3% capital gains rate, was permanently repealed starting October 1, 2024. Source

🤐 Secret deals and public records

Public records law (D.C. Freedom of Information Act) · 2026
Any person can ask a D.C. government office for public records; you do not have to live in D.C. The office must answer within 15 working days. In unusual cases it can take 10 more working days if it tells you in writing why. No answer in time counts as a denial. Fees are limited to the actual cost of search and copies, and the office can only ask you to pay in advance if the fee is over $250 (or you did not pay before). Source

If your records request is denied · 2026
You can ask the Mayor to review the denial. The Mayor's office must decide in writing within 10 working days. If it says no or does not answer, you can go to D.C. Superior Court. For records held by the D.C. Council, you go straight to Superior Court. Source

Secret deals (NDAs) · 2026
We found no D.C. rule about data center secret deals (NDAs) and no known D.C. data center NDA. Records a contractor makes for a D.C. office are covered by the public records law like the office's own records. Source

💧 Water

Where D.C.'s water comes from · 2026
D.C.'s tap water comes from the Potomac River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Washington Aqueduct takes the water at Great Falls and Little Falls and treats it; DC Water buys the treated water and delivers it. A data center in D.C. would buy water from DC Water, so DC Water and its rules decide its service. Source

🌫️ Air and generators

Air permits for diesel backup generators (DOEE) · 2026
The Air Quality Division of the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) issues permits for diesel emergency generators. Before it issues one, it posts a public notice. Anyone can send written comments or ask for a public hearing within 30 days, and look at the application and draft permit at DOEE (1200 First Street NE). Example: permits for 500 kW diesel generators at Verizon phone buildings in Southeast and Northwest D.C. New sources that are not 'major' need a minor New Source Review permit (20 DCMR § 209). Source

🙋 How to have your say

Who decides a data center in D.C. · 2026
D.C. has no counties or towns. The Zoning Commission (3 D.C. residents named by the Mayor, plus the Architect of the Capitol and the National Park Service) writes the zoning rules and zoning map, and decides big projects (Planned Unit Developments) and map changes. The Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) decides variances, special exceptions and appeals of the Zoning Administrator at the Department of Buildings. Hearing notices are published in the D.C. Register. Source

Your neighborhood commission (ANC) gets 'great weight' · Sept 25, 2026
Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) must get notice of many government decisions. When an ANC votes on a written recommendation, the agency must give it 'great weight': it must name the ANC and answer each of its issues and concerns in writing. ANC meetings are open to the public, so you can ask your ANC to take a position on a project. Source

How to take part in a zoning hearing · 2026
Anyone can testify at a Zoning Commission or BZA hearing, or send a signed letter while the record is open. In contested cases (variances, special exceptions, appeals, Planned Unit Developments, some map changes) you can also ask for 'party status', which lets you present witnesses and question others. You must show you are affected more than the general public. You do not need to be a party to appeal: a person hurt by a decision can ask the D.C. Court of Appeals to review it. ZC hearings are mostly Monday and Thursday at 4:30 pm; BZA hearings are Wednesdays from 9:30 am, online. Source

How to speak up at the Public Service Commission · 2026
The PSC decides Pepco's rates. You can file a public comment in any case on the PSC website (Submit Public Comments) using the case number, for example FC1017 (power supply), FC1183 (capacity auction) or FC1176 (Pepco rate plan). The PSC also holds community hearings, and asked for public speakers for its June 3, 2026 hearing on rising supply costs. The Office of the People's Counsel represents residents in these cases for free. Source

🧾 Help with your bills

Utility Discount Program (UDP) · Oct 20, 2026
DOEE's Utility Discount Program cuts up to $475 a year off Pepco bills ($300 without electric heat), up to $276 in winter off Washington Gas bills, and over $962 a year off DC Water bills. The bill must be in your name. FY26 income limits were $91,800 for 1 person and $131,100 for 4. Applications for FY27 open October 20, 2026. Call 311 or (202) 737-4404. Source

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) · Oct 20, 2026
LIHEAP gives a one-time payment of $250 to $1,800 toward heating and cooling bills, based on household size, income, heating type and home type. There is also emergency help if your power or gas is cut off or your oil tank is at 5% or less. FY27 applications open October 20, 2026. Appointments: call 311. Source

Pepco payment plans and relief fund · July 2026
When the shutoff pause ended in July 2026, Pepco pointed customers to payment plans, its online Assistance Finder, and a Customer Relief Fund run with the Salvation Army for limited- or moderate-income customers who owe at least $250. Source

📞 Who to contact

Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (PSC) · 2026
Sets Pepco's rates and rules and approves the power supply price. Takes public comments and consumer complaints. 1325 G Street NW, Suite 800. Source

Office of the People's Counsel (OPC) · 2026
D.C.'s free advocate for utility customers. Argues for residents in PSC and federal cases, and helps with utility complaints. Source

Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) · 2026
Issues air permits for generators, runs bill help programs (UDP, LIHEAP), and takes part in PJM and power line cost cases. Source

Office of Zoning (Zoning Commission and BZA) · 2026
Runs Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment cases, hearings and records. Case records are searchable online. Source

Council of the District of Columbia · 2026
Passes D.C. laws, including utility and zoning-related laws. Bills are tracked in the Council's LIMS system. Source

Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) · 2026
Elected neighborhood commissions whose written advice must get 'great weight' from D.C. agencies. Resolutions are posted on the ANC resolution portal. Source

DC Water · 2026
Delivers drinking water bought from the Washington Aqueduct and runs the sewer system. Source