D.C. residents attend town-hall meeting on Pepco-Exelon merger plan

A town hall meeting to discuss a revised merger plan by Pepco Holdings and Exelon Corp. was held recently in Washington, D.C.

Exelon said approximately 250 residents attended the crowded meeting, which also was broadcast online.

“We have deep roots in the District of Columbia and have been a part of this community for more than 100 years,” David Velazquez , Pepco executive vice president of power delivery, said. “We are committed to this community and helping the residents. This merger provides real, tangible and long-term benefits, and we want to provide them to our customers.”

Over the course of the hearing, Velazquez and Exelon Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Executive Vice President Bill Von Hoene detailed what the merger would be able to provide residents in the area, including low-income assistance, bill credits and improvements to the electrical infrastructure. They also responded to merger critics' concerns and took questions from residents.

In August, the D.C. Public Service Commission initially rejected the proposed merger. The commission currently is considering a revised merger plan following modifications made by both companies and a settlement reached between Pepco and Exelon with the D.C. government.

The D.C. commission anticipates that a final decision will be made in the first quarter of 2016.