Pepco customers in the District of Columbia and Maryland experienced significantly higher energy usage during a prolonged period of extreme cold in December 2025 and January 2026. Despite the increased demand, the electric system remained reliable. Pepco is offering assistance to customers facing higher energy bills.
“Following one of the coldest starts to winter the region has experienced in years, Pepco customers across the District of Columbia and Maryland used significantly more energy as prolonged extreme cold drove higher heating demand .
data, a key indicator of heating demand. Despite the extreme weather and elevated demand, Pepco’s electric system continued to perform reliably throughout the extended cold snap. “We recognize that this winter’s unusually harsh cold has placed a real burden on many households, making it harder for some customers to manage higher energy bills,” said Amber Perry, Pepco Region President. “We truly care about our customers and want them to know they’re not alone—our team is here to help connect customers with resources and assistance during this challenging time, while continued investments in our electric system and careful operational planning enabled us to deliver safe, reliable service when customers needed it most.”December 2025 was the coldest December in ten years, followed by a January that also ranked the coldest January of the past decade—more than 14 percent colder than the 10‑year average and colder than January 2025. Together, these back‑to‑back months of extreme cold made this one of the harshest winters customers have experienced in recent memory.When cold temperatures persist, heating systems must work harder, even if thermostat settings remain unchanged, which can increase overall energy use. Customers with gas heat may also see impacts on their electric bills due to the electrical components that support HVAC systems and circulate warm air. The combination of record‑level cold in December and January helps explain higher winter energy use and how extreme weather conditions influence customer bills.Pepco offers a range of tools and assistance programs to help customers better understand their bills and manage energy use:Customer Assistance ProgramsThe Maryland General Assembly, through the Next Generation Energy Act, established the Legislative Energy Relief Refund that the state utilities, including Pepco, will distribute to eligible customers. Credits began to appear on energy bills in February.
Pepco Winter Storm Energy Usage Heating Demand Extreme Cold
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
ICE knew of increased use of force on US citizens and migrants, emails showDHS has consistently said that law enforcement officers are facing increased threats while carrying out their duties.
Read more »
Bitcoin Sees Increased Whale Accumulation Despite Price InstabilityBitcoin whales are buying the dip as holdings jumped 3.4% in two months amid expectations of a breakout.
Read more »
Heavy snow, dry winter create 'dramatically' increased avalanche risk in ColoradoEthan Carlson joined Denver7 in November 2020. After more than three years as a photographer, he moved into the role of multimedia journalist.
Read more »
Regarding those Big Pepco Bills Some are Seeing, Pepco says: “Extreme Cold Drives Higher Energy Use for Pepco Customers”Welcome to the beautiful life
Read more »
Angels’ Nolan Schanuel hopes increased bat speed leads to powerThe first baseman, who has shown himself to be a good contact hitter, aims to hit more homers and doubles while maintaining barrel control.
Read more »
Daily Energy Brief: Olympics Dog, EPA Lawsuits, and Nuclear Energy PushThis news brief covers a range of energy-related topics. It includes a humorous Olympics moment, lawsuits against the EPA regarding environmental findings, a breakdown of energy prices, and discussions on nuclear energy expansions in Illinois and potential issues with the EU's climate goals.
Read more »