Citizens' Board Worries That Pepco Is Slighting Its Area

Worried that Pepco may be working harder to prevent extended power outages in one part of the county over another, the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board is drafting a letter to the county executive and council expressing its concern.

The board voted to send a letter, which is to go out before a Jan. 5 public hearing of the county's Pepco working group, althought it has not yet been finalized. Its general content was discussed at a meeting Tuesday.

"It's basically a heads-up," said board Chairman L. Blaine Charak. "We want to make sure the mid-county is getting adequate service by Pepco."

Charak said there have been reports of Pepco officials stating it has focused infrastructure improvements and tree trimming in western parts of the county. He did not confirm when the remarks were made or exactly what was said.

The letter will express the board's concern that Pepco hasn't done enough to address problems that have led to extended power outages in the mid-county region, which includes Wheaton in its 99 square-mile area.

It will ask County Executive Isaiah Leggett to stress to the  Public Service Commission that Pepco needs to be more aggressive and spend more money to correct the problems that are leaving residents and businesses without power, in some cases, for extended periods.

The 15-member board is the county's  bridge to the 220,000 residents and businesses in mid-county area. It advises the county executive on a range of policy, budget, procedural and legislative issues and acts as a facilitator to try and resolve community issues and problems.

Members of the general public, including residents and commercial Pepco customers, can comment on their experience with Pepco at the Jan. 5 public hearing, to be held at the Stella Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, in Rockville.

There is a limit of 50 speakers. Speakers must pre-register by calling 240-777-3764.