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GLAA thanks Washington Gas for domestic partner benefits 02/27/07 GLAA amends testimony on PSC to reflect advances at Washington Gas 02/27/07 GLAA endorses Betty Ann Kane for Public Service Commission 02/21/07 GLAA protests rate increases by PEPCO and Washington Gas Light 01/03/07 GLAA urges Danaher Corporation to adopt DP benefits 10/20/06 GLAA urges PEPCO to adopt DP benefits 07/17/06 GLAA urges Washington Gas Light to adopt DP benefits 07/17/06 Turn out the lights on Pepco (Rosenstein, The Washington Blade) 07/07/06 |
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GLAA Withdraws Protest of Proposed Rate Increase for Washington Gas
GAY AND LESBIAN ACTIVISTS ALLIANCE OF WASHINGTON
Fighting for Equal Rights Since 1971
P. O. Box 75265
Washington, D.C. 20013
(202) 667-5139
February 26, 2007
Ms. Agnes Alexander Yates
Chairperson
D.C. Public Service Commission
1333 H Street, N.W., Suite 200W
Washington, D.C. 20005
Dear Chairperson Yates:
I am writing to inform you that we are withdrawing our objection to the rate increase proposed by Washington Gas Light (Formal Case #1054), as originally expressed in our letter of January 3.
Our protest was based on our belief that Washington Gas had not implemented an equitable domestic partner benefits program for its gay and lesbian employees. However, the company has now provided us documentation that they instituted such a program as of January 1 of this year.
The program is not perfect by any means, principally because only residents of the District of Columbia who are registered as domestic partners are eligible to participate. Since District law allows couples to register as domestic partners regardless of where they live, we see this limitation as unfortunate and unnecessary. We are encouraging Washington Gas to allow its suburban employees who register with the District government to participate as well.
Nevertheless, we believe Washington Gas has made a good-faith beginning. Accordingly, we will not be participating in the community hearings you will schedule later this year concerning its proposed rate increase, and you should no longer send us copies of various documents related to this case.
Unfortunately, PEPCO has made no effort similar to what Washington Gas has accomplished. As you will recall, its representatives insisted at your February 7 Prehearing Conference on its right to deny domestic partner benefits. Our protest of PEPCO’s proposed rate increase (Formal Case #1053) therefore continues, and we intend to participate in the appropriate community hearings.
Thank you for your attention, and we look forward to working constructively with you and your fellow members of the Public Service Commission.
Sincerely,
Barrett L. Brick
President
Cc: Richard E. Morgan, Commissioner
Elizabeth A. Noël, D.C. People’s Counsel
Councilmember Mary Cheh, Chair, Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs
Betty Ann Kane
Steven Jumper, Office of Public Affairs, Washington Gas Light
