Opponents of winter heat shutoffs held a rally Saturday morning in front of the D.C. government headquarters.
The protest was held ahead of a 10 a.m. D.C. Council informational round-table on utilities.
The group Justice First organized the 9 a.m. rally and said its members will testify at the hearing. They want the D.C. Council to put a moratorium on shutoffs during the winter. The law allows winter shutoffs as long as the temperature is above freezing.
Justice First also said recent rate increases have been outrageous.
"Pepco is not distributing electricity as if it is a basic need of a safe and habitable home of every District resident," Justice First's Crystal Kim told News4's Derrick Ward. "In fact, they're actually distributing energy as a commodity to be sold for an enormous profit."
