Washington, D.C. residents in the Dupont Circle neighborhood woke up Sunday morning to a familiar frustration: the third power outage in three days, leaving homes, traffic signals, and local businesses in the dark.
According to Pepco, the utility provider for the region, a recurring equipment failure at the 22nd Street substation was responsible for the outage that began Thursday.
As of Sunday morning, around 1,800 customers were without service. By 5 p.m., Pepco said repairs were completed and power had been restored—though many residents remain skeptical after days of on-and-off service.
“Dynamic Situation” and Forced Shutoffs
Pepco cited summer heat, storms, and equipment strain as causes, claiming protective shutdowns were used to prevent more widespread blackouts.
“These equipment issues, along with increased demand from summer heat and intermittent storms, have placed increased load on our electric system,” said Pepco spokesperson Rod Wilson. “Crews have been working around the clock… but the situation remains dynamic.”
He added that temporary shutdowns—or “dropping customers”—may continue through the end of the month as crews conduct repairs, meaning intermittent outages could persist.
28% of 20036 Zip Code Affected
As of midday Sunday, 28% of customers in the 20036 zip code were still impacted, according to Pepco’s outage map. Reports from the scene included non-functioning traffic lights and dark storefronts, creating safety concerns and economic losses for businesses.
Residents Sound Off
Locals vented their frustration online. A thread on Reddit’s /washingtondc subreddit quickly filled with complaints:
“3rd day no power and in a heat emergency – unreal,” wrote one user, referring to the ongoing D.C. heat emergency, extended through Monday at 8 a.m.
“I complained to a very nice representative… Pepco’s not even telling their own folk what’s happening,” added another.
Some reported spoiled food, lack of warning, and confusion over when power might return. Pepco said it is working on providing better alerts and proactive communication, but many residents say that help is coming too late.
