Virginians need to pay very close attention to the electrical utility crisis that is about to be thrust upon residents and businesses in the commonwealth.
In 2007, The General Assembly lifted deregulations on electric utility companies, replacing it with re-regulations that takes effect July 1. The most significant change is that price caps are lifted.
A VEPGA white paper on the re-regulation discloses concern for a 70 percent increase in monthly utility costs over the next five years.
Under the re-regulation, electric utility companies must submit rate increases to the State Corporation Commission, and then a public hearing is scheduled followed by a ruling. There is also the question
of just how much authority if any; the SCC actually has.
Citizen’s need to follow this, attend hearings and speak up against the increases.
The (SCC) has scheduled a public hearing for June 24 to receive comments on a request by Dominion Virginia Power (DVP) to increase the company’s fuel rate on July 1. If approved, residential bills will
increase by 18.3 percent. Commercial may be even higher.
To stay informed you can sign up for e-mail alerts when hearing dates are issued. http://www.scc.virginia.gov/newsrel/newsmail.aspx.
To learn more about the future of energy in Virginia, read a comprehensive article written by Garry Kranz in the Virginia Business Magazine. http://www.gatewayva.com/biz/virginiabusiness/magazine/yr
2007/jul07/cover1.shtml.
BRYANNA ALTMAN
Lake Ridge
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