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By GEORGE BOWLES
Arundel 'Newspapers Writer
Officials of the Virginia Electric and Power Co. spend much of their time blaming the federal government and its regulations for their problems with nuclear power generation. But at the same time they are looking to indirect government subsidies as a means of keeping their rates high.
In the process, they are mounting a campaign against a legislative proposal which would provide strong economic incentives for electrical power conservation.
The proposal, called ‘‘Lifeline Rating,” was the subject of consideration last week by a Joint House-Senate Subcommittee studying its feasibility. Del. Robert C. Scott (D-Newport News), chairman of the panel, explained how the new rating system would work.
“Lifeline rating is different from the structure we have now,” he said. “Our present structure is called the ‘declining block’ rate. Under this system, the first electricity purchased during a billing period is at the highest rate, and as you use more and more electricity the cost per kilowatt hour is reduced. This gives no incentive for those in the highest use brackets to conserve.
“The lifeline rating system would change the system around,” he continued, “so that the first electricity purchased would be at the lowest cost, and as you use more and more electricity, the price would increase. This would encourage people to conserve, and by conserving they could make quite an impact on their bills. It would also enable those in lower income brackets to conserve on electricity and get a much lower bill.”
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