NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF

RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC

COOPERATIVE’S APPLICATION

FOR AN ELECTRICITY RETAIL

ACCESS PILOT PROGRAM

CASE NO. PUE000088 .

On February 8, 2000, Rappahannock Electric < Cooperative (“Rappahannock” or “the Cooperative") tiled with the State Corporation Commission ‘ (“Commission") public and nonpublic versions of an ] application containing the details, objectives, and . characteristics of its proposed electricity retail ac- . cess pilot program. In its application, Rappahan- • nock discussed, among other things, the pilot pro- • gram's objectives, customer participation parame- ' ters, pricing structure, customer and employee j education, enrollment by energy service providers, , distribution system access, metering, billing and . payment. >

The Cooperative proposes that during the pilot • program approximately 1.3% of the Cooperative's ' 70,500 customers, i ,e., approximately 900 customers, would be given the opportjnity to select an , Energy Service Provider CESP”) of their own . choosing, provided the ESP is licensed and ap- • proved by the Commission. Rappahannock expects • that the pilot participants will represent approxi- | mately five megawatts of load. The Cooperative ' proposes to have the following number of participants by customer class: 875 residential custom- . ers; 15-20 small commercial customers using les^ • than 100 kilowatts; and 1-10 industrial customers • that contract for 100 kilowatts or greater. The Co-, ' operative explained that there would be no geo- ] graphic limits on its pilot program and that partici- ! pants may come from anywhere within Rappahan- . nock's service territory, the details of these and - other proposals may be reviewed in the Coopera- • five’s application. Interested persons are encour- ■ aged to review Rappahannock's application and ' supporting documents for details.

A public hearing on the Cooperative's applica-' tion will be convened before a Hearing Examine)’ on May 18. 2000, at 10:00 a m., in the Commission's second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Mam Street, Richmond, Virginia. A copy of Rappahannock's application is available for public inspection between the hours of 8:15 a m. and 5:00 p m, Monday through Friday, at the State Corporation Commission, Document' Control Center, First Floor, Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia or can be ordered from Rappahannock's attorney, John A; Pirko, Esquire, LeClair Ryan, P C.. 4201 Dominion Boulevard, Suite 200, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060.

Any person desiring to comment in writing on Rappahannock's application may do so by directing such comments on or before April 14, 2000, to the Clerk of the States Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Rictrmond, Virginia 23218. Written comments must refer to Case No. PUE000088. Any person desiring to make a statement at the public hearing concerning Rappahannock's application need only appear in the Commission's second floor courtroom at 9:45 a.m. on the day of the hearing and identify himself or herself as a public witness to the Commission's Bailiff.

Any person who expects to submit evidence, cross-examine witnesses, or otherwise participate in the proceedings as a Protestant pursuant to Rule 4:6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 5 VAC 5-10-180, should promptly obtain a copy of the Order Establishing Procedural Schedule and a copy of the Protective Order entered herein from the Clerk of the Commission at the address set out below for complete details of the procedural schedule and instructions on participation in this case.

Individuals with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in the hearing should contact the Commission at least seven (7) days before the scheduled hearing date at 1-800-5527945 (voice) or 1-804-371-9206 (TDD).

All written communications to the Commission concerning Rappahannock's application should be directed to Joel H. Peck, Clerk of the State Corporation Commission,, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218, and must refer to Case No PUE000088.

RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

3-8-00

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