But PEC believes noninvasive alternatives to a power line

But PEC believes noninvasive alternatives to a power line would satisfy the region’s power needs.

PEC general counsel Georgia Herbert told the standing-room-only audience Monday that Dominion must be pressed to “find alternatives” to transmission lines.

Voluntary conservation measures such as the use of energy efficient light bulbs and devices should be part of the solution, several people suggested.

Dominion customers also could use electricity during nonpeak times to ease demand, said Herbert, a former two-term Scott District supervisor.

The day after the meeting, Anderson brushed aside voluntary programs as “very inefficient.” “It’s very difficult to get people to sign up” for such programs “because it’s inconvenient,” she said. “And people want convenience.”

“Time-of-use” meters that take advantage of lower rates during off-peak hours do little to reduce energy consumption, according to Dominion. Of its 2.3 million customers, just 15,000 use the meters.

During August’s heat wave, peak demand among Dominion customers reached 17,000 megawatts, the company reported. Dominion contends that “demand-side management programs” during that month would have reduced use by only 700 megawatts.

From the start, PEC representatives and other critics have strongly doubted Dominion’s argument that existing and future demands require construction of a new transmission line.

In recent months, speculation among critics about the energy company’s motives has run the gamut, with financial gain figuring into most of them. Miller said Monday night that Dominion also wants a new transmission line because it must ensure 100 percent backup capacity for customer electricity demand.

If the utility fails to meet demand, it will face a federal government fine of $1 million per day, Anderson said.