Delayed

Delayed It was announced last week that State Corporation Commission staffers have requested a two-month delay to further study Dominion’s proposal before having the next scheduled arguments in January 2008. If granted by the hearing examiner, it would push the date to Feb. 25. That decision will be made later this fall. If the examiner decides to delay, then any one who would like to testify can do so on January 14. electricity needs. But PEC believes the line “is more likely to enrich power generators to the west at the expense of consumers,” according to the report. He believes the study’s research also shows that Dominion and Allegheny “ignored less costly and less environmentally damaging solutions” to energy requirements, and “made wildly unrealistic (but undisclosed) assumptions in analyzing” Northern Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic’s electricity needs. Without the line, Northern Virginia could experience “rolling blackouts” by 2011, according to Dominion. PEC dismisses such pronouncements as “fear mongering.”

It believes conservation, infrastructure upgrades and new technology would eliminate the need for the new line, . To that end, PEC bankrolled a program to give away thousands of compact fluorescent bulbs, which use far less electricity than incandescent bulbs. The report recommends Dominion invest more in programs designed to encourage conservation by homeowners and businesses. It also suggests the utility