
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 26, 1990                   TAG: 9004260235
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

VA. POWER RATE RISE REQUEST CONTESTED

The Virginia Committee for Fair Utility Rates is challenging Virginia Power's request for an expedited rate increase, which would raise the average customer's bill by $6.18 a month.

The utility maintains it must raise rates effective Tuesday to offset weakening financial conditions.

The committee, which represents more than 20 of the Richmond-based company's largest industrial customers, is urging the State Corporation Commission to either dismiss the request or to treat it as a normal rate request, which would mean Virginia Power couldn't collect an increase until late August.

Virginia Power filed an application with the SCC on March 30, asking for approval of a $147.5 million rate increase.

If the SCC allows the request to be expedited but later denies all of part of the increase, Virginia Power would have to refund money to its customers. Under normal requests, the utility is not allowed to start charging higher rates for at least five months.

The SCC probably will decide this week whether to grant the expedited approval, spokesman Ken Schrad said. - Associated Press

by CNB