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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 15, 1992                   TAG: 9201150192
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

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SCC STAFF URGES TRIM IN VIRGINIA POWER'S RATE INCREASE REQUEST

The State Corporation Commission staff recommended Tuesday that $90.5 million be cut from Virginia Power's requested $184 million rate increase. The recommendation will be presented at the SCC's Jan. 29 hearing on the rate application.

Virginia Power's rate increase took effect Sept. 1, 1991, on an interim basis. It is subject to refund pending a final decision by the SCC.

In Western Virgina, the utility serves portions of Bedford, Botetourt, Rockbridge and Alleghany counties.

The staff report recommended that Virginia Power be allowed an increase in annual operating revenue of nearly $93.5 million, or 3.3 percent.

Under the interim rate, an average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month is paying $83.31. The staff recommendation would reduce the monthly bill by $3.20. - Associated Press

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