THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 1, 1995 TAG: 9507010587
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 22 lines
Utility companies are fighting deregulation advocates about a provision in the 1996 defense spending bill that would let Defense Department installations bypass local utilities and shop for the cheapest electricity. The DOD said it doesn't want the authority. But Senate Armed Services Committee staff members have written in the provision anyway, contending it could cut the DOD's power bill by more than 25 percent or $400 million a year. Virginia Power said if the measure passes and Virginia bases switch to cheaper power sources, it could lose defense-related revenues of $100 million a year. (Bloomberg Business News) by CNB