Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) released the following statement today regarding a letter sent to the Virginia State Corporation Commission concerning Old Dominion Power Company’s (ODP) rate increase requests:

“A 17.58 percent increase in electric rates by ODP would only add to the financial stress many families in Virginia already feel. I urge the State Corporation Commission to carefully weigh the impacts of a rate increase of this magnitude on Virginians. A member of my staff will be in attendance at the Norton public hearing on May 25 to read this letter into the record.”

The full text of the letter follows below and is also attached in PDF form:

The Honorable Judith Williams Jagdmann

Chairman

Virginia State Corporation Commission

Post Office Box 1197

Richmond, Virginia 23218-1197

Dear Chairman Jagdmann:

I am writing regarding Old Dominion Power Company’s (ODP) recent rate increase requests, which were filed with the State Corporation Commission on April 1, 2011.  I respectfully urge the Commission to deny these requests and to resist similar rate hike proposals that may be submitted in the near future.

As you are aware, ODP’s rate request would raise electricity rates by an average of 17.58 percent on Virginia customers.  While I will continue to work to eliminate federal regulations that limit domestic energy production and lead to higher energy costs, I am conscious of the fact that ODP’s profit margins remain healthy.  Over the past decade, Virginia residents have seen their electricity rates increase again and again.  At a time of high gasoline prices, it would be unreasonable to add to the impact of rising energy costs, placing more financial stress on hardworking Virginians and their families.  I fear that Commission approval of ODP’s request could force some Virginians to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table.  For these reasons, I trust the Commission will carefully weigh the real world impacts of such a rate increase on Virginians, particularly those Virginians who will attend and express their concerns at the regional public hearings.                                                                                   

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