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Electric News Releases
June 27, 2000
Project Current Choice Tops Half-way Mark for Volunteers
RICHMOND, Va. – More than 22,000 Virginia Power customers
in central Virginia have signed up for the company's retail access pilot program,
Project Current Choice. The pilot program is well over the half-way mark in
its goal of obtaining at least 35,500 volunteers.
"That we passed the half-way point of our goal in less
than a month is a tribute to the success of our educational efforts," said
Edgar M. Roach Jr., chief executive officer. "Education is key for customers
to understand the new concept of choosing an electricity supplier and to want
to be among the first in Virginia to take advantage of this opportunity. The
results to date indicate they are getting the message."
Virginia Power's education campaign included radio, television,
newspapers, billboards, direct mail, bill inserts, movie screens and Internet
banners. As of June 26, 22,785 Virginia Power customers had volunteered for
the pilot program. Of those, 20,346 were residential customers.
Project Current Choice's first audience is 340,000 customers
in the city of Richmond, the town of Ashland and the counties of Chesterfield,
Hanover and Henrico. Energy flow for volunteers who switch to another electricity
supplier can begin as early as Sept. 1.
The pilot's second audience is 340,000 customers in Fairfax
County, Fairfax City and the towns of Clifton, Herndon, Vienna and Reston. The
company will look for another 35,500 participants from this area. Energy flow
for Northern Virginia participants is scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2001.
The State Corporation Commission reported that as of June
26, two electricity suppliers had submitted applications for licenses to sell
electricity competitively in Virginia. The commission expects to process applications
in 30 days to 60 days.
Project Current Choice volunteers will not be switched to
a new supplier without their expressed permission. Those who switch will continue
to have their meters read by Virginia Power. Residential customers who switch
will receive one monthly bill from Virginia Power, on which all of their charges
– including the charge for the energy they have used -- will be displayed. Virginia
Power will continue to be responsible for the connection, delivery and outage
restoration of electricity to all homes and businesses regardless of supplier.
Virginia Power is a subsidiary of Dominion (NYSE: D), the
nation's largest fully integrated natural gas and electric company, providing
energy to more than 4 million customers in five states. More information on
Dominion can be found on the Internet at www.dom.com.
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