RICHMOND — The State Corporation Commission (SCC) will hold a public hearing on February 16, 2010 to consider a proposal by Dominion Virginia Power to implement 12 programs designed to reduce customer electricity usage and demand.

A major component of the package of demand-side management programs is the installation of digital “smart” meter technology throughout the Dominion Virginia Power service area. The company states that the installation of “smart” meters will enable it to save energy by delivering it more efficiently to customers.

Dominion Virginia Power requested that most of the programs be implemented by April 1, 2010. As part of its application, the company asked that the SCC approve a pair of rate increases to cover the initial costs of the programs. If approved, a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity in a month would see a rate increase of about $0.95 or 0.9 percent beginning in April 2010.

A public hearing on the request is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 16, 2010. It will be held in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, in downtown Richmond. Public witnesses wishing to make statements at the hearing should arrive early and notify the SCC bailiff.

The SCC will webcast the audio portion of the hearing via the Internet. Instructions for listening to the proceeding can be found on the SCC website athttp://www.scc.virginia.gov/case.

Written comments on the proposal must be submitted by February 9, 2010. All correspondence should be sent to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118, and refer to case number PUE-2009-00081.

Interested persons desiring to submit comments electronically may do so at the SCC’s website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. Click on the PUBLIC COMMENTS/NOTICES link and then the SUBMIT COMMENTS button for case number PUE-2009-00081.

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Case Number PUE-2009-00081