RICHMOND — The State Corporation Commission (SCC) invites persons and groups with an interest in energy conservation to submit comments or join a work group to assist Commission staff in developing a plan for a recommended mix of programs that will reduce electricity consumption in Virginia.

In April 2007, the Virginia General Assembly established a goal of reducing electricity consumption by retail customers by 10 percent by the year 2022. The legislature directed the SCC to determine if the reduction goal can be achieved, identify the types of conservation and efficiency programs that should be implemented to meet the goal, and develop a plan for the implementation of recommended programs.

The SCC will conduct a comprehensive review of short-term and long-term strategies for decreasing energy consumption within an era of growing demand for energy. The examination will include programs for demand-side management, conservation, efficiency, load management, real-time pricing, consumer education, and other ideas that come from the public.

Interested parties such as utilities, retail customers, consumer and environmental groups, and government agencies who wish to join the SCC work group should submit a letter expressing their intention by June 25, 2007, to the Clerk of the Commission, Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia, 23218-2118. The letter should include a complete mailing address, telephone number, fax number (if available), and electronic mailing address (if available).

The first meeting of the work group is scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 19 in an SCC courtroom on the second floor of the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, in downtown Richmond. The meeting will open with a public comment period for individuals who want to express their views, but may not wish to participate in the work group.

The SCC also welcomes written comments on the energy conservation goals. All correspondence should be sent by July 13 to David Eichenlaub, SCC Division of Economics and Finance, P.O. Box 1197, Richmond, Virginia, 23218. Interested persons desiring to submit comments electronically should prepare them in a Microsoft Word document and send the email to econfin@scc.virginia.gov .

The SCC will submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 15, 2007.

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Case Number PUE-2007-00049