Northern Virginia Regional Commission
3060 Williams Drive, Suite 510
Fairfax, VA 22031
Voice: 703-642-0700
Fax: 703-642-5077
www.novaregion.org
RESOLUTION
Resolution No. 08-10
PATRON:
DATE:
Robert W. Lazaro, Jr., Chairman
ad hoc Energy & Environmental Policy
Committee
September 27, 2007
AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT COMMENTS TO THE
STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION ON DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER’S
APPLICATION TO CREATE ENERGY CONSERVATION PILOT PROGRAMS IN VIRGINIA
WHEREAS, on September 10, 2007, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) submitted
comments to the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) that advocated for the establishment of
energy conservation and efficiency programs in the Commonwealth that would assist the state in exceeding
the Virginia General Assembly’s energy reduction target of reducing electrical consumption by 10% by 2022;
and
WHEREAS, the EPA reports that electricity generation in 2004 accounted for almost 32% of Virginia’s total
CO2 emissions, and that between 1990 and 2004 CO2 emissions rose in Virginia at a rate twice the national
average; and
WHEREAS, the recently released Virginia Energy Plan concludes that “If Virginia is to meet its 10% electric
savings goal by 2022, the Commonwealth’s electric utilities will need to invest in the range of $100 to $120
million per year to support energy conservation programs”; and
WHEREAS, NVRC supports the findings and conclusions in the Virginia Energy Plan and believes that
energy conservation, efficiency, and education programs are vital components of a comprehensive approach
to increasing Virginia’s energy independence; and
WHEREAS, a wide range of energy conservation and efficiency programs are currently being implemented by
utilities and governments across the nation, demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing energy
consumption; and
WHEREAS, on September 18, 2007, Dominion Virginia Power (DVP) submitted a request to the SCC seeking
permission to create new pilots that would test energy efficiency, conservation efforts, and demand response
and load curtailment initiatives in the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, DVP is one of the nation’s 10 largest investor-owned electric utility companies and serves over
80% of Virginia’s seven million residents; and
WHEREAS, NVRC commends DVP for its plans to offer residents and businesses discounted prices on 1.4
million energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and to provide incentives to large commercial
and industrial customers to reduce peak-load demand through the use of generators; and
WHEREAS, NVRC recognizes the importance of conducting pilot studies and programs, yet finds that DVP’s
proposed plan to provide 250 free energy audits and enlist 4,550 residential customers to participate in
efficiency pilot programs, is too narrowly focused based on the Virginia Energy Plan recommendations and
should be more robust in the scope of practices examined and programs evaluated;
Resolution No. 08-10, continued
September 27, 2007
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Northern Virginia Regional Commission authorizes the Chairman
to convey to the Virginia State Corporation Commission its comments that Dominion Virginia Power’s
proposed application to create energy efficiency programs in Virginia be more consistent with the conclusions
and recommendations cited in the Virginia Energy Plan.
CERTIFICATION
The undersigned certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution
adopted at a legally convened meeting of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission
on September 27, 2007.
______________________________________
G. Mark Gibb, Certifying Officer