Sept. 13-Today Delegate Ward Armstrong called for the General Assembly to freeze electric rates until the Legislature passes meaningful reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, September 13, 2011 Contact: Claire Wilker 276.632.7022 Armstrong Calls for Freeze on Electric Rates Today Delegate Ward Armstrong called for the General Assembly to freeze electric rates until the Legislature passes meaningful reform of Virginia's electric utility regulation and restores fairness to electric rates. A rate freeze would provide necessary relief to both residential and business customers throughout the Commonwealth. "For the past two years I have introduced legislation to fix electric utility regulation in Virginia and bring relief to customers while ensuring fair rates. Time and again the General Assembly has rejected these efforts, siding with the electric utilities, and claiming that they need more time to see the effects of current law," said Armstrong. "But rate payers have suffered under the effects of the current law for four years, and they have run out of time." "In 2010 I formed a workgroup of leading experts and concerned citizens who issued a comprehensive 50+ page report detailing the problems with our current regulation and offering proposals on how to revise our laws to return fairness to our electric rates. The citizens and businesses of Virginia, particularly within the Appalachian Power service area, have suffered enough. They deserve action from their elected officials, not lip service, as legislators cut backroom deals with the utilities. Until the General Assembly decides to take action, they should ensure that the people of Virginia do not see another crippling rate increase." Armstrong will introduce legislation in the 2012 General Assembly Session to both freeze rates and to revise state regulations of electric utilities.