For Immediate Release

Bob Lazaro
PEC Director of Communications
571-225-0198

Piedmont Environmental Council Asks Virginia Supreme Court to Send Transmission Line Case Back to SCC Based Upon Plummeting Demand for Electricity

(Warrenton, VA - February 10, 2009) The Piedmont Environmental Council has filed an appeal with the State Supreme Court requesting the Court to send back to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) for reconsideration its approval of the TRAIL transmission line. Plummeting demand for electricity as evidenced by actual usage and demand forecasts by PJM Interconnection warrant a remand or return of this case to the SCC. The SCC relied upon PJM data as part of its decision-making process to approve the TRAIL line.

In a November 12, 2008 report PJM data revealed that actual unrestricted peak demand for the summer of 2008 in PJM's region was 10,591 megawatts lower than the summer 2007 peak demand and 7,156 megawatts (or 5.2%) lower than the forecast for 2008 that PJM had previously forecasted. In addition, PJM in January 2009 released a 2009 Load Forecast, which assumes a 4,929 megawatt decrease in the projected electric load for the region in the decision-critical 2011 time frame.

"Economic data from the Federal Reserve of Richmond to PJM's own data and forecasts highlight that the evidence and rationale for approval of the TRAIL transmission line no longer exists. Why should Virginia ratepayers be forced to pay for something that is not needed," said Christopher G. Miller, President of the Piedmont Environmental Council. "Commonsense dictates if there is new evidence that this line is not needed, the SCC should be given the opportunity to re-examine its approval of the TRAIL line in light of this new information."

The Piedmont Environmental Council's appeal was filed by Patrick M. McSweeney of McSweeney, Crump, Childress and Temple. Mr. McSweeney can be reached at (804) 783-6802.