Washington Post - Virginia Briefing, August 21, 2008

STATE UTILITIES COMMISSION

Ex-Dominion Lawyer to Avoid Power Line Debate

A former lawyer for Dominion Virginia Power who was appointed to a commission that oversees utilities has said he will not participate in deliberations over a 65-mile power line proposed by the company.

James C. Dimitri, appointed to the three-judge State Corporation Commission last week, had represented Dominion earlier this year at commission hearings over the power line, which is to stretch between Frederick County, Va., and Loudoun County. Opponents of the line had said his appointment was a conflict of interest.

Dimitri told the commission Tuesday that he would recuse himself from the case, a commission spokesman said. The other two commission judges have asked a retired judge to join them in reviewing the case and rendering a final decision, the spokesman said.