THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997              TAG: 9701240006
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   19 lines

ELECTRIC RATES UP, TOO

In her Jan. 18 letter to the editor, ``Gas rates full of hot air,'' Vivienne Forbes hit the nail on the head regarding utility rates. We all can expect the same from Virginia Power in regard to our electric bills.

Due to the relatively mild weather in December, my heater ran very little, according to the usage log on my rather expensive digital thermostat. Other usage in the house was at or below last year's consumption, yet my electric bill was $212 - substantially more than this period last year. Wonder why, Virginia Power.

TOM PEARSON

Virginia Beach, Jan. 20, 1997