The Honorable Thomas K. Norment, Jr.
Member, Senate of Virginia
Chair of the Legislative Transition Task Force
P.O. Box 1697
Williamsburg, VA 23187

Dear Senator Norment:

Enron Energy Services, Inc. ("Enron") appreciates this opportunity to support the above referenced report of the State Corporation Commission ("SCC") dated September 1, 1999. Enron shares the view of the report that "competition in metering and billing services can bring more benefits to consumers than the provision of these services by a monopoly; and, conversely, that the continued provision of these services by a monopoly can impede the development of electricity competition that the General Assembly has mandated"¹. Furthermore, the General Assembly should authorize the Commission to implement competitive metering and billing services in a manner that enables and assists the development of a competitive retail electricity market in the Commonwealth.

Enron believes that the electric services of the utility should be unbundled to the maximum extent possible. All services except services for which a natural monopoly exists should be offered competitively. At the present time, a natural monopoly exists only with respect to transmission and distribution services. Clearly, metering, billing and customer account services are not natural monopoly services. As the Commission's report exhaustively documents, many companies are developing metering, billing, and other value added services, which should be among the choices available to Virginia consumers.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan T. Covino
Director, Government Affairs

1"Competition for Electric Metering, Billing, and Other Services", Report to the General Assembly of the State Corporation Commission, September 1, 1999, pg. 2.