Culpeper residents
Culpeper town electric bills are going down--by about $5.50 a month.
The reduction, which began yesterday, is the result of a drop in the fuel surcharge for the second time in six months.
In April, the town reduced its surcharge by 48 percent. That resulted in a 10 percent per month savings to customers using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.
The two surcharge reductions have combined to cut about $13 off monthly bills despite an actual rate increase of 6.5 percent in July.
Dominion Virginia Power, the town's electric supplier, uses the fuel surcharge to help offset increased costs of producing electricity.
The last fuel surcharge increase, about 11 percent, was in May 2008.
"The new reduction is effective with the November usage that will be billed in December," said town Light and Power Director Mark Bly.
--Donnie Johnston
Medical corps holds orientation Thursday
The Rappahannock-Rapidan Medical Reserve Corps will hold its next orientation Thursday from 6-9 p.m. at the Culpeper Health Department, 640 Laurel St.
The corps trains volunteers from Culpeper, Madison, Rappahannock, Orange and Fauquier counties to serve during natural or man-made emergencies.
Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer should call 829-7350 (ext. 132) or e-mail Claudia Vento at rrm
Email: rc@vdh.virginia.gov.