Virginia's largest utility yesterday asked the State Corporation Commission to approve an 18 percent rate increase.

The commission took the matter under advisement after a three-hour public hearing. The panel is expected to issue a decision by July 1, the day Dominion Virginia Power wants the new rates to take effect.

Dominion is seeking the 1-point-3 billion-dollar annual increase to recover soaring fuel costs.

Representatives of several large industries, federal agencies and apartment complex owners endorsed the rate increase at today's hearing. So did the state attorney general's office, representing Virginia consumers. They noted that Dominion is deferring about 697 million dollars in fuel costs to hold the rate increase to 18 percent. Otherwise, it would be more than 22 percent.

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