Consumers will have the opportunity to reduce rates even more by shopping in an open, competitive market for the best electric energy price. New Services Competition in the power industry should result in new product and service innovations, just as telephone deregulation brought call waiting, caller ID and mobile phones. Electric companies, energy providers and energy marketers will have similar incentives to develop new products and services to meet consumer needs and demands. Companies have begun to offer new services, such as expanded appliance service contracts for air conditioners, gas and electric ovens and other appliances. If an emergency were to occur at the Surry Power station, Virginia Power will immediately notify state, local, and federal emergency officials who would quickly activate their emergency response plans.
Emergency sirens are the primary means of alerting the public.
They are located within a 10-mile zone around the Surry Power Station. Other means of notification, which are done by law enforcement agencies would include altering routes for safety, using emergency services vehicles equipped with public address systems for relocation. Nuclear power stations have been producing electricity in the United States for more than 25 years. During this time no member of the public has been killed or seriously injured as a result of the commercial generation of nuclear power. Safety features in the design and operation of the Surry Power Station make the chance of an accident affecting public health and safety extremely remote.