624 views "The issue is that this doesn't get better with time,” said Rodney Blevins, the CEO of Dominion's utility operations in South Carolina. The second-largest U.S. power company by market value in the United Staes, Dominion Energy Inc. agreed not to pursue their intended rate hike for some 750,000 customers. Lawmakers, regulators and utilities all agree that the timing is not ideal for the average American to face a rate increase. But what happens to all those unpaid bills and how will utility costs be recouped? Typically, utilities write off uncollectible bills, and the costs are recovered from all customers in the form of higher rates. But things are far from ‘typical’ lately and if Dominion is unable to increase rates at this time, the situation can only worsen. Dominion says the rate hike would boost its finances and help the utility recover money it invested in its power plants, electric lines and other infrastructure over the past eight years. The utility agreed to wait six months to address the request again. Rhonda O'Banion, Dominion's spokeswoman, said they would use the next six months to try to reach a settlement with the state's utility watchdog agency, Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) and the other groups that opposed the rate hike. "We look forward to continued collaboration with the parties as we seek to find compromises to reach a resolution to this case. We value the input from all customers who took the time to voice their concerns. We will continue to focus on providing the safe, reliable service they depend on.”