COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

As a result of issues generated in the ordinary course of business, Dominion and Virginia Power are involved in legal proceedings before various courts and are periodically subject to governmental examinations (including by regulatory authorities), inquiries and investigations. Certain legal proceedings and governmental examinations involve demands for unspecified amounts of damages, are in an initial procedural phase, involve uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals or motions, or involve significant factual issues that need to be resolved, such that it is not possible for the Companies to estimate a range of possible loss. For such matters that the Companies cannot estimate, a statement to this effect is made in the description of the matter. Other matters may have progressed sufficiently through the litigation or investigative processes such that the Companies are able to estimate a range of possible loss. For legal proceedings and governmental examinations for which the Companies are able to reasonably estimate a range of possible losses, an estimated range of possible loss is provided, in excess of the accrued liability (if any) for such matters. Estimated ranges of loss are inclusive of legal fees and net of any anticipated insurance recoveries. This estimated range is based on currently available information and involves elements of judgment and significant uncertainties. This estimated range of possible loss may not represent the Companies' maximum possible loss exposure. The circumstances of such legal proceedings and governmental examinations will change from time to time and actual results may vary significantly from the current estimate. For current proceedings not specifically reported below, management does not anticipate that the liabilities, if any, arising from such proceedings would have a material effect on Dominion's or Virginia Power's financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

Environmental Matters

Dominion and Virginia Power are subject to costs resulting from a number of federal, state and local laws and regulations designed to protect human health and the environment. These laws and regulations affect future planning and existing operations. They can result in increased capital, operating and other costs as a result of compliance, remediation, containment and monitoring obligations.

AIR

The CAA, as amended, is a comprehensive program utilizing a broad range of regulatory tools to protect and preserve the nation's air quality. At a minimum, states are required to establish regulatory programs to address all requirements of the CAA. However, states may choose to develop regulatory programs that are more restrictive. Many of Dominion's and Virginia Power's facilities are subject to the CAA's permitting and other requirements.

In December 2011, the EPA issued MATS for coal and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units. The rule establishes strict emission limits for mercury, particulate matter as a surrogate for toxic metals and hydrogen chloride as a surrogate for acid gases. The rule includes a limited use provision for oil-fired units with annual capacity factors under 8% that provides an exemption from emission limits, and allows compliance with operational work practice standards. Compliance will be required by April 16, 2015, with certain limited exceptions. In December 2011, Virginia Power recorded a $228 million ($139 million after-tax) charge reflecting plant balances that are not expected to be recovered in future periods due to the anticipated retirement of certain regulated coal units, primarily as a result of the issuance of the final MATS. Dominion continues to be governed by individual state mercury emission reduction regulations in Massachusetts and Illinois that are largely unaffected by this rule.

The EPA established CAIR with the intent to require significant reductions in SO₂ and NO_Xemissions from electric generating facilities. In July 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a ruling vacating CAIR. In December 2008, the Court denied rehearing, but also issued a decision to remand CAIR to the EPA. In July 2011, the EPA issued a replacement rule for CAIR, called CSAPR, that required 28 states to reduce power plant emissions that cross state lines. CSAPR established new SO₂ and NO_xemissions cap and trade programs that were completely independent of the current ARP. Specifically, CSAPR required reductions in SO₂ and NO_x emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric generating units of 25 MW or more through annual NO_x emissions caps, NO_x emissions caps during the ozone season (May 1 through September 30) and annual SO₂ emission caps with differing requirements for two groups of affected states.

Following numerous petitions by industry participants for review and motions for stay, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a ruling in December 2011 to stay CSAPR pending judicial review. In February and June 2012, the EPA issued technical revisions to CSAPR that are not material to Dominion. In August 2012, the Court vacated CSAPR in its entirety and ordered the EPA to implement CAIR until a valid replacement rule is issued. In October 2012, the EPA filed a petition requesting a rehearing of the court's decision, which was denied in January 2013. The mandate vacating CSAPR was issued February 4, 2013. The stay of CSAPR remains in effect and the EPA will continue to administer CAIR until such time that the EPA develops and implements new rulemaking addressing the issues identified by the Court. With respect to Dominion's generation fleet, the cost to comply with CAIR is not expected to be material. Future outcomes of litigation and/or any additional action to issue a revised rule could affect the assessment regarding cost of compliance.

In May 2012, the EPA issued final designations for the 75-ppb ozone air quality standard. Several Dominion electric generating facilities are located in areas impacted by this standard. As part of the standard, states will be required to develop and implement plans to address sources emitting pollutants which contribute to the formation of ozone. Until the states have developed implementation plans, Dominion is unable to predict whether or to what extent the new rules will ultimately require additional controls.

In February 2008, Dominion received a request for information pursuant to Section 114 of the CAA from the EPA. The request concerns historical operating changes and capital improvements undertaken at State Line and Kincaid. In April 2009, Dominion received a second request for information. Dominion provided information in response to both requests. Also in April 2009, Dominion received a Notice and Finding of Violations from the EPA claiming violations of the CAA New Source Review requirements, NSPS, the Title V permit program and the stations' respective State Implementation Plans. The Notice states that the EPA may issue an order requiring compliance with the relevant CAA provisions and may seek injunctive relief and/or civil penalties, all pursuant to the EPA's enforcement authority under the CAA. In May 2010, Dominion received a request for information pursuant to Section 114 of the CAA from the EPA. The request concerns historical operating changes and capital improvements undertaken at Brayton Point. Dominion submitted its response to the request in November 2010.

Dominion believes that it complied with applicable laws and the EPA regulations and interpretations in effect at the time the work in question took place. The CAA authorizes maximum civil penalties of $25,000 to $37,500 per day, per violation at each generating unit, depending on the date of the alleged violation. In addition to any such penalties that may be awarded, an adverse outcome could require substantial capital expenditures or affect the timing of currently budgeted capital expenditures. Dominion is currently in settlement discussions to resolve these matters. There can be no assurance that Dominion will reach a settlement with the EPA. However, in the past, the EPA has settled similar claims with other energy companies requiring them to pay civil penalties and/or undertake mitigation projects. Dominion has accrued a liability of $13 million, which represents its best estimate of the probable loss related to civil penalties and mitigation projects in this matter, assuming Dominion is able to reach settlement with the EPA and based on the EPA's settlement of similar claims with other energy companies. Dominion does not believe that final resolution of the matter will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

WATER

The CWA, as amended, is a comprehensive program requiring a broad range of regulatory tools including a permit program to authorize and regulate discharges to surface waters with strong enforcement mechanisms. Dominion and Virginia Power must comply with all aspects of the CWA programs at their operating facilities.

In October 2003, the EPA and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection each issued new NPDES permits for Brayton Point. The new permits contained identical conditions that in effect require the installation of cooling towers to address concerns over the withdrawal and discharge of cooling water. As of the end of the third quarter of 2012, the station was fully converted to closed cycle cooling. The total cost to install these cooling towers was approximately $550 million. See Note 6 for a discussion of impairments related to Brayton Point.

In September 2010, Millstone's NPDES permit was reissued under the CWA. The conditions of the permit require an evaluation of control technologies that could result in additional expenditures in the future. The report summarizing the results of the evaluation was submitted in August 2012 and is under review by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Dominion cannot currently predict the outcome of this review. In October 2010, the permit issuance was appealed to the state court by a private plaintiff. The permit is expected to remain in effect during the appeal. Dominion is currently unable to make an estimate of the potential financial statement impacts related to this matter.

SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE

The CERCLA, as amended, provides for immediate response and removal actions coordinated by the EPA in the event of threatened releases of hazardous substances into the environment and authorizes the U.S. government either to clean up sites at which hazardous substances have created actual or potential environmental hazards or to order persons responsible for the situation to do so. Under the CERCLA, as amended, generators and transporters of hazardous substances, as well as past and present owners and operators of contaminated sites, can be jointly, severally, and strictly liable for the cost of cleanup. These potentially responsible parties can be ordered to perform a cleanup, be sued for costs associated with an EPA-directed cleanup, voluntarily settle with the U.S. government concerning their liability for cleanup costs, or voluntarily begin a site investigation and site remediation under state oversight.

From time to time, Dominion or Virginia Power may be identified as a potentially responsible party to a Superfund site. The EPA (or a state) can either allow such a party to conduct and pay for a remedial investigation, feasibility study and remedial action or conduct the remedial investigation and action itself and then seek reimbursement from the potentially responsible parties. Each party can be held jointly, severally and strictly liable for the cleanup costs. These parties can also bring contribution actions against each other and seek reimbursement from their insurance companies. As a result, Dominion or Virginia Power may be responsible for the costs of remedial investigation and actions under the Superfund law or other laws or regulations regarding the remediation of waste. Except as noted below, the Companies do not believe this will have a material effect on results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows.

In September 2011, the EPA issued a UAO to Virginia Power and 22 other parties, ordering specific remedial action of certain areas at the Ward Transformer Superfund site located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Virginia Power does not believe it is a liable party under CERCLA based on its alleged connection to the site. In November 2011, Virginia Power and a number of other parties notified the EPA that they are declining to undertake the work set forth in the UAO.

The EPA may seek to enforce a UAO in court pursuant to its enforcement authority under CERCLA, and may seek recovery of its costs in undertaking removal or remedial action. If the court determines that a respondent failed to comply with the UAO without sufficient cause, the EPA may also seek civil penalties of up to $37,500 per day for the violation and punitive damages of up to three times the costs incurred by the EPA as a result of the party's failure to comply with the UAO. Virginia Power is currently unable to make an estimate of the potential financial statement impacts related to the Ward Transformer matter.

Dominion has determined that it is associated with 17 former manufactured gas plant sites, three of which pertain to Virginia Power. Studies conducted by other utilities at their former manufactured gas plant sites have indicated that those sites contain coal tar and other potentially harmful materials. None of the former sites with which Dominion and Virginia Power are associated is under investigation by any state or federal environmental agency. At one of the former sites, Dominion is conducting a state-approved post closure groundwater monitoring program and an environmental land use restriction has been recorded. Another site has been accepted into a state-based voluntary remediation program. Dominion is currently evaluating the nature and extent of the contamination from this site as well as potential remedial options, but is not yet able to estimate the future remediation costs. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these sites, Dominion is unable to make an estimate of the potential financial statement impacts related to these sites.

CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, among other states, have joined RGGI, a multi-state effort to reduce CO₂ emissions in the Northeast implemented through state specific regulations. Under the initiative, aggregate CO₂ emissions from power plants in participating states are required to be stabilized at current levels from 2009 to 2015. Further reductions from current levels would be required to be phased in starting in 2016 such that by 2019 there would be a 10% reduction in participating state power plant CO₂ emissions. During 2012, RGGI underwent a program review, and in February 2013, revisions to the RGGI model rule were issued. Dominion is in the process of evaluating these revisions as to potential impacts on Dominion's fossil fired generation operations in RGGI states. Until this evaluation is completed, Dominion is unable to estimate the potential financial statement impacts related to the program review.

Two of Dominion's facilities, Brayton Point and Manchester Street, are subject to RGGI. Beginning with calendar year 2009, RGGI requires that Dominion cover each ton of CO₂ direct stack emissions from these facilities with either an allowance or an offset. The allowances can be purchased through auction or through a secondary market. Dominion has periodically participated in RGGI allowance auctions to date and has procured allowances to meet its estimated compliance requirements under RGGI's current requirement through 2013 and most of 2014, therefore Dominion does not expect compliance with RGGI to have a material impact on its results of operations or financial condition. During June 2011, a lawsuit was filed in New York seeking to retroactively rescind RGGI participation by that state. A percentage of Dominion's RGGI allowances had been acquired from New York. The allocated value of these allowances totaled approximately $38 million, of which all have been expensed as consumed for RGGI Phase I compliance. In February 2012, Dominion surrendered these New York RGGI allowances for the RGGI Phase I compliance period and therefore does not expect any significant financial statement impacts from this lawsuit as it no longer holds allowances issued by the state of New York. In June 2012, a New York state court dismissed the lawsuit. A notice of appeal was filed in July 2012, however no appeal was filed.

MF Global

Prior to October 31, 2011, certain of Dominion's subsidiaries executed certain commodity transactions on exchanges using MF Global, an FCM registered with the CFTC. In order to secure its potential exposure on these commodity transactions, Dominion posted certain required margin collateral with MF Global. The parent company of MF Global, MF Global Holdings Ltd., filed for bankruptcy relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on October 31, 2011. On the same date, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York appointed a trustee to oversee the liquidation of MF Global pursuant to the Securities Investor Protection Act.

In accordance with court-approved procedures, Dominion transferred to other FCMs all open positions executed using MF Global. The initial margin posted for these open positions at October 31, 2011 was approximately $73 million. Dominion had received approximately $17 million of this amount through the liquidation process as of December 31, 2012. In January 2013, Dominion sold the remaining claims of approximately $56 million to a third party at a small discount.

Nuclear Matters

In March 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused significant damage at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in northeast Japan. These events have resulted in significant nuclear safety reviews required by the NRC and industry groups such as INPO. Like other U.S. nuclear operators, Dominion has been gathering supporting data and participating in industry initiatives focused on the ability to respond to and mitigate the consequences of design-basis and beyond-design-basis events at its stations.

In July 2011, an NRC task force provided initial recommendations based on its review of the Fukushima Daiichi accident and in October 2011 the NRC staff prioritized these recommendations into Tiers 1, 2 and 3, with the Tier 1 recommendations consisting of actions which the staff determined should be started without unnecessary delay. In December 2011, the NRC Commissioners approved the agency staff's prioritization and recommendations; and that same month an appropriations act directed the NRC to require reevaluation of external hazards (not limited to seismic and flooding hazards) as soon as possible.

Based on the prioritized recommendations, in March 2012, the NRC issued orders and information requests requiring specific reviews and actions to all operating reactors, construction permit holders and combined license holders based on the lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi event. The orders applicable to Dominion require implementation of safety enhancements related to mitigation strategies to respond to extreme natural events resulting in the loss of power at plants, and enhancing spent fuel pool instrumentation. The orders require prompt implementation of the safety enhancements and completion of implementation within two refueling outages or by December 31, 2016, whichever comes first. The information requests issued by the NRC request each reactor to reevaluate the seismic and flooding hazards at their site using present-day methods and information, conduct walkdowns of their facilities to ensure protection against the hazards in their current design basis, and to reevaluate their emergency communications systems and staffing levels. Dominion and Virginia Power do not currently expect that compliance with the NRC's March 2012 orders and information requests will materially impact their financial position, results of operations or cash flows during the approximately four-year implementation period. The NRC staff is evaluating the implementation of the longer term Tier 2 and Tier 3 recommendations. Dominion and Virginia Power are currently unable to estimate the potential financial impacts related to compliance with Tier 2 and Tier 3 recommendations.

Long-Term Purchase Agreements

At December 31, 2012, Virginia Power had the following long-term commitments that are noncancelable or are cancelable only under certain conditions, and that third parties have used to secure financing for the facilities that will provide the contracted goods or services:



	2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		Thereafter		Total
(millions)
Purchased electric capacity⁽¹⁾	$	350	$	358	$	337	$	275	$	181	$	327	$	1,828

(1)

Commitments represent estimated amounts payable for capacity under power purchase contracts with qualifying facilities and independent power producers, the last of which ends in 2021. Capacity payments under the contracts are generally based on fixed dollar amounts per month, subject to escalation using broad-based economic indices. At December 31, 2012, the present value of Virginia Power's total commitment for capacity payments is $1.4 billion. Capacity payments totaled $337 million, $338 million, and $344 million, and energy payments totaled $214 million, $275 million, and $303 million for 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Lease Commitments

Dominion and Virginia Power lease various facilities, vehicles and equipment primarily under operating leases. Payments under certain leases are escalated based on an index such as the consumer price index. Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating and capital leases that have initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2012 are as follows:



	2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		Thereafter		Total
(millions)
Dominion	$	79	$	72	$	64	$	55	$	63	$	161	$	494

Virginia Power	$	26	$	24	$	19	$	15	$	11	$	26	$	121

Rental expense for Dominion totaled $112 million, $155 million, and $171 million for 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Rental expense for Virginia Power totaled $48 million, $50 million, and $50 million for 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. The majority of rental expense is reflected in other operations and maintenance expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Nuclear Operations

Nuclear Decommissioning - Minimum Financial Assurance

The NRC requires nuclear power plant owners to annually update minimum financial assurance amounts for the future decommissioning of their nuclear facilities. Decommissioning involves the decontamination and removal of radioactive contaminants from a nuclear power station once operations have ceased, in accordance with standards established by the NRC. The 2012 calculation for the NRC minimum financial assurance amount, aggregated for Dominion's and Virginia Power's nuclear units, excluding joint owners' assurance amounts, was $3.3 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively, and has been satisfied by a combination of the funds being collected and deposited in the nuclear decommissioning trusts and the real annual rate of return growth of the funds allowed by the NRC. The 2012 NRC minimum financial assurance amounts shown were calculated using preliminary December 31, 2012 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indices. Dominion believes that the amounts currently available in its decommissioning trusts and their expected earnings will be sufficient to cover expected decommissioning costs for the Millstone and Kewaunee units. Virginia Power also believes that the decommissioning funds and their expected earnings for the Surry and North Anna units will be sufficient to cover expected decommissioning costs, particularly when combined with future ratepayer collections and contributions to these decommissioning trusts, if such future collections and contributions are required. This reflects a positive long-term outlook for trust fund investment returns as the decommissioning of the units will not be complete for decades. Dominion and Virginia Power will continue to monitor these trusts to ensure they meet the minimum financial assurance requirement, which may include the use of parent company guarantees, surety bonding or other financial guarantees recognized by the NRC. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on Kewaunee.

Nuclear Insurance

The Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 1988 provides the public up to $12.6 billion of liability protection per nuclear incident, via obligations required of owners of nuclear power plants, and allows for an inflationary provision adjustment every five years. Dominion and Virginia Power have purchased $375 million of coverage from commercial insurance pools for each reactor site with the remainder provided through a mandatory industry risk-sharing program. In the event of a nuclear incident at any licensed nuclear reactor in the U.S., the Companies could be assessed up to $118 million for each of their licensed reactors not to exceed $18 million per year per reactor. There is no limit to the number of incidents for which this retrospective premium can be assessed.

The current level of property insurance coverage for Dominion's and Virginia Power's nuclear units is as follows:



	Coverage
(billions)
Dominion
Millstone	$	2.75
Kewaunee	1.80

Virginia Power⁽¹⁾
Surry	$	2.55
North Anna	2.55


(1)	Surry and North Anna share a blanket property limit of $1 billion.

The Companies' coverage exceeds the NRC minimum requirement for nuclear power plant licensees of $1.06 billion per reactor site and includes coverage for premature decommissioning and functional total loss. The NRC requires that the proceeds from this insurance be used first, to return the reactor to and maintain it in a safe and stable condition and second, to decontaminate the reactor and station site in accordance with a plan approved by the NRC. Nuclear property insurance is provided by NEIL, a mutual insurance company, and is subject to retrospective premium assessments in any policy year in which losses exceed the funds available to the insurance company. Dominion's and Virginia Power's maximum retrospective premium assessment for the current policy period is $89 million and $48 million, respectively. Based on the severity of the incident, the Board of Directors of NEIL has the discretion to lower or eliminate the maximum retrospective premium assessment. Dominion and Virginia Power have the financial responsibility for any losses that exceed the limits or for which insurance proceeds are not available because they must first be used for stabilization and decontamination.

Dominion and Virginia Power also purchase insurance from NEIL to mitigate certain expenses, including replacement power costs, associated with the prolonged outage of a nuclear unit due to direct physical damage. Under this program, the Companies are subject to a retrospective premium assessment for any policy year in which losses exceed funds available to NEIL. Dominion's and Virginia Power's maximum retrospective premium assessment for the current policy period is $33 million and $20 million, respectively.

During the fourth quarter of 2012, Dominion announced plans to close and decommission Kewaunee. Kewaunee is expected to cease power production in the second quarter of 2013 and commence decommissioning activities. Effective February 1, 2013, Kewaunee's accidental outage policy for replacement power costs has been cancelled, and Kewaunee's property coverage of $1.8 billion did not change. The cancellation of Kewaunee's accidental outage policy for replacement power costs lowered Dominion's retrospective premium assessment from $33 million to $30 million.

ODEC, a part owner of North Anna, and Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company and Green Mountain Power Corporation, part owners of Millstone's Unit 3, are responsible to Dominion and Virginia Power for their share of the nuclear decommissioning obligation and insurance premiums on applicable units, including any retrospective premium assessments and any losses not covered by insurance.

Spent Nuclear Fuel

Dominion and Virginia Power entered into contracts with the DOE for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel under provisions of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. The DOE failed to begin accepting the spent fuel on January 31, 1998, the date provided by the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and by the Companies' contracts with the DOE. The Companies have previously received damages award payments and settlement payments related to these contracts.

Dominion and Virginia Power have resolved additional claims for damages incurred at Millstone, Kewaunee, Surry and North Anna. In May 2012, Dominion made formal offers of settlement to the Authorized Representative of the Attorney General for resolution of claims incurred at Millstone for the period July 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010 and periodic payments after that date through 2013, and for resolution of claims incurred at Kewaunee for the period January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010 and periodic payments after that date through 2013. In September 2012, Dominion and the government entered into settlement agreements. Initial settlement payments in the amounts of $20 million for Millstone and $6 million for Kewaunee were received in the fourth quarter of 2012. In September 2012, Virginia Power made a formal offer of settlement for resolution of claims incurred at Surry and North Anna for the period July 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010 and periodic payments after that date through 2013. In November 2012, Virginia Power and the government entered into a settlement agreement. An initial settlement payment in the amount of $75 million for Surry and North Anna was received in the fourth quarter of 2012. All of the settlement agreements are extendable after 2013 by mutual agreement of the parties. In June 2012, Dominion and Virginia Power filed lawsuits in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for Millstone, Surry and North Anna against the DOE requesting additional damages for the period July 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010. The lawsuits have been dismissed as a result of the settlement agreements.

The Companies continue to recognize receivables for certain spent nuclear fuel-related costs that they believe are probable of recovery from the DOE. Dominion's receivables for spent nuclear fuel-related costs totaled $36 million and $102 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Virginia Power's receivables for spent nuclear fuel-related costs totaled $26 million and $76 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Companies will continue to manage their spent fuel until it is accepted by the DOE.

Guarantees, Surety Bonds and Letters of Credit

DOMINION

At December 31, 2012, Dominion had issued $92 million of guarantees, primarily to support equity method investees. No significant amounts related to these guarantees have been recorded. As of December 31, 2012, Dominion's exposure under these guarantees was $62 million, primarily related to certain reserve requirements associated with non-recourse financing.

In addition to the above guarantees, Dominion and its partners, Shell and BP, may be required to make additional periodic equity contributions to NedPower and Fowler Ridge in connection with certain funding requirements associated with their respective non-recourse financings. As of December 31, 2012, Dominion's maximum remaining cumulative exposure under these equity funding agreements is $107 million through 2019 and its maximum annual future contributions could range from approximately $4 million to $19 million.

Dominion also enters into guarantee arrangements on behalf of its consolidated subsidiaries, primarily to facilitate their commercial transactions with third parties. To the extent that a liability subject to a guarantee has been incurred by one of Dominion's consolidated subsidiaries, that liability is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Dominion is not required to recognize liabilities for guarantees issued on behalf of its subsidiaries unless it becomes probable that it will have to perform under the guarantees. Terms of the guarantees typically end once obligations have been paid. Dominion currently believes it is unlikely that it would be required to perform or otherwise incur any losses associated with guarantees of its subsidiaries' obligations.

At December 31, 2012, Dominion had issued the following subsidiary guarantees:



	Stated Limit		Value⁽¹⁾
(millions)
Subsidiary debt⁽²⁾	$	363	$	363
Commodity transactions⁽³⁾	2,939		377
Nuclear obligations⁽⁴⁾	231		77
Other⁽⁵⁾	673		98
Total	$	4,206	$	915


(1)	Represents the estimated portion of the guarantee's stated limit that is utilized as of December 31, 2012 based upon prevailing economic conditions and fact patterns specific to each guarantee arrangement. For those guarantees related to obligations that are recorded as liabilities by Dominion's subsidiaries, the value includes the recorded amount.


(2)	Guarantees of debt of certain DEI subsidiaries. In the event of default by the subsidiaries, Dominion would be obligated to repay such amounts.

(3)

Guarantees related to energy trading and marketing activities and other commodity commitments of certain subsidiaries, including subsidiaries of Virginia Power and DEI. These guarantees were provided to counterparties in order to facilitate physical and financial transactions in gas, oil, electricity, pipeline capacity, transportation and related commodities and services. If any of these subsidiaries fail to perform or pay under the contracts and the counterparties seek performance or payment, Dominion would be obligated to satisfy such obligation. Dominion and its subsidiaries receive similar guarantees as collateral for credit extended to others. The value provided includes certain guarantees that do not have stated limits.

(4)

Guarantees related to certain DEI subsidiaries' potential retrospective premiums that could be assessed if there is a nuclear incident under Dominion's nuclear insurance programs and guarantees for a DEI subsidiary's and Virginia Power's commitment to buy nuclear fuel. Excludes Dominion's agreement to provide up to $150 million and $60 million to two DEI subsidiaries to pay the operating expenses of Millstone and Kewaunee, respectively, in the event of a prolonged outage, as part of satisfying certain NRC requirements concerned with ensuring adequate funding for the operations of nuclear power stations. The agreement for Kewaunee also provides for funds through the completion of decommissioning.


(5)	Guarantees related to other miscellaneous contractual obligations such as leases, environmental obligations and construction projects. Also includes guarantees related to certain DEI subsidiaries' obligations for equity capital contributions and energy generation associated with Fowler Ridge and NedPower.

Additionally, as of December 31, 2012 Dominion had purchased $163 million of surety bonds and authorized the issuance of letters of credit by financial institutions of $26 million to facilitate commercial transactions by its subsidiaries with third parties. Under the terms of surety bonds, Dominion is obligated to indemnify the respective surety bond company for any amounts paid.

VIRGINIA POWER

As of December 31, 2012, Virginia Power had issued $14 million of guarantees primarily to support tax-exempt debt issued through conduits. Virginia Power had also purchased $67 million of surety bonds for various purposes, including providing workers' compensation coverage, and authorized the issuance of letters of credit by financial institutions of $2 million to facilitate commercial transactions by its subsidiaries with third parties. Under the terms of surety bonds, Virginia Power is obligated to indemnify the respective surety bond company for any amounts paid.

Indemnifications

As part of commercial contract negotiations in the normal course of business, Dominion and Virginia Power may sometimes agree to make payments to compensate or indemnify other parties for possible future unfavorable financial consequences resulting from specified events. The specified events may involve an adverse judgment in a lawsuit or the imposition of additional taxes due to a change in tax law or interpretation of the tax law. Dominion and Virginia Power are unable to develop an estimate of the maximum potential amount of future payments under these contracts because events that would obligate them have not yet occurred or, if any such event has occurred, they have not been notified of its occurrence. However, at December 31, 2012, Dominion and Virginia Power believe future payments, if any, that could ultimately become payable under these contract provisions, would not have a material impact on their results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Workforce Reduction Program

In the first quarter of 2010, Dominion and Virginia Power announced a workforce reduction program that reduced their total workforces by approximately 9% and 11%, respectively, during 2010. The goal of the workforce reduction program was to reduce operations and maintenance expense growth and further improve the efficiency of the Companies. In the first quarter of 2010, Dominion recorded a $338 million ($206 million after-tax) charge, including $202 million ($123 million after-tax) at Virginia Power, primarily reflected in other operations and maintenance expense in their Consolidated Statements of Income due to severance pay and other benefits related to the workforce reduction program. During 2010, Dominion and Virginia Power paid $109 million and $104 million, respectively, of costs related to the program. The terms of the workforce reduction program were consistent with the Companies' existing severance plan.