Ms Hardy will remain a senior adviser to chairman, president and CEO Thomas Farrell until her retirement. She also will lead the company’s Climate Change Initiative.

The company also announced that Billy Warf, vice president and general auditor, will retire from the company effective July 1, 2008.

The company also announced that Robert Blue, vice president of state and federal affairs, has become senior vice president of public policy and corporate communications, reporting to Mr Farrell. Patricia Shell, controller of Dominion Energy, will become vice president and general auditor upon Mr Warf’s retirement. She also will report to Mr Farrell.

The company also promoted David Green, vice president of customer service to senior vice president of customer service. Gianna Clark, managing director of Six Sigma, has been promoted to vice president of customer operations.

Keith Wooldridge, director of electric distribution business planning, has been promoted to vice president of energy conservation and customer solutions.