Dominion Power was a no-show last night. The Fairfax Federation, an umbrella organization of civic and homeowners associations from across Northern Virginia’s largest county, invited the company to present its case for the transmission line.

Dominion couldn’t find any representative available, even after they learned that the federation had subsequently invited Virginia’s Commitment to present the opposing view.

Originally it was Dominion Power who approached the Fairfax Federation to request a meeting so that the organization could consider passing a resolution in favor of the power line, says the federation’s chairman. Jeffrey Parnes says members want to hear both sides of the debate before making a decision.

Parnes says the federation is awaiting confirmation from Dominion Power that a company representative can make an appearance at the group’s next monthly meeting on December 13.

“The Federation already has a high impact presentation planned for that night,” Parnes says. “Any appearance by Dominion will have to be an abbreviated version of what they could have presented this month.”

The federation's December meeting is on the eve of the deadline required by Virginia’s State Corporation Commission for public comment on the transmission line proposal, leaving the federation virtually no time to get a resolution to the SCC.

Our offer: if the group passes a resolution opposing the transmission line, Virginia’s Commitment will drive it down to Richmond on Friday, December 14.

Come on, Dominion. On the radio this week, your spokesman called for an open discussion of the controversy. So why didn’t you make a more serious effort to appear last night, once you heard you had the opportunity for a healthy back-and-forth with your opposition?

Last week Dominion Power and Virginia's Commitment conducted our first public debate together before south county Fairfax civic associations. There was one of us and three of them --- including Dominion's chief engineer who arrived from headquarters and their vice president who has close ties to the Mt. Vernon community.

Frankly, Dominion, you did a pretty job. But I guess sharing the microphone isn’t your style, unless it’s shared with members of your own posse.

Tell you what. We’ll consider you missing in action until you join us for a civil debate at another citizen forum in Fairfax County. You know Fairfax County. It’s the home of 1 million people whom you’ve told must support your transmission line or their lights will go out.

Until then, we’ll count the days that you can’t be found.