Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has formally filed to intervene in the proposed merger of Dominion Energy with Florida-based NextEra Energy.
The $67 billion merger proposal is under review by Virginia’s State Corporation Commission (SCC). According to her office, Spanberger is the first governor in Virginia history to intervene in an SCC case. Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond, the first person appointed to Spanberger’s new cabinet position, also filed to be a party in the case.
In the filing, Spanberger cited her administration’s core policy of providing “an affordable, reliable, local, and clean energy system.”
“As Governor, I remain skeptical of the benefits this merger would deliver to Virginia — particularly if those benefits come at the expense of affordability, existing jobs, or meeting our homegrown clean energy goals,” Spanberger said in a statement. “By formally intervening in the SCC case, my Administration will be able to directly advocate on behalf of Virginians impacted by what would be the largest utility merger in U.S. history.”
As parties to the case, Spanberger and Allmond will be able to share concerns and request more information about the proposed merger. The governor’s filing outlined three “non-negotiable priorities” she is seeking: providing more affordable energy bills, protecting the utility workforce and accelerating plans for affordable and reliable clean energy.
Dominion Energy is Virginia’s largest electricity utility company, serving about 2.7 million customers in the commonwealth, as well as nearly 1 million in North Carolina and South Carolina. Next Era is North America’s largest electric and energy infrastructure company, serving 6 million customers in Florida.
Dominion Energy says union employees would receive 18 months of job protection after closing, while non-union employees would receive two years of current pay and comparable benefits. The merged company would maintain dual corporate headquarters in Richmond and Juno Beach, Florida, as well as an operational headquarters in Cayce, South Carolina.
“It preserves the Dominion Energy utilities our customers know — the same local leaders, employees, regulatory oversight and commitment to an all-of-the-above energy mix — while adding capabilities that can help us build needed infrastructure more efficiently and keep bills affordable,” Robert Blue, chair, president and CEO of Dominion Energy, said in a release. “Our employees and communities can be confident that we will remain a strong local employer, a constructive economic development partner and a reliable provider of the energy that powers homes, businesses and new investments.”
Prior to intervening in the Dominion Energy-Next Era case, Spanberger also pressed the SCC to shift more of the cost of new electric transmission capacity onto large load users. The SCC then ordered Dominion Energy to develop a tariff to assign more costs for new infrastructure onto data centers.
Spanberger’s second in command, Lt. Governor Ghazala Hasmi, is holding a listening tour around Virginia about the proposed merger and energy costs. Multiple state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have pushed Spanberger to hold a special session so the General Assembly can adopt policies allowing the SCC hearing process to extend past six months.
The merger case will last about six months after the joint petition for acquisition was filed with the SCC. Nov. 2 will be the last day to file as a public witness before testimony will be given on Nov. 5, 9 and 10. Written comments are also being accepted. The evidentiary hearing involving parties in the case is expected on Nov. 17.
There is an 180-day review period from the merger’s July 15 filing date, which would mean an SCC decision could come by Jan. 11, 2027.
Along with Virginia’s SCC, the merger is being considered by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
If state and federal regulators approve the merger, the companies expect closing would happen in the second half of 2027.
