Amid pushback on the proposed Dominion Energy merger with NextEra Energy, an in-person hearing to gather public testimony has been scheduled in Fairfax County.
The State Corporation Commission, which is reviewing the proposed merger, scheduled a public hearing for 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 at the Fairfax County Government Center in the Board Auditorium (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax).
The other in-person hearings are 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Christopher Newport University Freeman Center (Gaines Theater) in Newport News and Nov. 5 at the SCC building in Richmond.
The SCC is also offering public testimony by phone from 8:30-11 a.m. Nov. 5 and 4-7 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10. Nov. 2 will be the last day to file as a public witness for the November hearings, and Nov. 9 is the deadline to submit written comments. An evidentiary hearing involving case participants will begin on Nov. 17 in Richmond.
Dominion Energy, Virginia’s largest electricity utility, and Florida-based NextEra filed the $67 billion merger proposal with the SCC on July 15. There is a 180-day review period from the filing date, which would mean an SCC decision could come by Jan. 11, 2027.
In May, Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra disclosed its plan to acquire Dominion. The companies said at the time that it would create the world’s biggest regulated electric utility business by market capitalization and one of the world’s largest energy infrastructure companies.
NextEra currently calls itself North America’s largest electric power and energy infrastructure company. It owns the Florida Power & Light Company, which provides electricity to about 12 million people in that state. Richmond-based Dominion powers about 3.6 million homes and businesses in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and provides natural gas service in South Carolina. It is the developer of the largest offshore wind project in the U.S.
The companies say that customers will eventually benefit from the larger scale of a combined company, which they argue will allow them to buy equipment and build new power generation more efficiently and at a lower cost, partly due to reduced borrowing expenses.
The proposed merger also faces regulatory hurdles before other states and the federal government. The companies have said they expect the deal to close in the second half of 2027.
Numerous Virginia lawmakers from both parties had called on Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) to convene a special General Assembly session on the proposed merger. Lawmakers want to consider legislation that would extend the review period beyond the 180 days. House Speaker Don Scott (D-88) indicated in mid-September he does anticipate lawmakers convening for a special session.
Spanberger has already filed to intervene in the case, the first time a Virginia governor has done so in an SCC case. Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond, the first person appointed to Spanberger’s new cabinet position, is also a party in the case.
Ahead of the SCC public hearings, the two utilities announced plans to enhance the offer to customers.
The companies said in a news release that in “response to feedback from policymakers” and others, they would commit to a set of Virginia benefits that includes: a new shareholder-funded co-headquarters tower in the capital city’s downtown, a promise of 600 new jobs, more money toward workforce development and a doubling of previously announced residential bill credits.
Amid rising voter frustration toward data centers and concerns about their impact on electric bills, the companies said they plan to extend a $10 monthly bill credit for residential customers to four years from two years. That would mostly be paid for by ending bill credits that previously would have gone to large data center customers.
Dominion and NextEra also said they would increase a low-income financial assistance program by $100 million through 2038 and maintain current employment figures in Virginia for five years while adding the 600 new NextEra jobs.
Amid the companies’ new filing, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones (D) called on the SCC to restart the 180-day review period. According to Jones, that would allow case participants time to review the amended proposal, allow for public comment and give time for additional case participants to join.
