Spanberger formally intervenes in proposed NextEra-Dominion merger
I formally intervened in the proposed merger between NextEra and Dominion because Virginians deserve to know that their long-term interests, not simply those of the companies involved, are being put first.UPDATE on the proposed Dominion Energy-NextEra merger which will have a negative impact for residential, educational and small business electric utility customers in Virginia and North Carolina and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic power grid. There was opposition to this merger as soon as it was announced and opposition has grown in numbers and strength to the point that these companies have found it necessary to sweeten the incentives described as "customer" benefits to gain support for approval of the merger by the Virginia SCC / State Corporation Commission. It will not work. Virginians have good reason not to trust anyone associated with either company since SCC chairperson kelsey bagot refuses to recuse herself from the case on this merger though she promised the general assembly in Richmond she would recuse herself since she had worked for NextEra. Feel free to e mail kelsey bagot at kelsey.bagot@scc.virginia.gov and tell her to recuse herself from the Dominion Energy-NextEra proceedings and vote. If you are interested in sending your opinion on this merger to the SCC click here. Be sure you copy your comments before sending the form e mail so you can also e mail the SCC ( all these addresses on one e mail is best ) at sccefile@scc.virginia.gov , UtilityReg@scc.virginia.gov , pstmail@scc.virginia.gov , accounting@scc.virginia.gov , vadamageprevention@scc.virginia.gov . ALSO send an e mail to Gov Spanberger at abigail.spanberger@governor.virginia.gov and http://www.governor.virginia.gov/.../contact-the.../ and to your delegate and senator in Richmond, find them here https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/. Be sure to enter case number PUR-2026-00112 & Dominion Energy-Nextera in the subject line. Please share with family, friends, coworkers and all opposed to this merger and all new data centers in Virginia.
Here is the remaining SCC schedule regarding the proposed Dominion Energy-NextEra merger
Nov. 2: Last day to register as a public witness for the hearing
Nov. 5: Public witness testimony telephonically 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Nov. 5: Public witness testimony in person 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in second-floor courtroom at 1300 East Main St., Richmond, VA, 23219
Nov. 9: Public witness testimony telephonically 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Nov. 9: Last day to submit written comments
Nov. 10: Public witness testimony telephonically 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Nov. 17: Evidentiary hearing begins
I share this here because it is important reach out to as many people in Virginia as possible to defeat this merger as well as stopping all new data center development in Virginia, for us specifically in Ashburn and Loudoun County. There are multiple groups across the Commonwealth fighting this merger and new data centers, I am part of Ashburn Village Advocacy, if you are a resident of Ashburn and interested in joining us please complete the interest form found here.
Virginia Governor Questions NextEra-Dominion Merger
Dominion-NextEra merger faces calls to slow down after new customer benefits unveiled
RICHMOND, Va. — The Dominion Energy and NextEra merger is facing renewed scrutiny after the companies unveiled an expanded package of benefits for Virginia customers and employees — but at least one energy advocacy group says the new commitments are arriving too late in the process.
Clean Virginia, which has opposed the merger since it was announced in May, is calling on the State Corporation Commission to extend its review after Dominion and NextEra announced the updated deal Monday. The new package includes commitments to double bill credits, expand job protections, and build a new tower for NextEra employees, funded by NextEra shareholders.
Clean Virginia President Brennan Gilmore said the additions raise more questions than they answer.
"Months into this process, weeks into the official litigation process, now Dominion and NextEra are coming in with a whole lot of other baubles and Christmas tree ornaments to hang on to this deal. That makes it even more important that we reset the clock, we extend the clock," Gilmore said.
Intervenors have spent weeks preparing for the Nov. 17 evidentiary hearing. Gilmore is calling on Gov. Abigail Spanberger to convene a special session so legislators can push back the current January deadline.
"We need an extension of this timeline. We need to slow this process down to make sure that Virginia customers who are being charged some of the most incredible bills, certainly of my lifetime, they need to be protected," Gilmore said.
Dominion Energy Virginia President Ed Baine backed the potential merger saying it is designed to benefit the state.
"I don't have any hesitation around the merger. I believe it'll be good for our customers, good for our colleagues, good for the communities we serve, and good for the Commonwealth overall," Baine said.
Baine acknowledged the review process is still generating significant questions.
"The timeline is still a six-month timeline from a commission approval. Right now, there's a lot of questions being asked by the various parties," Baine said.
The SCC's deadline remains in January. If the commission does not issue a decision by that date, approval of the merger would automatically be granted.
I reached out to the State Corporation Commission to ask whether the announcement of new customer benefits could affect how commissioners review the merger.
Spokesperson Greg Weatherford responded saying this is normal for court procedures including at the SCC.
"All proposals and filings will be thoroughly reviewed and cross-examined by participating parties during the hearing. In the end, after the courtroom evidentiary hearing and public witness statements have concluded, the Commission will make its decision by applying the law, based exclusively on the evidence presented formally and cross-examined publicly, under oath, as part of the court process," Weatherford said.
