Here's how – and why – Dominion Energy plans to raise your electric bill

Virginia's State Corporation Commission is accepting public comments as it weighs whether to approve Dominion’s proposal.

Parker Michels-Boyce / Virginia Mercury

Dominion Energy customers in Virginia have seen incremental increases in their energy bills in recent years, which help the utility pay for investments such as its offshore wind farm and exploration of small modular nuclear reactors.

The utility is now proposing its largest rate hike in more than three decades, in tandem with soaring electricity costs across the Mid-Atlantic region.

Dominion submitted its biennial rate review to the State Corporation Commission earlier this year. State regulators will soon hold a public hearing.

The company’s proposals would raise the average customer’s monthly bill by about 15%, or $21, within the next two years.

Dominion says it needs to build more capacity and keep the lights on while facing surging demand and increased construction costs.

Ed Baine, president of utility operations, said in an April statement that the company delivers “uninterrupted power 99.9% of the time,” outside of major storms.

“This proposal allows us to continue investing in reliability and to serve our customers’ growing needs.”

But environmental groups argue Virginians are paying for power-hungry data centers, and subsidizing the continued burning of fossil fuels that drive climate change.

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