Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn testified against the Dominion merger with NextEra Energy during the Virginia State Corporation’s public hearing yesterday.
He cited a number of serious concerns with Florida-based NextEra Energy’s plan to purchase Dominion for $67 billion. If ultimately approved, this transaction would create the world’s largest electric utility, according to NextEra.
In his testimony, he voiced concerns about the Dominion merger may affect the Hunter Mill District by:
- Decreasing affordability for residents and businesses as electricity rates rise
- Undermining Fairfax County’s climate goals to achieve carbon neutrality
- Affectting reliable, consistent delivery of electricity in less populated areas in the Hunter Mill District
- Hampering economic growth since adequate electricity is important to support development in Reston, Tysons, and across the county
- Ending local working relationships with the utility with out-of-state ownership of the company
Affordability a Problem as Electricity Rates Rise
As homeowners face an increasing financial burden for electricity, Alcorn asked the SCC to carefully consider the merger’s impact on customers’ bills.
“I am very concerned about rate hikes coming from this merger. There is clearly an economic interest in play there,” he also said after a rally held before the formal public hearing began.
Dominion’s typical residential customers will pay an additional $11.24 per month in 2026, following the State Corporation Commission’s approval for the utility to increase its base rate. This represents a 7.5% increase from last year. The SCC also signed off on allowing Dominion to further raise its base rate in 2027 which will cost a typical homeowner an additional $2.36 per month — or a 1.5% increase.
In Virginia overall, average monthly electricity prices rose by over 11% for homeowners, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
“As a local official, we have absolutely no say in what rates get charged to our customers, to our residents and businesses,” Alcorn said after the rally. “That's why I'm here today, because this really is one of the few times that we in the community are able to influence what really is going to affect our long-term electricity cost.”
Dominion Merger May End Local Relationships
During his testimony before the SCC, Alcorn called out the need for strong local partnerships between Dominion, local officials and the community, and this working relationship may end with a out-of-state company in charge.
“The SCC should require any utility of this size and scale to establish and maintain working relationships with local officials and other community partners,” he said. “But my fear is that this merger will make things worse, maybe much worse.”
As example of why this local relationship matters, he cited the example of Dominion clear-cutting of hundreds of trees along the W&OD Trail last year, but local elected officials were able to successfully engage with the energy company to come up with a replanting plan.
Yesterday’s public hearing marked the only one in Northern Virginia, but the public may continue to submit written comments online about the merger until Nov. 9. The State Corporation Commission is currently scheduled to hold its evidentiary hearing on the transaction on Nov. 17.
