Gov. Abigail Spanberger ran on lowering energy costs. Her Oct. 19 merger testimony asks for a base-rate freeze and bigger bill credits, plus a zero-carbon data center subsidiary, heat pump and EV rate
If you are a Dominion Energy customer, the “typical” bill for 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month was $149.92 in July 2025. On July 1, 2026, it was $180.79, according to Dominion’s own August 2026 presentation. That is about $31 more every month, or roughly $370 a year (ENB calculation). More is already filed: Dominion has asked regulators for a $ 13.00-per-month carbon-allowance charge starting March 1, 2027 (SCC order, July 7, 2026).
Virginia is still cheaper than the national average. EIA data put the state’s average residential price at 16.83¢/kWh for January–July 2026, against 18.19¢ for the U.S. But Virginia’s price is up 13.1% from the same months of 2025, nearly twice the U.S. rise of about 6.9% (EIA Form 861M; ENB calculation, preliminary data as of July 2026).
That is the backdrop for Gov. Abigail Spanberger, the Democrat who won in November 2025 promising to make Virginia more affordable. Below we lay out what she promised before the election, what she has done since, the pushback from inside her own party, how Virginia compares with other states, and what recent blackouts abroad do and do not show about grid reliability. Her words come from primary sources: her campaign site, her ads, the debate video, executive orders and official releases.
On Oct. 19, her office put both halves of her energy agenda into one filing. In testimony at the State Corporation Commission (SCC), her expert said regulators should reject the $67 billion NextEra–Dominion merger unless the companies freeze residential base rates for six years and raise merger bill credits to $29 a month for four years. The same filing asks for clean-energy commitments: a zero-carbon generation subsidiary to serve data centers, a “decarbonization incentive rate” for heat pumps and EVs, and an end to the rooftop solar cap (governor’s release; testimony; WSLS).
Ten years that set up today’s bill
· April 2020, Northam: The Virginia Clean Economy Act (HB1526/SB851) requires Dominion to reach 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045 and Appalachian Power (APCo) by 2050 (CESA summary). Virginia joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in 2021 (DEQ).
· 2023–2026, Youngkin and the courts: The Youngkin administration’s repeal regulation was published July 31, 2023, and Virginia stopped participating after 2023. A Floyd County judge ruled the exit unlawful in November 2024. The state appealed, then withdrew the appeal in March 2026 (SELC; DEQ).
· Offshore wind: Dominion’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project cost estimate rose from about $9.8 billion to $10.7 billion in February 2025 (SEC 8-K), then to $11.2 billion, then $11.5 billion (8-K, Jan. 2026), and now $11.7 billion with completion by end-2027 (10-Q, July 31, 2026).
· Data Center Alley: Loudoun County alone has about 233 data center buildings totaling 56.5 million sq. ft. as of March 1, 2026, and data centers generated $1.2 billion, or 39% of the county budget, in FY2026 (Loudoun County). Dominion set a system peak of 25,200 MW on July 3, 2026 (Dominion).
· Rates: In November 2025, the SCC approved a base-rate increase of $11.24/month in 2026 and $2.36 in 2027 for a 1,000-kWh customer (VPM). The state energy office says Dominion’s typical bill rose from $116.18 (May 2020) to $158.88 (December 2025), and that $22.88 of that increase was tied to renewable portfolio standard resources (Virginia Energy, Jan. 2026).
BEFORE THE ELECTION: what she promised
June 15, 2025 (Roanoke Times commentary, reposted by the campaign): She wrote that in Southwest Virginia “the average monthly residential power bill has increased by about $50 in the past three years,” and that “as Gov. Glenn Youngkin rightly pointed out, the lack of transparency at PJM is hurting energy affordability in Virginia” (campaign repost).
Aug. 20, 2025 (“Tour” TV ad): “The costs for families across Virginia in housing, in healthcare, in energy. Everyday just gets a little harder… I’ve rolled out plans and I’m ready to get to work to lower costs” (ad video; release).
Oct. 9, 2025 (Norfolk State debate, paraphrased): Asked about data centers, she said that as governor she would make sure data centers pay their fair share, and she called Virginia the country’s largest net importer of energy (WFXR video, ~22:13). Later, rebutting her opponent, she said she supports an “all of the above” energy strategy and called advanced nuclear very important (WFXR video, ~54:06). ENB paraphrases these remarks because the only transcript available is YouTube’s automatic captions. She won with about 57.6% of the vote (Virginia ELECT).
AFTER SHE WON: what she has done
· Jan. 17, 2026: EO-1 told agencies to report cost-savings options, including on energy.
· Feb. 20, 2026: she approved HB29 budget amendments directing DEQ to “take all actions necessary to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative” (DEQ). April 13: she approved HB397, the RGGI re-entry bill (Chapter 920). Participation resumed July 1 (DEQ).
· March 25: EO-14 created a Chief Energy Officer post, which Josephus Allmond holds (governor’s office). The order says Virginia “electricity rates have risen by 36% over the last five years.”
· Spring 2026 bills she approved (per the DLS summary): more distributed solar and storage (HB628, HB895); IRP reform (HB429); demand flexibility (HB284); load forecasting (HB892); and large customers paying for their own infrastructure (HB1191).
· July 1, budget: a data center electricity tax of $0.011/kWh, with no more than $600 million a year going to the general fund (budget item 3-5.24), plus a RGGI bill credit (June 30 release; July 1 release).
· May 14: she signed HB1393 (Chapter 1123), which extends low-income weatherization programs and Dominion’s undergrounding program and keeps her replacement language on data center (GS-5) cost allocation. The General Assembly accepted three of her amendments (7, 9 and 10) and rejected eight (1–6, 8 and 11), including her cut to Dominion’s return on equity from 9.8% to 9.3% (LIS bill history; DLS).
· Sept. 18: EO-22 set a data center accountability framework: “Data centers must pay their fair share of the generation, transmission, distribution, and other public investments their operations require.”
Published guidance (sets no rates): On Oct. 1, the 2026 Virginia Energy Plan laid out “multiple pathways towards a net zero power sector by 2050” (plan brief). The governor’s office says the plan “does not set utility rates or approve individual projects.”
Proposed but not enacted: Her ROE cut was rejected (above). Her biggest pending ask is in the merger case.
The merger case: one filing, two agendas. On Aug. 17, she and Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond filed a Notice of Participation as respondents in the merger case, PUR-2026-00112 (SCC docket). Her office called it “the first time any Governor of Virginia has intervened at the SCC” (August release). On Oct. 19, Dr. Richard McCann, a California-based consultant (WHRO), filed testimony for her and Allmond. It says the companies “have not yet met that standard” of showing that “just and reasonable rates will not be impaired or jeopardized,” and that the SCC should reject the deal unless 10 conditions are “substantially addressed or alternative solutions are identified” (testimony).
· Five affordability conditions: no base-rate increase for “three rate case cycles” (six years); merger bill credits of $29 a month for four years, up from the companies’ $10 (2.9 times; the governor calls it “a tripling”); raising the debt share of Dominion’s capital structure from 48% to 60% to lower its return, with its credit rating allowed “to adjust into the BBB range”; a “Probability of Dispatch” cost method that cuts the residential share of relevant costs by 25%; and wider disconnection protections for households with infants, serious medical conditions or financial hardship, and on high Air Quality Index days.
· Five clean-energy conditions: energy efficiency and distributed energy resources as “the first priorities” for meeting new load; a separate Virginia-based subsidiary “for building zero-carbon energy generation to serve large data centers that is financially walled off from the rest of customers”; a “decarbonization incentive rate” for heat pumps and EVs; and two recommendations to the General Assembly, a state energy efficiency utility and an end to the net-metering (rooftop solar) cap. All of it would include enforcement provisions.
Key numbers: the governor’s merger asks (PUR-2026-00112)
6 years – No base-rate increase in the first three biennial reviews after closing. Base rates only; fuel and riders are not frozen.
$29/month –Merger bill credit for 48 months (about $1,392 total; ENB calc.), vs. $10/month offered. Testimony table: $28.98.
$81.58 of $180.79 –Base-rate portion of Dominion’s typical 1,000-kWh bill, July 1, 2026 (ENB calc. from Dominion’s components).
48% → 60% –Debt share of Dominion’s capital structure, to lower its return.
25% –Cut in the residential share of relevant costs (Probability of Dispatch).
10 –Conditions: five affordability, five clean energy.
Jan. 11, 2027
SCC decision deadline; evidentiary hearing begins Nov. 17.
Sources: governor’s testimony and release (Oct. 19, 2026); Dominion (Aug. 2026); VPM (Oct. 19, 2026). Energy News Beat | energynewsbeat.co
What a base-rate freeze covers. Of Dominion’s $180.79 typical bill on July 1, 2026, base generation, distribution, and transmission rates were $81.58; fuel and riders were $99.21 (Dominion; ENB calculation). The testimony leaves the fuel factor and riders to the SCC’s “existing discretion,” and says any base increase “that would otherwise occur must be deferred.” The 25% residential cut would shift costs to other customer classes (VPM). McCann also argues that Dominion’s 2026 IRP update plans 8,965 MW of new gas and that Dominion “plans to retire no fossil fuel generation while increasing emissions by 40%” (testimony).
Reactions. Dominion and NextEra said: “As expected in a proceeding of this size and significance, today’s testimony reflects a wide range of viewpoints and interests. We are reviewing the filings and will address the issues raised through the Commission’s established process” (VPM). NextEra spokesperson Neil Nissan said the deal delivers “more than $2.1 billion in near-term direct customer and community benefits” (WTVR). SCC staff separately recommended denying the proposal (below). On Sept. 30, as the deadline to call a special session to give the SCC more time passed, two Roanoke County Republicans, Sen. David Suetterlein and Del. Joe McNamara, said in a joint statement: “Today, Governor Spanberger failed to take the simplest action to protect Virginians from the threat of even higher electric bills” (Cardinal News, Oct. 1). ENB found no on-record reaction yet from Republican leaders or consumer groups to the clean-energy conditions.
At the plan launch, she said: “I know there are some who think that the commonwealth could potentially save money if we walked away from our clean energy goals… But this model quantitatively disputes that notion” (VPM). The plan’s Table 1 shows $295 billion in system costs through 2050 under “No Policy,” versus $385 billion for its lowest-total-cost pathway. That pathway is cheaper only after accounting for social costs (carbon at $262/ton and health impacts) (plan brief; full plan).
Pushback from her own party
Republicans attack from the other side. House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore said: “The governor’s plan only becomes the ‘affordable’ option when it includes ‘social costs,’ something that doesn’t show up on power bills” (Cardinal News). On Oct. 6, Republican lawmakers asked her to call a special session to suspend gas and diesel taxes for 90 days. Sen. Mark Peake said: “They just passed a $600 million tax on data centers for energy costs. That could be used to cover our fuel costs for the next three months.” Her spokesperson said: “The Governor is assessing all available options to address the extra costs created by President Trump’s war, and she is working to create long-term solutions to make the Commonwealth more affordable” (WSLS).
How Virginia compares with other states
The comparison cuts both ways. Several target states pay less than Virginia: Nebraska (12.90¢), Louisiana (13.35¢), Nevada (13.53¢) and Washington (14.40¢) (EIA, Jan.–July 2026). Massachusetts (−0.3%) and Connecticut (−7.7%) saw prices fall this year, while Virginia’s rose faster than California’s (+2.5%). Prices have many causes besides mandates: fuel, weather, PJM capacity prices and data center load.
Grid reliability: what Sri Lanka and Spain do and do not show
Spain and Portugal, April 28, 2025: Spain’s government committee found an overvoltage collapse with several causes: insufficient voltage control, oscillations, and generator disconnections, some of which were apparently improper. It found no lack of firm capacity (government release; report; ENB translation). ENTSO-E’s 49-member expert panel found “a combination of many interacting factors” (ENTSO-E). It found “the RES generators followed a fixed power factor for reactive power provision,” and some small rooftop PV units tripped. It also lists conventional generators short on reactive power and manually switched reactors. The panel found “the key phenomenon in the incident was the non-effectiveness of voltage control,” and “even with significantly higher inertia values, the loss of system synchronism would not have been avoided” (final report). Neither report blames solar alone.
Virginia and PJM: The Clean Economy Act lets Dominion or APCo ask the SCC for relief from its plant-retirement deadlines if they “would threaten the reliability or security of electric service to customers” (Va. Code § 56-585.5). Virginia is part of PJM. Its July 2026 auction for 2028/29 came in 6,831 MW short of its reliability requirement, its second straight shortfall. PJM says that means “slimmer reserves and greater level of risk,” not that it cannot serve load (PJM report). It cited “the continued trend of the addition of large data center loads.” Solar was 1% of the accredited capacity procured (PJM release).
What consumers and investors are saying
Industry and investors: The Data Center Coalition said it is “ready to engage with policymakers to ensure workable, balanced policies that keep Virginia competitive” (Cardinal News). SCC staff said the merger as proposed “should be denied by the Commission,” but would not oppose it if the companies accept dozens of conditions (SCC staff; WTVR). Dominion has booked CVOW cost overruns it does not expect to recover from customers, including a $246 million net charge in Q2 2026 (10-Q).
Spanberger campaigned on lowering bills. Her written plan promised a “ratepayer deal” on RGGI but never mentioned net zero. Today the Dominion typical bill is $180.79, up from $149.92 a year ago. Dominion wants another $13.00 a month for carbon allowances. Her plan shows $90 billion more in system costs than the no-policy case, and it wins only after counting social costs (carbon at $262 a ton and health impacts). That is a hard sell to a family paying the bill. Her merger ask is the whole debate in one filing: freeze base rates, which are $81.58 of that bill, while fuel and riders keep moving, and bundle the freeze with a zero-carbon data center subsidiary, heat pump and EV rates, and no rooftop solar cap. Affordability is the pitch; the net-zero agenda rides along.
To be fair, she is fighting Dominion on data centers and asking for a six-year base-rate freeze and $29 credits, and the Democratic critics ENB found say she moved too late or went too easy on data centers, not too far. So it seems politically motivated slow walking a response.
My ask to voters everywhere: when a candidate promises low-cost energy, check the plan for net-zero mandates, then check the bill a year later. In California, it is 33.25¢. In Virginia, buckle UP as she asks for 300,000 acres of solar or about 3 counties. Subsidies are running out, and these projects won’t include land reclamation. The clock is ticking on the Bum Rush for Subsidies.
On reliability: I think aggressive net-zero rules could push the U.S. grid toward the kind of failures Sri Lanka and Spain saw. The differences are real. PJM is far larger than Sri Lanka’s grid, Spain’s official reports blame voltage control, not solar alone, and PJM’s current problem is a capacity shortfall, not a collapse.
Caveats and the case for her approach
· The RGGI charge is offset, at least partly. The budget sends 45% of auction proceeds to customer bill credits (VPM), and the SCC has not yet ruled on the $13.00 rider. The net effect on bills is still unknown.
· Her plan says inflation-adjusted prices fell from 2019 to 2024, and it argues the cost of doing nothing, counting carbon and health, is higher (plan brief). Critics reject the social-cost inputs. Both sets of numbers are in the appendix. The full appendix will be on Energynewsbeat.co.
· She has pushed for ratepayers against Dominion: a lower ROE, data center cost rules, and a rate freeze in the merger case. Several of those pushes failed or are still pending.
The key for Virginia voters is that she is tripling down on Net Zero policies, and she is going to be like a camel with its nose under the tent flap. Make no mistake: as I mentioned above, her talking points will be proven, like California, Germany, the UK, and the EU, with higher energy prices and hot air. “Carbon Allowances” are the camel standing outside the tent. This time, the camel will have a slush fund like Gavin Newsom’s Tax-and-Invest, with homeless and profit centers for his wife. Any time Democrats, or even Republicans, get Carbon Taxes established, they never go away, and they just flat-out are never held accountable.
Take a look at the PJM reserve reports, and they are frightening. Virginia is part of PJM. Its July 2026 auction for 2028/29 came in 6,831 MW short of its reliability requirement, its second straight shortfall. PJM says that means “slimmer reserves and greater level of risk,” not that it cannot serve load (PJM report). It cited “the continued trend of the addition of large data center loads.” Solar was 1% of the accredited capacity procured (PJM release).
The basic problem is that more wind and solar by themselves will not help the grid; PJM is pulling off coal or natural gas without steady replacements. Storage at scale is too costly, so you have a dilemma, and a governor who doesn’t understand the grid or business.
As noted in Chart 4 above, Virginia is right above Texas in cost, but watch how prices start rising dramatically over the next few years.
So as Virginian voters, how do you feel about some of her policies that have unfolded? Were you shocked when a moderate Democrat had policies that were even farther left than the most extreme Democrats? Hat tip to Ann Klieves and her team for the inspiration, as we want to arm as many people as possible with the facts.
What to watch
Appendix: Make Appendices Great Again
All times Central (CT). “ENB calculation” marks Energy News Beat’s own arithmetic from the cited data. EIA 2025–2026 figures are preliminary.
A. Sources
| # | Source | Perspective | Link | Accessed |
| 1 | Dominion Energy, “Dominion Energy Updates: Bill Rates and Kings Creek Solar” (York County, Aug. 2026) | Utility (company presentation) | https://www.yorkcounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/77640/Dominion-Energy-Updates | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 2 | EIA Form 861M monthly sales and revenue (HS861M 2010-.xlsx) | U.S. government statistics | https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861m/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 3 | EIA Form 861 annual / state electricity data (HS861 2010-.xlsx) | U.S. government statistics | https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/state/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 4 | Virginia Energy, VCEA Assessment of Disproportionate Effects (RD146, Jan. 2026) | State agency (report written under prior administration) | https://rga.lis.virginia.gov/Published/2026/RD146/PDF | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 5 | SCC Order for Notice and Hearing, Rider RGGI, PUR-2026-00085 (July 7, 2026) | State regulator | https://www.scc.virginia.gov/docketsearch/DOCS/8d%40d01!.PDF | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 6 | VPM, SCC final order on Dominion biennial review (Nov. 25, 2025) | News | https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-11-25/dominion-energy-virginia-scc-electric-bill-natural-gas-plant-cerc | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 7 | Cardinal News, energy plan coverage (Oct. 1, 2026) | News | https://cardinalnews.org/2026/10/01/spanberger-unveils-energy-plan-with-focus-on-achieving-a-net-zero-power-sector-by-2050/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 8 | 2026 Virginia Energy Plan, Executive Brief | State agency (Spanberger administration) | https://energy.virginia.gov/public/documents/Virginia%20Energy%20Plan/Energy%20Plan%20Executive%20Brief%201.pdf | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 9 | 2026 Virginia Energy Plan, full plan (v0.1) | State agency (Spanberger administration) | https://energy.virginia.gov/public/documents/Virginia%20Energy%20Plan/2026%20VEP%200.1%20.pdf | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 10 | Governor’s release, 2026 Virginia Energy Plan (Oct. 1, 2026) | Governor’s office | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/october-releases/name-1124307-en.html | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 11 | VPM, energy plan press conference (Oct. 2, 2026) | News | https://www.vpm.org/news/2026-10-02/spanberger-energy-plan-vcea-rggi-dominion-solar-fossil-fuel-kilgore-sturtevant/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 12 | Spanberger campaign release, energy affordability plan (June 9, 2025) | Campaign | https://abigailspanberger.com/new-spanberger-announces-plan-to-lower-virginians-energy-costs-continues-focus-on-making-virginia-more-affordable/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 13 | Spanberger campaign Energy Affordability Plan (PDF, June 2025) | Campaign | https://abigailspanberger.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Spanberger_EnergyAffordabilityPlan_L4.pdf | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 14 | Spanberger Roanoke Times commentary, campaign repost (June 15, 2025) | Campaign | https://abigailspanberger.com/roanoke-times-commentary-as-governor-ill-work-with-both-parties-to-lower-energy-costs/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 15 | Campaign release, “Tour” TV ad (Aug. 20, 2025) | Campaign | https://abigailspanberger.com/new-tv-ad-abigail-spanberger-takes-her-commitment-to-lowering-costs-for-virginians-to-the-airwaves/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 16 | “Tour” ad video (YouTube) | Campaign | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1oksC4t8Fc | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 17 | WFXR full broadcast, gubernatorial debate (Oct. 9, 2025; YouTube) | Broadcast video (primary) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcoQm_oHbgc | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 18 | Virginia Department of Elections, Nov. 2025 general election results | State election office | https://enr.elections.virginia.gov/results/public/virginia/elections/2025-November-General | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 19 | Governor of Virginia, Executive Actions index | Governor’s office | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/executive-actions/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 20 | Executive Order 1 (Jan. 17, 2026) | Governor’s office | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/pdf/eo/EXECUTIVE-ORDER-ONE_1.17.pdf | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 21 | Executive Order 14 (Mar. 25, 2026) | Governor’s office | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/pdf/eo/EO-14-ESTABLISHING-THE-ROLE-OF-CHIEF-ENERGY-OFFICER.pdf | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 22 | 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter 1123 (HB1393), approved May 14, 2026 | Legislature (official) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225735.PDF | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 23 | Executive Order 22 (Sept. 18, 2026) | Governor’s office | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/pdf/eo/eo-22-establishing-va-data-center-accountability-and-ai-initiatives.pdf | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 24 | Governor’s release, energy bill signing (June 30, 2026) | Governor’s office | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/june-releases/name-1120477-en.html | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 25 | Governor’s release, budget and new laws in effect (July 1, 2026) | Governor’s office | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/july-releases/name-1120525-en.html | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 26 | Governor’s release, Dominion–NextEra merger testimony (Oct. 19, 2026) | Governor’s office | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/october-releases/name-1127359-en.html | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 27 | Direct Testimony for the Governor and Chief Energy Officer, PUR-2026-00112 (Oct. 19, 2026) | Governor’s office (SCC filing) | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/pdf/2026-10-19—Direct-Testimony-and-Attachments—Governor-and-Chief.pdf | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 28 | SCC Staff testimony, PUR-2026-00112 (Oct. 19, 2026) | State regulator staff | https://www.scc.virginia.gov/docketsearch/DOCS/8f7301!.PDF | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 29 | LIS bill page HB397 (2026) | Legislature (official) | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB397 | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 30 | 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter 920 (HB397) | Legislature (official) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224630.PDF | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 31 | LIS bill page HB1393 (2026) | Legislature (official) | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1393 | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 32 | LIS bill pages HB628, HB895, HB429, HB284, HB892, HB1191 (2026) | Legislature (official) | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB628 | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 33 | 2026–2028 Appropriation Act, Item 3-5.24 data center electricity consumption tax | Legislature (official) | https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/item/2026/2/HB30/Enrolled/3/3-5.24/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 34 | DLS/CEUR, Summary of Energy Legislation Passed by 2026 General Assembly (Apr. 27, 2026) | Legislative staff (nonpartisan) | https://dls.virginia.gov/commissions/eur/files/2026_Gov_Actions_042726.pdf | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 35 | Virginia DEQ, Carbon Trading (RGGI) page | State agency | https://www.deq.virginia.gov/air-energy/greenhouse-gases/carbon-trading | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 36 | SELC, government withdraws RGGI appeal (Mar. 5, 2026) | Environmental law group (party to case) | https://www.selc.org/press-release/government-withdraws-appeal-of-rggi-lawsuit-in-virginia/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 37 | VPM, Virginia rejoins RGGI (July 1, 2026) | News | https://www.vpm.org/general-assembly/2026-07-01/rggi-regional-carbon-greenhouse-market-spanberger-herring-youngkin-dominion/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 38 | Virginia Mercury, HB1393 amendments (Apr. 16, 2026) | News | https://virginiamercury.com/2026/04/16/lawmakers-dominion-say-spanbergers-amendments-weaken-bill-to-shift-costs-onto-data-centers/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 39 | Virginia Mercury, vetoes and Democratic pushback (June 12, 2026) | News | https://virginiamercury.com/2026/06/12/spanberger-defends-wave-of-vetoes-as-frustrated-democrats-push-back/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 40 | Cardinal News, EO-22 reactions (Sept. 18, 2026) | News | https://cardinalnews.org/2026/09/18/spanberger-issues-executive-order-to-hold-data-centers-accountable-form-ai-task-force/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 41 | Clean Energy States Alliance, Table of 100% Clean Energy States | Pro-clean-energy state alliance | https://www.cesa.org/projects/100-clean-energy-collaborative/guide/table-of-100-clean-energy-states/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 42 | Energy Bad Boys, “States with Clean Energy Mandates Have Higher Rate Increases” (Nov. 29, 2025) | Mandate-critical analysts (Orr & Rolling) | https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/states-with-clean-energy-mandates | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 43 | Energy Bad Boys, “Blue States, High Rates” (Dec. 13, 2025) | Mandate-critical analysts | https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/blue-states-high-rates | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 44 | Center of the American Experiment, “The High Cost of the Virginia Clean Economy Act” (Feb. 2022) | Free-market think tank (Orr & Rolling) | https://files.americanexperiment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/The-Hgh-Cost-of-the-Virginia-Clean-Economy-Act.pdf | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 45 | VCU Wilder School, Summer 2026 Commonwealth Poll (July 15, 2026) | Academic poll | https://wilder.vcu.edu/news-and-events/news-posts/voters-question-virginias-direction-and-oppose-sales-tax-exemption-for-data-centers-new-commonwealth-poll-finds.html | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 46 | VCIJ at WHRO, Embold Research poll for Virginia Distributed Solar Alliance (Sept. 25, 2026) | News on industry-sponsored poll | https://www.whro.org/virginia-center-for-investigative-journalism/2026-09-25/soaring-electric-bills-energy-demand-a-top-concern-for-virginians | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 47 | AP-NORC/EPIC 2026 energy poll topline | Academic/nonpartisan poll | https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-AP-NORC-EPIC-Topline-Release-1.pdf | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 48 | Dominion 8-K, CVOW cost update (Feb. 3, 2025) | Company SEC filing | https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/715957/000095017025012345/d-20250203.htm | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 49 | Dominion 10-Q Q3 2025, CVOW note | Company SEC filing | https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/715957/000119312525260246/R24.htm | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 50 | Dominion 8-K, CVOW cost update (Jan. 30, 2026) | Company SEC filing | https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/715957/000119312526030493/d-20260130.htm | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 51 | Dominion 10-Q Q2 2026 (July 31, 2026) | Company SEC filing | https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/715957/000119312526327487/d-20260630.htm | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 52 | Loudoun County, Data Centers: The Loudoun Story | County government | https://www.loudoun.gov/6408/Data-Centers-The-Loudoun-Story | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 53 | Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, Executive Order 57 page | State government | https://www.naturalresources.virginia.gov/initiatives/executive-order-57/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 54 | Virginia Register Vol. 32 Iss. 25 (Aug. 8, 2016), EO-57 text (varules.elaws.us mirror) | Official register (third-party mirror) | https://varules.elaws.us/register/8/8/2016/7 | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 55 | Reuters, McAuliffe orders cap-and-trade regulation (May 16, 2017) | News | https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-virginia-climatechange-idUSL2N1IJ1PO/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 56 | 2020 Acts of Assembly Chapter 1193 (VCEA) | Legislature (official) | https://law.lis.virginia.gov/uncodifiedacts/2020/session1/chapter1193/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 57 | WTVR/AP, SCC staff and governor merger filings (Oct. 19, 2026) | News | https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/dominion-nextera-merger-update-oct-19-2026 | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 58 | VPM, SCC staff and governor merger filings (Oct. 19, 2026; updated story re-read Oct. 20) | News | https://www.vpm.org/news/2026-10-19/scc-dominion-nextera-pur-2026-00112/ | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 59 | WTKR, Spanberger signs 18 energy bills (June 30, 2026) | News | https://www.wtkr.com/gov-spanberger-signs-18-energy-bills-including-legislation-allowing-virginia-to-rejoin-rggi | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 60 | RGGI, Inc., New participation (Virginia) | Program administrator | https://www.rggi.org/program-overview-and-design/new-participation | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 61 | Energy News Beat, “By Her Own Math…” (Oct. 5, 2026) | ENB (prior coverage) | https://energynewsbeat.co/electrical-generation/by-her-own-math-spanbergers-energy-plan-costs-ratepayers-an-extra-90-billion/ | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| 62 | WSLS 10 News, “Gov. Spanberger calls for six-year freeze to electric rates, tripling customer bill credits in NextEra-Dominion filing” (10 News Digital Team, Oct. 19, 2026, 4:22 p.m.) | News | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/10/19/gov-spanberger-calls-for-six-year-freeze-to-electric-rates-tripling-customer-bill-credits-in-nextera-dominion-filing/ | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 63 | SCC eFiling cover sheet: Notice of Participation as Respondents, Governor and Chief Energy Officer, PUR-2026-00112 (Aug. 17, 2026) | State regulator docket | https://www.scc.virginia.gov/docketsearch/DOCS/8%232c01!.PDF | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 64 | Governor’s release on intervening in the merger case (Aug. 2026) | Governor’s office | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/august-releases/name-1122538-en.html | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 65 | Cardinal News, special session window on merger review (Oct. 1, 2026) | News | https://cardinalnews.org/2026/10/01/legislators-say-window-has-closed-to-call-for-a-special-session-to-extend-review-of-dominion-nextera-merger/ | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 66 | WSLS 10 News, “Republican lawmakers call on Gov. Spanberger to suspend gas tax” (Ethan Ellis, Oct. 6, 2026) | News | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/10/06/lawmakers-call-for-gas-tax-suspension/ | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 67 | WHRO, “Spanberger, SCC staff say no to Dominion-NextEra merger in its current form” (Oct. 19, 2026) | News | https://www.whro.org/2026-10-19/spanberger-scc-staff-say-no-to-dominion-nextera-merger-in-its-current-form | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 68 | Virginia Business, Spanberger rate-freeze demand (Oct. 19, 2026) | News | https://virginiabusiness.com/spanberger-demands-6-year-rate-freeze-dominion-nextera-merger/ | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 69 | pv magazine, “Sri Lanka asks PV system owners to disconnect after nationwide blackout” (Emiliano Bellini, Oct. 19, 2026) | Trade press (solar industry) | https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/10/19/sri-lanka-asks-pv-system-owners-to-disconnect-after-nationwide-blackout/ | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 70 | Spain, Ministry for the Ecological Transition (MITECO), release on the Comité 28-A report (June 17, 2025; Spanish) | National government | https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/prensa/ultimas-noticias/2025/junio/se-presenta-el-informe-del-comite-de-analisis-de-la-crisis-elect.html | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 71 | Spain, Comité 28-A, non-confidential report on the April 28, 2025 electricity crisis (approved June 16–17, 2025; Spanish) | National government | https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/consejodeministros/resumenes/Documents/2025/Informe-no-confidencial-Comite-de-analisis-28A.pdf | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 72 | ENTSO-E, “28 April 2025 Blackout” publication page (final report published March 20, 2026) | European grid operators’ association | https://www.entsoe.eu/publications/blackout/28-april-2025-iberian-blackout/ | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 73 | ENTSO-E ICS Investigation Expert Panel, Final Report on the Grid Incident in Spain and Portugal on 28 April 2025 (472 pp.) | European grid operators’ association (expert panel incl. TSOs, ACER, regulators) | https://eepublicdownloads.blob.core.windows.net/public-cdn-container/clean-documents/Publications/2025/iberian-blackout/Final%20Report%20on%20the%20Grid%20Incident%20in%20Spain%20and%20Portugal%20on%2028%20April%202025.pdf | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 74 | Code of Virginia § 56-585.5 (VCEA retirement, RPS and reliability-relief provisions) | State law | https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title56/chapter23/section56-585.5/ | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 75 | PJM, 2028/2029 Base Residual Auction Report (July 14, 2026) | Grid operator (RTO) | https://www.pjm.com/-/media/DotCom/markets-ops/rpm/rpm-auction-info/2028-2029/2028-2029-bra-results-report.pdf | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 76 | PJM release, “PJM Capacity Auction Procures 138,318 MW…” (July 14, 2026, via PR Newswire) | Grid operator (RTO) | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pjm-capacity-auction-procures-138-318-mw-of-generation-resources-as-work-continues-to-address-growing-electricity-demand-302825613.html | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| 77 | EconomyNext, “Sri Lanka probes nationwide blackout as coal plant trip destabilizes solar-heavy grid” (Oct. 20, 2026): Energy Minister Aruna Karunathilaka’s statement to parliament, as reported | News (reporting minister’s statement; official inquiry under way, no NSO/CEB technical report yet) | https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-probes-nationwide-blackout-as-coal-plant-trip-destabilizes-solar-heavy-grid-287236/ | Oct. 20, 2026 |
B. Key excerpts from primary documents
2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter 920 (HB397), approved April 13, 2026
Rejoins RGGI. Allocates auction proceeds: 45% to the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, 50% to DHCD low-income efficiency programs, 3% to administration and climate planning, 2% to DHCD administration (ENB summary of the chapter text).
2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter 1123 (HB1393), approved May 14, 2026
The SCC “shall… take all measures to reasonably ensure that costs associated with customers taking service under the terms and conditions for customers with a contracted or measured electric demand of 25 megawatts or greater and an anticipated or measured average annual electric load factor of 75 percent or greater (high load customers) are not being subsidized by other customers of the utility…”
Executive Order 14 (Mar. 25, 2026)
“At the top of the list of challenges facing Virginia households is energy affordability, where electricity rates have risen by 36% over the last five years.”
Executive Order 22 (Sept. 18, 2026)
“Improve Affordability for Virginians: Data centers must pay their fair share of the generation, transmission, distribution, and other public investments their operations require. Virginia’s data center growth and market position should lower—not raise—energy costs for households and other customers.”
Appropriation Act Item 3-5.24
“…an electricity consumption tax at the rate of $0.011/kWh of all electricity consumed at each data center per month.” “During any fiscal year, no more than $600,000,000 of the revenues from the tax imposed under this Item shall be deposited to the general fund.”
SCC Order, PUR-2026-00085 (July 7, 2026)
Dominion “states that approval of this revenue requirement would result in an increase to the average monthly bill of a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours (“kWh”) of electricity of $13.00 per month, effective March 1, 2027.” Under its Mitigation Proposal, the increase would be “$10.36 per month.”
Virginia Energy, RD146 (Jan. 2026)
“Between May 2020 and December 2025, monthly residential electricity bills have increased by $42.70, from $116.18 to $158.88. Of this $42.70, $22.88 is for renewable portfolio standard (RPS) related resources… the most realistic development plan would increase the typical monthly bill from $158.86 in December 2025 to $255.79 by the end of 2035 for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh.”
2026 Virginia Energy Plan, Executive Brief
“Virginia’s inflation-adjusted electricity prices declined from 2019 through 2024, but prices have begun to rise again as rapid demand growth across the PJM region outpaces new generation and transmission infrastructure…” Table 1 (moderate load): System Cost No Policy $295B; Current Policies $422B; Distributed Flexibility $385B. Total Cost $725B / $510B / $475B.
Spanberger campaign Energy Affordability Plan (June 2025)
“Negotiate the best ratepayer deal to rejoin RGGI…” (No mention of the Virginia Clean Economy Act or “net zero” in the plan text, per ENB search of the PDF.)
Direct Testimony for the Governor and Chief Energy Officer, PUR-2026-00112 (Oct. 19, 2026), summary of conditions
“Residential Rate Freeze for Six Years: There cannot be an increase to base rates for three rate case cycles.” “Triple Ratepayer Benefit: This would make the rebate $29 per month for four years.” “A new separate subsidiary must be created and headquartered in Virginia for building zero-carbon energy generation to serve large data centers that is financially walled off from the rest of customers.” “A decarbonization incentive rate must be established for electrified uses like heat pumps to replace furnaces and electric vehicles to replace fossil-fueled cars.”
Same testimony, on what the freeze covers
“…any increase that would otherwise occur must be deferred based on the merger commitment.” On bill credits: “a $10 monthly bill credit does not provide much confidence when Dominion has already petitioned the Commission to recover more than $10 per month in fuel-related costs this year alone.”
Same testimony, conclusion
“Unless these additional commitments are substantially addressed or alternative solutions are identified, the Commission should reject the joint petition.”
Governor’s release (Oct. 19, 2026)
“That’s why I am calling for a six-year freeze to Virginians’ base residential electricity rates, a tripling of monthly bill credits for ratepayers, and additional commitments to lower energy costs and meet our long-term clean and homegrown energy goals if the State Corporation Commission is to approve this merger.” (Gov. Spanberger) “With the commitments made in the original filing and supplemental testimony, Dominion and NextEra have not yet satisfied the legal standard that would allow the Commission to approve this transaction” (Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond)
Governor’s release (Aug. 2026)
“This is the first time any Governor of Virginia has intervened at the SCC.”
SCC Staff testimony, PUR-2026-00112
“Staff concludes that the Merger as proposed in the Joint Petition should be denied by the Commission. The Merger, if approved, would not be easily undone and would have very long-lasting impacts in Virginia.”
Dominion 10-Q, Q2 2026
“The estimated total project cost is approximately $11.7 billion (excluding financing costs and including $0.1 billion of contingency)…”
pv magazine (Oct. 19, 2026), Sri Lanka blackout
“Sri Lanka’s National System Operator (NSO) has instructed all PV system owners to disconnect their installations from the grid following a nationwide blackout caused by instability in the electricity system on Oct. 17. The NSO said PV systems had to remain disconnected until further notice to support grid restoration efforts. According to local media reports, the NSO attributed the outage to unspecified instability in the transmission network, which disrupted electricity supply at around 11:45 a.m. The NSO confirmed the restoration at around 7:50 p.m. local time, with electricity supplies returning to most areas. It is not clear, however, if PV systems could resume power injection.”
pv magazine (Oct. 19, 2026), on Sri Lanka’s Feb. 9, 2025 blackout
“According to a CEB investigation published in April 2025, the blackout was triggered at noon by a fault at the Panadura grid substation. At the time, solar PV accounted for more than 50% of electricity demand, leaving the grid with insufficient system inertia to withstand the disturbance.” Also: “Sri Lanka’s daily electricity demand stood at approximately 58 GWh to 60 GWh in March 2026, equivalent to an average continuous power requirement of around 2,400 MW to 2,500 MW.”
Spain, MITECO release on the Comité 28-A report (June 17, 2025; Spanish original)
“El cero eléctrico se produjo por un problema de sobretensión con un origen multifactorial: el sistema contaba con una capacidad de control de tensión insuficiente, se produjeron oscilaciones que condicionaron la operación del sistema y se desconectaron instalaciones de generación, en algunos casos de un modo aparentemente indebido.” ENB translation: The blackout was caused by an overvoltage problem with multiple causes: the system had insufficient voltage-control capacity, oscillations affected system operation, and generation facilities disconnected, in some cases apparently improperly.
Spain, Comité 28-A report (Spanish original)
“…el cero eléctrico del 28 de abril no fue debido a falta de firmeza o de capacidad (al darse en un momento de relativa baja demanda y con más que suficiente generación firme disponible)…” ENB translation: the April 28 blackout was not due to a lack of firm power or capacity (it happened at a time of relatively low demand, with more than enough firm generation available).
ENTSO-E publication page (final report, March 20, 2026)
“The investigation concludes that the blackout resulted from a combination of many interacting factors, including oscillations, gaps in voltage and reactive power control, differences in voltage regulation practices, rapid output reductions and generator disconnections in Spain, and uneven stabilisation capabilities.”
ENTSO-E Expert Panel, Final Report (root-cause list, excerpts)
“…the RES generators followed a fixed power factor for reactive power provision, thereby not contributing effectively to the voltage control…” “» shunt reactors are operated manually, requiring decision-making and processing time;” “» A certain proportion of small PV units (< 1 MW) experienced voltage-related disconnections by activation of inverter protection;” “» the framework for conventional generators’ reactive power output did not include specifications for dynamic behaviour…”
ENTSO-E Expert Panel, Final Report (technical analysis)
“The analyses above clearly indicate that the key phenomenon in the incident was the non-effectiveness of voltage control within the Spanish power system.” “…even with significantly higher inertia values, the loss of system synchronism would not have been avoided, considering the sequence of events.”
Code of Virginia § 56-585.5 B 3
“A Phase I or Phase II Utility may petition the Commission for relief from the requirements of this subsection on the basis that the requirement would threaten the reliability or security of electric service to customers. The Commission shall consider in-state and regional transmission entity resources and shall evaluate the reliability of each proposed retirement on a case-by-case basis in ruling upon any such petition.”
PJM, 2028/2029 BRA Report (July 14, 2026)
“The total procured capacity in the RTO, which includes RPM and FRR, is 149,181.6 MW UCAP or 6,831.3 MW UCAP below the RTO Reliability Requirement. This is very similar to the prior BRA where the shortage was 6,516 MW UCAP. Such a shortage does not necessarily mean that the PJM system will be unable to serve load reliably in the delivery year; it means that PJM would have to operate with slimmer reserves and greater level of risk.”
PJM release (July 14, 2026)
“These most recent auctions were the first in PJM history in which the entire RTO fell short of the reliability requirement.” “This auction also saw the continued trend of the addition of large data center loads to the load forecast that forms the basis of the reliability requirement.” Supply mix (UCAP): “46% natural gas, 20% nuclear, 18% coal, 5% demand response, 4% hydro, 2% wind, 2% oil and 1% solar.”
EconomyNext (Oct. 20, 2026): minister’s statement to parliament, as reported
“Sri Lanka’s island-wide blackout on Saturday, October 17, occurred after a coal power unit tripped during maintenance, exposing an electricity grid destabilized by nearly 1,700 megawatts of unmonitored renewable energy, Energy Minister Aruna Karunathilaka told parliament.” “Before the 11:43 am outage, the National System Operator managed 1,137 MW from controlled sources—516 MW of coal and 621 MW of hydro—alongside roughly 1,700 MW of unmonitored, predominantly solar power.” “The sudden loss caused system frequency to drop rapidly, triggering unmonitored renewables to trip offline faster than conventional plants could compensate and collapsing grid equilibrium.” “…the grid was vulnerable because roughly 2,000 MW of installed rooftop solar inverters were not configured to ride through frequency drops down to 47.5 Hz, causing them to trip offline.” “The government has launched an official inquiry through the Ministry Secretary…” “…power was fully returned to all consumers by 9:56 pm…”
C. Data tables
C1. Virginia residential electricity, annual (EIA Form 861; bill = ENB calculation)
| Year | Price ¢/kWh | Avg. monthly bill | Avg. kWh/month | Customers |
| 2010 | 10.45 | $129.43 | 1,239 | 3,258,959 |
| 2011 | 10.64 | $125.86 | 1,183 | 3,225,395 |
| 2012 | 11.08 | $123.72 | 1,117 | 3,248,518 |
| 2013 | 10.84 | $125.36 | 1,156 | 3,273,502 |
| 2014 | 11.10 | $130.04 | 1,172 | 3,303,676 |
| 2015 | 11.37 | $130.58 | 1,149 | 3,332,083 |
| 2016 | 11.36 | $127.14 | 1,120 | 3,362,985 |
| 2017 | 11.55 | $124.54 | 1,078 | 3,398,529 |
| 2018 | 11.73 | $136.59 | 1,165 | 3,431,574 |
| 2019 | 12.07 | $135.46 | 1,122 | 3,464,677 |
| 2020 | 12.03 | $131.72 | 1,095 | 3,506,844 |
| 2021 | 11.96 | $130.92 | 1,094 | 3,551,532 |
| 2022 | 13.34 | $144.96 | 1,086 | 3,583,371 |
| 2023 | 14.26 | $141.63 | 993 | 3,615,939 |
| 2024 | 14.41 | $148.77 | 1,032 | 3,654,481 |
| 2025 (prelim.) | 15.28 | $163.05 | 1,067 | 3,684,498 |
Source: EIA. Bill = revenue ÷ customers ÷ 12 (ENB calculation; all Virginia utilities, not Dominion only). As of EIA release with 2025 preliminary data (accessed Oct. 19, 2026).
C2. Residential price, January–July 2026 vs. 2025 (EIA Form 861M, preliminary)
| State | Group | Jan–Jul 2025 ¢ | Jan–Jul 2026 ¢ | Change (ENB calc.) |
| California | Net-zero / 100% target | 32.45 | 33.25 | +2.5% |
| Massachusetts | Net-zero / 100% target | 30.22 | 30.14 | -0.3% |
| New York | Net-zero / 100% target | 26.01 | 29.38 | +13.0% |
| Connecticut | Net-zero / 100% target | 30.29 | 27.97 | -7.7% |
| New Jersey | Net-zero / 100% target | 22.07 | 23.98 | +8.7% |
| Maryland | Net-zero / 100% target | 18.75 | 21.30 | +13.6% |
| Virginia | Virginia (VCEA) | 14.88 | 16.83 | +13.1% |
| Texas | Neighbor / red state | 15.20 | 16.06 | +5.6% |
| West Virginia | Neighbor / red state | 15.35 | 15.47 | +0.8% |
| Georgia | Neighbor / red state | 14.74 | 15.40 | +4.4% |
| Florida | Neighbor / red state | 15.03 | 15.30 | +1.7% |
| North Carolina | Neighbor / red state | 13.71 | 14.94 | +9.0% |
| Kentucky | Neighbor / red state | 13.12 | 14.27 | +8.7% |
| Tennessee | Neighbor / red state | 13.22 | 13.87 | +4.9% |
| U.S. (sum of states + DC) | 17.01 | 18.19 | +6.9% |
Source: EIA Form 861M, data through July 2026. Jan–Jul prices = sum of revenue ÷ sum of sales for those months (ENB calculation). Groups per CESA; North Carolina has a 2050 power-sector carbon-neutrality goal but is shown as a neighbor.
C3. Dominion typical residential bill, 1,000 kWh
| Date | Bill | Source |
| May 2020 | $116.18 | Virginia Energy RD146 |
| July 2025 | $149.92 | Dominion, Aug. 2026 |
| Dec. 2025 | $158.88 ($158.86 in the projection sentence) | RD146 |
| Jan. 2026 | $170.61 | Dominion |
| July 1, 2026 | $180.79 | Dominion |
| Mar. 1, 2027 (proposed) | +$13.00 Rider RGGI (or +$10.36 mitigated); +$2.36 base (2027) | SCC; VPM |
| End of 2035 (projection) | $255.79 | RD146, citing Dominion 2025 IRP update |
July 1, 2026 components (Dominion): base generation $31.03, base distribution $40.85 (includes $7.58 customer charge), base transmission $9.70, fuel $40.55, generation riders $10.88, distribution riders $9.26, transmission rider $11.79, non-bypassable riders (coal ash, VCEA solar/storage, offshore wind, RPS) $26.73.
C4. CVOW total project cost estimate (excl. financing)
| Date | Estimate | Source |
| Original | ~$9.8B | 8-K Feb. 3, 2025 |
| Feb. 3, 2025 | ~$10.7B | 8-K |
| Q3 2025 | ~$11.2B | 10-Q note |
| Jan. 30, 2026 | ~$11.5B; completion early 2027 | 8-K |
| July 31, 2026 (Q2 10-Q) | ~$11.7B; final turbines by end-2027 | 10-Q |
C5. 2026 Virginia Energy Plan, Table 1 (moderate load, $ billions through 2050)
| Scenario | System cost | Social cost of carbon | Health impacts | Total |
| No Policy | 295 | 285 | 145 | 725 |
| Current Policies | 422 | 53 | 35 | 510 |
| Distributed Flexibility | 385 | 71 | 19 | 475 |
| Moderate Solar/In-State Priority | 405 | 75 | 20 | 500 |
| No New Gas | 398 | 64 | 22 | 484 |
Source: Executive Brief; social cost of carbon at $262 per metric ton (full plan). ENB calculation: Distributed Flexibility system cost minus No Policy = $90B; Current Policies minus No Policy = $127B.
D. Background
VCEA (2020) sets binding carbon-free targets (Dominion 2045, APCo 2050), a renewable portfolio standard, efficiency targets and offshore wind provisions. It is state law; the 2026 Energy Plan is guidance and “does not set utility rates or approve individual projects” (governor’s release).
RGGI is a cap-and-trade market for power-plant CO₂. Utilities buy allowances and recover the cost through a bill rider. Virginia’s allowance budget for the second half of 2026 is 11.48 million (RGGI). Under HB397, proceeds fund flood resilience and low-income efficiency; the 2026 budget adds a customer bill credit from 45% of proceeds (VPM).
GS-5 is the new rate class for very large, high-load-factor customers (at least 25 MW of demand and at least a 75% load factor), approved in the 2025 biennial review; the class and its contract rules take effect in 2027 (Dominion). Chapter 1123 uses the same 25 MW / 75% definition for “high load customers” (Chapter 1123).
The merger: NextEra and Dominion signed a merger agreement May 15, 2026 (10-Q). The SCC case is PUR-2026-00112; decision due Jan. 11, 2027 (VPM; Virginia Business reported Jan. 15, see I). The governor and Chief Energy Officer joined as respondents Aug. 17, 2026 (SCC) and filed conditions testimony Oct. 19 (testimony).
E. Timeline
| Date | Event |
| June 28, 2016 | McAuliffe Executive Order 57: carbon-reduction work group for power plants |
| May 16, 2017 | McAuliffe Executive Directive 11: DEQ to draft trading-ready carbon rule |
| Apr. 11, 2020 | Northam approves VCEA (HB1526/SB851; Ch. 1193/1194) |
| Jan. 1, 2021 | Virginia begins RGGI participation (DEQ: 2021–2023) |
| July 31, 2023 | Youngkin-era repeal regulation published; Virginia inactive in RGGI from 2024 |
| Nov. 2024 | Floyd County Circuit Court rules RGGI repeal unlawful; state appeals |
| Feb. 3, 2025 | CVOW estimate raised to ~$10.7B |
| June 9, 2025 | Spanberger campaign energy affordability plan |
| Aug. 20, 2025 | “Tour” TV ad |
| Oct. 9, 2025 | Norfolk State debate |
| Nov. 4, 2025 | Spanberger elected (~57.6%) |
| Nov. 2025 | SCC final order on Dominion biennial review: +$11.24 (2026), +$2.36 (2027) |
| Jan. 17, 2026 | Inauguration; EO-1 |
| Jan. 30, 2026 | CVOW estimate ~$11.5B |
| Feb. 20, 2026 | HB29 budget amendments approved directing DEQ to rejoin RGGI |
| Mar. 3–5, 2026 | State withdraws RGGI appeal; Court of Appeals acknowledges |
| Mar. 25, 2026 | EO-14 Chief Energy Officer |
| Apr. 13, 2026 | HB397 approved (Ch. 920) |
| Apr. 22, 2026 | Reconvened session: governor’s HB1393 amendments 7, 9, 10 agreed to; 1–6, 8, 11 rejected |
| Apr. 22, 2026 | ED-3 joins U.S. Climate Alliance |
| May 14, 2026 | HB1393 approved (Ch. 1123), effective July 1, 2026 |
| May 15, 2026 | NextEra–Dominion merger agreement |
| June 30, 2026 | Ceremonial energy-bill signing; RGGI credit announced |
| July 1, 2026 | RGGI participation resumes; budget with data center tax takes effect |
| July 3, 2026 | Dominion all-time peak 25,200 MW |
| July 7, 2026 | SCC sets hearing on $13.00 Rider RGGI |
| July 31, 2026 | CVOW estimate ~$11.7B (10-Q) |
| Sept. 18, 2026 | EO-22 data center accountability |
| Aug. 17, 2026 | Governor and Chief Energy Officer join merger case as respondents (SCC notice) |
| Sept. 30, 2026 | Deadline passes to call a special session extending SCC merger review; Suetterlein and McNamara statement (Cardinal News) |
| Oct. 1, 2026 | 2026 Virginia Energy Plan |
| Oct. 6, 2026 | Republican lawmakers ask for 90-day gas tax suspension |
| Oct. 19, 2026 | Governor’s testimony: 10 merger conditions (rate freeze, $29 credits, zero-carbon subsidiary, heat pump/EV rate, solar cap); SCC staff recommend denial as proposed |
| Nov. 5, 9, 10, 2026 | Merger public hearings (telephonic; in person Nov. 5) |
| Nov. 12, 2026 | Merger written comments close |
| Nov. 17, 2026 | Merger evidentiary hearing begins |
| Oct. 28, 2026 | Rider RGGI hearing |
| Dec. 2, 2026 | RGGI Auction 74 |
| Jan. 11, 2027 | SCC merger decision due |
| Mar. 1, 2027 | Proposed Rider RGGI effective date |
F. Methodology
Bill change: $180.79 − $149.92 = $30.87/month; × 12 = $370.44/year; ÷ $149.92 = +20.6% (ENB calculation, Dominion typical 1,000-kWh bill).
State Jan–Jul prices: EIA Form 861M monthly residential revenue and sales by state, Jan.–July summed for 2025 and 2026; price = revenue ÷ sales. U.S. = sum of 50 states + DC. Virginia +13.1%; U.S. +6.9%.
Annual average bill (all Virginia utilities): EIA Form 861 revenue ÷ customers ÷ 12. This differs from Dominion’s “typical” 1,000-kWh bill, which holds usage constant.
Chart 3 “if approved” bar: $180.79 + $13.00 requested Rider RGGI = $193.79, before any RGGI credit, the 2027 base-rate step (+$2.36), fuel changes or other riders. Illustrative only.
Quotes: Taken word for word from the original source listed in the quote log (G). Where a quote comes from an interview or statement given to a news outlet, that outlet is the original publisher, and the log says so. Quotes ENB could not verify were cut.
Grid reliability section (added Oct. 20, 2026): Sri Lanka’s cause comes from the energy minister’s Oct. 20 statement to parliament as reported by EconomyNext (an official inquiry is under way; no NSO/CEB technical report yet); the disconnect instruction is quoted in pv magazine’s wording (Oct. 19, 2026). Spain findings come only from the Spanish government’s Comité 28-A report and release (in Spanish; ENB translation, originals in B) and ENTSO-E’s expert panel final report. PJM figures are from PJM’s 2028/2029 auction report and release (accredited/UCAP basis).
Merger section (added Oct. 20, 2026): Conditions come from the governor-hosted copy of the filed testimony (with its transmittal letter to the SCC Clerk) and the governor’s release; the Aug. 17 notice was checked on the SCC docket. Base-rate share: $31.03 + $40.85 + $9.70 = $81.58 of $180.79 (45%); fuel and riders $40.55 + $10.88 + $9.26 + $11.79 + $26.73 = $99.21 (ENB calculation). Credit total: $29 × 48 = $1,392 (ENB calculation; testimony’s table shows $28.98 per month). “Tripling” is the governor’s word; $28.98 ÷ $10.00 = 2.9.
G. Quote log
| Quote | Speaker | Date | Original source | Verified how |
| “As the next Governor of Virginia, I will be focused on lowering costs and making Virginians’ bills more affordable — because I know that affordable energy is essential to driving economic growth” | Abigail Spanberger (candidate) | June 9, 2025 | Campaign release | Text matched on campaign site |
| “Negotiate the best ratepayer deal to rejoin RGGI” | Spanberger campaign plan | June 2025 | Plan PDF | Text extracted from PDF |
| “the average monthly residential power bill has increased by about $50 in the past three years” | Spanberger (op-ed) | June 15, 2025 (repost date) | Campaign repost | Text on campaign site; original Roanoke Times page not opened |
| “as Gov. Glenn Youngkin rightly pointed out, the lack of transparency at PJM is hurting energy affordability in Virginia” | Spanberger (op-ed) | June 15, 2025 | Campaign repost | Same as above |
| “The costs for families across Virginia in housing, in healthcare, in energy. Everyday just gets a little harder… I’ve rolled out plans and I’m ready to get to work to lower costs” | Spanberger (ad narration) | Aug. 20, 2025 | YouTube | YouTube captions plus campaign release text |
| “electricity rates have risen by 36% over the last five years” | Executive Order 14 | Mar. 25, 2026 | EO-14 PDF | Text extracted from official PDF |
| “Data centers must pay their fair share of the generation, transmission, distribution, and other public investments their operations require.” | Executive Order 22 | Sept. 18, 2026 | EO-22 PDF | Text extracted from official PDF |
| “There are even estimates that average monthly bills could drop by as much as $36 annually due to the new RGGI Credit.” | Gov. Spanberger | June 30, 2026 | Governor’s release | Official release text. WTKR’s transcript of her remarks reads “$3 per month” (same amount); her spoken words could not be checked against video |
| “The bottom line is rejoining RGGI will save Virginia money, period.” | Gov. Spanberger | June 30, 2026 (event) | VPM | As reported by VPM at the signing; no official transcript or video checked |
| “I know there are some who think that the commonwealth could potentially save money if we walked away from our clean energy goals… But this model quantitatively disputes that notion.” | Gov. Spanberger | Oct. 1, 2026 | VPM | As reported by VPM from press conference; bracketed words are VPM’s |
| “Any proposed merger involving Virginia’s primary state-regulated utility must benefit families, small businesses, and Virginia’s workforce — not just the shareholders…” | Gov. Spanberger | Oct. 19, 2026 | Governor’s release | Official release text |
| “That’s why I am calling for a six-year freeze to Virginians’ base residential electricity rates, a tripling of monthly bill credits for ratepayers, and additional commitments to lower energy costs and meet our long-term clean and homegrown energy goals…” | Gov. Spanberger | Oct. 19, 2026 | Governor’s release; WSLS | Official release; WSLS text identical |
| “the first time any Governor of Virginia has intervened at the SCC” | Governor’s office | Aug. 2026 | Governor’s release | Official release; intervention confirmed on SCC docket notice dated Aug. 17 |
| “have not yet met that standard”; “just and reasonable rates will not be impaired or jeopardized”; “substantially addressed or alternative solutions are identified”; “three rate case cycles”; “the first priorities”; “for building zero-carbon energy generation…”; “decarbonization incentive rate”; “existing discretion”; “that would otherwise occur must be deferred”; “plans to retire no fossil fuel generation while increasing emissions by 40%” | Dr. Richard McCann (testimony for the Governor and Chief Energy Officer) | Oct. 19, 2026 | Testimony | Text extracted from filed testimony PDF |
| “a tripling” | Gov. Spanberger | Oct. 19, 2026 | Governor’s release | Official release |
| “As expected in a proceeding of this size and significance, today’s testimony reflects a wide range of viewpoints and interests. We are reviewing the filings and will address the issues raised through the Commission’s established process” | Dominion Energy and NextEra (joint statement) | Oct. 19, 2026 | VPM | Statement as published by VPM; same text in Virginia Business |
| “more than $2.1 billion in near-term direct customer and community benefits” | Neil Nissan, NextEra spokesperson | Oct. 19, 2026 | WTVR | Statement as published by WTVR |
| “Today, Governor Spanberger failed to take the simplest action to protect Virginians from the threat of even higher electric bills” | Sen. David Suetterlein (R) and Del. Joe McNamara (R) | Sept. 30, 2026 (reported Oct. 1) | Cardinal News | Joint statement as published by the outlet |
| “They just passed a $600 million tax on data centers for energy costs. That could be used to cover our fuel costs for the next three months” | Sen. Mark Peake (R) | Oct. 6, 2026 | WSLS | Remarks as reported by WSLS |
| “The Governor is assessing all available options to address the extra costs created by President Trump’s war, and she is working to create long-term solutions to make the Commonwealth more affordable” | Governor’s spokesperson | Oct. 6, 2026 | WSLS | Statement as published by WSLS |
| “HB 1393, as passed by the General Assembly, reflects months of work to strike a careful balance” | Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling (D) | Apr. 2026 | Virginia Mercury | Written statement as published by the outlet |
| “Governor Spanberger’s proposals were serious policy proposals, but they were made about two months too late.” | Sen. Scott Surovell (D), Majority Leader | June 2026 | Virginia Mercury | Phone interview conducted and published by the outlet; context is her vetoes and late amendments generally, not energy bills specifically |
| “As I view it, I’m doing my job” | Gov. Spanberger | June 2026 | Virginia Mercury | Interview conducted and published by the outlet; said while defending her vetoes, not as a direct reply to Surovell |
| “The governor is finally feeling the heat but still ignoring the fire. Her proposal does not end the $2 billion in sales tax exemptions provided to data centers” | Sen. Louise Lucas (D), President Pro Tempore | Sept. 18, 2026 | Cardinal News | Written statement as published by the outlet |
| “The governor’s plan only becomes the ‘affordable’ option when it includes ‘social costs,’ something that doesn’t show up on power bills” | Del. Terry Kilgore (R), House Minority Leader | Oct. 1, 2026 | Cardinal News | Statement as published by the outlet |
| “…ready to engage with policymakers to ensure workable, balanced policies that keep Virginia competitive…” | Nicole Riley, Data Center Coalition | Sept. 18, 2026 | Cardinal News | Emailed statement as published by the outlet |
| “Staff concludes that the Merger as proposed in the Joint Petition should be denied by the Commission.” | SCC Staff | Oct. 19, 2026 | SCC filing | Text extracted from official filing |
| “instructed all PV system owners to disconnect their installations from the grid” | pv magazine (its wording, describing the National System Operator’s instruction) | Oct. 19, 2026 | pv magazine | Text matched on article page; NSO’s own notice not seen by ENB |
| “a combination of many interacting factors” | ENTSO-E | Mar. 20, 2026 | ENTSO-E | Text matched on publication page |
| “the RES generators followed a fixed power factor for reactive power provision” | ENTSO-E Expert Panel | Mar. 20, 2026 | Final report | Text matched in report PDF |
| “the key phenomenon in the incident was the non-effectiveness of voltage control” | ENTSO-E Expert Panel | Mar. 20, 2026 | Final report | Text matched in report PDF |
| “even with significantly higher inertia values, the loss of system synchronism would not have been avoided” | ENTSO-E Expert Panel | Mar. 20, 2026 | Final report | Text matched in report PDF |
| “would threaten the reliability or security of electric service to customers” | Code of Virginia § 56-585.5 B 3 | 2020 (VCEA) | Va. Code | Text matched on LIS |
| “slimmer reserves and greater level of risk” | PJM | July 14, 2026 | PJM report | Text matched in report PDF |
| “the continued trend of the addition of large data center loads” | PJM | July 14, 2026 | PJM release | Text matched in release |
H. Policy log
| Item | Status | Date | Official source |
| EO-1, Cost-Savings for Virginians | Signed (executive order) | Jan. 17, 2026 | governor.virginia.gov |
| HB29 (2024–26 budget) amendments directing DEQ to rejoin RGGI | Signed / enacted | Approved by the governor Feb. 20, 2026 | DEQ; DLS |
| Withdrawal of state appeal in RGGI case | Done (litigation ended) | Mar. 3–5, 2026 | SELC |
| EO-14, Chief Energy Officer | Signed (executive order) | Mar. 25, 2026 | governor.virginia.gov |
| HB397 RGGI re-entry (Ch. 920) | Signed / enacted; effective July 1, 2026 | Approved Apr. 13, 2026 | LIS; Chapter PDF |
| ED-3, join U.S. Climate Alliance | Signed (executive directive) | Apr. 22, 2026 | governor.virginia.gov |
| HB628/SB175 distributed renewables share; HB895/SB448 storage targets | Signed | Spring 2026 (listed June 30 release) | LIS; LIS; DLS |
| HB429/SB249 IRP reform; HB284/SB371 demand flexibility; HB892 load forecasting; HB1191/SB377 large-load customers | Signed | Spring 2026 | DLS; Governor June 30 |
| HB1393 (LeVere Bolling): weatherization, undergrounding, GS-5 cost language | Signed / enacted, Chapter 1123, effective July 1, 2026. Governor’s amendments 7, 9, 10 agreed to Apr. 22; 1–6, 8, 11 (including ROE 9.8%→9.3%) rejected | Approved May 14, 2026 | Chapter 1123; LIS; DLS Table 2 |
| ROE cut 9.8%→9.3% with excess profits returned (governor’s HB1393 amendment) | Proposed; rejected by General Assembly | Apr. 22, 2026 | DLS Table 2 |
| HB30 2026–28 budget: data center tax $0.011/kWh ($600M general fund cap); RGGI credit | Enacted; effective July 1, 2026 | July 1, 2026 | Budget item; Governor |
| EO-22 Data Center Accountability Framework | Signed (executive order); legislation to follow | Sept. 18, 2026 | governor.virginia.gov |
| 2026 Virginia Energy Plan (net zero power sector by 2050 pathways) | Published guidance (not enacted; does not set rates) | Oct. 1, 2026 | governor.virginia.gov |
| Intervention in NextEra–Dominion merger case (PUR-2026-00112) | Done (Notice of Participation as respondents) | Aug. 17, 2026 | SCC docket |
| Merger conditions: six-year base-rate freeze, $29/month credits for 48 months, 48%→60% debt share, 25% residential cost cut, disconnection protections; EE/DER first, zero-carbon data center subsidiary, decarbonization rate, and recommended EE utility and end of solar cap | Proposed (testimony for the governor and Chief Energy Officer; the SCC decides; two items need the General Assembly) | Oct. 19, 2026 | Testimony; release |
| Rider RGGI $13.00/month (Dominion request) | Pending at SCC (hearing Oct. 28) | Filed 2026; order July 7, 2026 | SCC |
| Vetoes of energy bills | None found in DLS energy summary (31 total vetoes reported across all subjects) | 2026 session | DLS; Virginia Mercury |
| VCEA reliability relief: utilities may petition the SCC for relief from plant-retirement deadlines (§ 56-585.5 B 3) | Law (enacted 2020; context, not a Spanberger action) | 2020 | Va. Code |
I. What ENB could not confirm
- The net bill effect of RGGI re-entry. Dominion’s $13.00 rider request is pending, and the size of the 45% RGGI customer credit per household has not been set in an SCC order ENB could find.
- The governor’s “$36 annually” RGGI-credit estimate. ENB found no published calculation behind it.
- Her spoken words at the June 30, 2026 signing. The official release says “as much as $36 annually”; WTKR’s transcript says “$3 per month.” ENB did not find event video to check which she said, so it quotes the release.
- The Oct. 9, 2025 debate audio. The only transcript is YouTube’s automatic captions of WFXR’s broadcast (~22:13 and ~54:06), and ENB did not hand-transcribe the audio. The article paraphrases those remarks instead of quoting them.
- The Roanoke Times original page for the June 2025 op-ed. ENB used the campaign’s repost of it.
- Election totals come from the search index of the official results page, which is a JavaScript app, cross-checked by the fact checker against the certified results (Spanberger 57.58%, Earle-Sears 42.22%).
- The Truist analyst note (Oct. 12, 2026) on Dominion. The page was blocked, so it is not used.
- The Nov. 2021 CVOW filing date and the ~$9.8B figure at that date. Neither appears in the filings ENB opened, so the timeline entry was dropped. The $9.8B original estimate comes from Dominion’s Feb. 3, 2025 8-K.
- EO-57’s date (June 28, 2016) comes from a mirror of the Virginia Register (Vol. 32, Iss. 25), not the official EO page, which shows no date.
- Dominion’s August 2026 slide says the fuel factor increase was “authorized in May 2025”; given the July 2026 jump, this may be a typo for 2026. ENB uses only the slide’s dollar figures.
- Sri Lanka’s Oct. 17 cause. The article relies on Energy Minister Aruna Karunathilaka’s statement to parliament as reported by EconomyNext (Oct. 20). An official inquiry is under way, and ENB found no technical report from the National System Operator or the Ceylon Electricity Board. Earlier reports (pv magazine, Oct. 19, citing local media) said the NSO first described the cause as “unspecified instability in the transmission network.” ENB did not see the NSO’s own disconnect notice; the article quotes pv magazine’s wording.
- The Ceylon Electricity Board’s April 2025 report on the Feb. 9, 2025 blackout. ENB did not open it; it appears only in the excerpts, via pv magazine’s summary.
- Spain’s official reports are in Spanish. Article wording about them is ENB’s translation and paraphrase, not a quote; the original Spanish is in the excerpts.
- The Oct. 19 governor testimony on the SCC docket itself. ENB checked the governor-hosted filed copy, which carries the transmittal letter to the SCC Clerk, and the Aug. 17 notice on the SCC docket.
- The merger decision deadline. VPM and Cardinal News report Jan. 11, 2027; Virginia Business reported Jan. 15, 2027. ENB uses Jan. 11.
- The WSLS gas-tax story (“Republican lawmakers call on Gov. Spanberger to suspend gas tax”) is dated Oct. 6, 2026, not the same day as the merger filing. The roughly $410 million cost and 33 cents a gallon figures are WSLS’s and were not checked against state data.
- On-record reaction from Republican leaders or consumer groups to the Oct. 19 clean-energy conditions. ENB found none as of Oct. 20, 2026.
- What the bill credits would total per customer. $29 × 48 months = $1,392 is ENB’s arithmetic; the testimony’s table projects $28.98 a month, and actual credits depend on how the SCC rules.
- pv magazine’s page was read through a standard web fetch; a direct download was blocked by the site’s security service. Text was checked against that fetched copy (accessed Oct. 20, 2026).
J. Corrections to early reports
| Early report or lead | What ENB found |
| “Spanberger calls for tripling customer bill credits” | The testimony asks for $28.98 a month vs. the $10.00 offered, 2.9 times, rounded to $29 in the summary. “Tripling” is the governor’s word. |
| “Six-year freeze to electric rates” | The freeze covers base rates only ($81.58 of the $180.79 typical bill). Fuel and riders are left to the SCC. |
| “First Virginia governor to intervene” | This is her office’s claim (Aug. release). ENB confirmed the Aug. 17 notice on the SCC docket but did not independently search every past case. |
| “Spanberger signed the RGGI bill on June 30” | HB397 was approved April 13, 2026 (Chapter 920). June 30 was a ceremonial signing. |
| Debate auto-captions: “there is currently an SEC case” | In context, the case is at the SCC (State Corporation Commission), not the SEC. |
| RGGI credit “as much as $3 per month” (WTKR) | The official release reads “as much as $36 annually.” ENB quotes the official text. |
| “Rejoining RGGI adds $13 a month to bills” | $13.00 is Dominion’s requested rider, effective March 1, 2027 if approved; $10.36 under its mitigation option. It is not yet on bills. |
| Debate quotes (earlier ENB draft) | Based only on YouTube auto-captions, with timestamps off by about 10 seconds. Now paraphrased with corrected ~22:13 / ~54:06 links. |
| “Spanberger replied” to Surovell (earlier ENB draft) | Her remark defended her vetoes in a separate interview for the same Mercury story. It was not a reply to Surovell. |
| “The Energy Plan sets net-zero rules” | The plan says it “does not set utility rates or approve individual projects.” The binding 2045/2050 targets come from the 2020 VCEA. |
| CVOW cost “$9.8 billion” | That is the original estimate. The latest (10-Q, July 31, 2026) is about $11.7 billion. |
