Dominion Energy

Dominion Energy is a Virginia-based corporate holding company for electric and gas utility companies. 

Virginia Power is the company’s largest subsidiary. The utility delivers electricity to approximately 2.6 million customers in the state. Dominion North Carolina Power serves over 120,000 electric customers in North Carolina. In 2019, Dominion completed its acquisition of SCANA Corporation (South Carolina Electric & Gas) and now provides electricity to approximately 758,000 customers across South Carolina. 

Dominion also is a gas provider for customers in Ohio, West Virginia, North and South Carolina. Additionally, the company completed a merger with Questar Gas in 2016 and today provides gas service to more than 1 million customers in Utah, southwestern Wyoming, and a small portion of southeastern Idaho. 

In 2020, Dominion sold its interstate pipeline assets and a 25% ownership stake in the Cove Point liquified gas facility to Berkshire Hathaway. Berkshire Hathaway paid $4 billion in cash and assumed another $5.7 billion of Dominion’s debt. Dominion still has a noncontrolling 50% interest in the Cove Point LNG facility. 

Coal and gas combined for 54% of total generation for Dominion Energy in 2019.

While Dominion Energy has a net zero carbon emissions by 2050 goal, research conducted by the Sierra Club shows that its subsidiaries are not moving fast enough toward clean energy to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Sierra Club assigned a score to every utility in January 2021 based on its plans to retire coal, construct new gas plants, and build new clean energy. Dominion’s Virginia subsidiary received a ‘D’ and the South Carolina subsidiary received an ‘F.’

Dominion’s climate policy engagement was also assessed in January 2021 by the Climate Action 100+, which is a collection of 570 investors responsible for over $54 trillion in assets under management coordinated by a group of five investor networks.

Climate Action 100+ found that Dominion fails to:

  • Provide a specific commitment/position statement to conduct all of its lobbying in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. 
  • List its climate-related lobbying activities, e.g., meetings, policy submissions, etc.
  • Ensure that the trade associations the company is a member of lobby in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
  • Discloses its trade association memberships.
  • Conduct and publish a review of its trade associations’ climate positions/alignment with the Paris Agreement.

Climate Action 100+ believes that an important component of company commitments on climate change is the formation of comprehensive business strategies that fully align with the goals of the Paris Agreement and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 or sooner.

Campaign Finance

Recent Dominion Energy News

Dominion Energy loses some of its legislative champions in Virginia primaries

Utility front groups spending on disinformation advertising

GHG Reduction Tom Fanning

Utilities and their executives spent tens of thousands to support Republicans in Georgia Senate runoff

Some utility companies “pause” or “evaluate” PAC giving; others remain silent

Utilities sent $6.8 million to members of Congress who sought to overturn election results in recent election cycles

Kyger Creek Power Plant

Many U.S. electric utilities plan slow decarbonization over next decade, out of sync with Biden plan

Utility CEOs contribute personal money to help Republicans; Utility PACs also favor GOP

Warren Buffett’s Methane Emissions Purchase From Dominion Energy

Utility Corruption

FirstEnergy scandal is latest example of utility corruption, deceit

ACP path in Buckingham VA

Dominion Energy net-zero goal undercut by pipeline expansion, “renewable natural gas” offset scheme

Report details utilities’ use of charitable giving to influence politics

Virginia Capitol

Dominion Energy spent record-breaking sum in Virginia election to bolster embattled Republicans and legislative allies

Dominion buys pipeline support at Supreme Court through GOP Attorneys General

Dominion buys pipeline support at Supreme Court through GOP Attorneys General

Southern Company and American Electric Power pledge to reduce emissions, but still support coal lobby group

What The Public Learned From The Utility Industry In 2018

Campaign Finance Reports Reveal Utility Industry Again Spending Big This Election Cycle

Utility Industry Contributing Millions to National Political Party Groups

Arizona Utility commissioner gave keynote to natural gas lobbyists at private steakhouse meeting

How Will Utilities Vote On The Latest Climate Denial Model Resolution At ALEC?

Protesters rallying against Dominion's proposed Atlantic Coast pipeline. Credit: Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

The other big loser in Virginia’s elections was Dominion Energy

Electric utilities working with oil and gas companies on ‘advocacy’ efforts to counter environmentalists

Flooding in Norfolk, VA

As floodwaters rise in Southeast, Republicans divide on whether to name climate change as cause

A sign protesting Dominion's Atlantic Coast Pipeline from a Virginia grassroots group.

Front group paid by Dominion releases shady poll showing support for Dominion’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Dominion Bets Big on Establishment Candidates Northam, Gillespie in Virginia Gov Race

Consumer Energy Alliance, group behind fraudulent petitions and letters signed by dead people, releases anti-solar report

EPA’s Clean Power Plan Opponents Led By Just A Few Power Companies

Attacks on Clean Power Plan Based on Flawed Reports

ALEC’s Anti-Renewable Energy Agenda – July 2014

Posted by Energy and Policy Institute