McLean-area Dominion Energy customers can speak directly to state regulators about the proposed $67 billion utility merger at a public hearing Friday, Oct. 9.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) scheduled the hearing for 6 to 8 p.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. It is the only in-person hearing on the merger in Northern Virginia.
Residents who want to testify must arrive by 5:45 p.m. and check in with SCC staff. Each speaker gets two minutes.
Those who cannot attend can submit written comments online through Monday, Nov. 9, under SCC case number PUR-2026-00112.
What the merger means
Dominion Energy, Virginia's largest electric utility, and Florida-based NextEra Energy announced the all-stock deal on May 18. The combined company would become the world's largest regulated utility, serving roughly 10 million customers across Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Dominion alone serves about 2.7 million customers in Virginia.
Ahead of the public hearings, the companies expanded their offer. They proposed extending a $10 monthly residential bill credit from two years to four, FFXnow reported. The revised package also includes 600 new NextEra jobs in Virginia, a $100 million increase to a low-income assistance program through 2038 and a five-year commitment to maintain current Virginia employment levels.
Political response
Gov. Abigail Spanberger filed in August to intervene in the SCC case, becoming the first Virginia governor to do so. "As Governor, I remain skeptical of the benefits this merger would deliver to Virginia," Spanberger said in an Aug. 18 statement reported by FFXnow.
Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi held a listening session in Sterling on Sept. 3, where she questioned whether the deal serves the public interest, WTOP reported. Attorney General Jay Jones has called on the SCC to restart its 180-day review clock to give participants more time to evaluate the amended proposal.
State Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim, whose District 37 covers parts of Fairfax County, urged constituents on X to attend the Oct. 9 hearing. Del. Rozia A. Henson Jr. of House District 19 also promoted the event, calling it the only in-person opportunity in Northern Virginia.
What's next
The SCC's 180-day review began when Dominion and NextEra filed their joint petition on July 15. A decision could come by Jan. 11, 2027. The formal evidentiary hearing is set to begin Nov. 17 in Richmond.
Telephonic testimony sessions are scheduled for Nov. 5 from 8:30 to 11 a.m., Nov. 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Nov. 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. Residents who want to testify by phone must register by Monday, Nov. 2.
