Norfolk residents say the biggest question in the proposed Dominion Energy-NextEra Energy merger is not its size but what it could do to household budgets, even as Virginia officials consider a deal that would rank as the largest utility merger in U.S. history.
For people already struggling to keep the lights on, the prospect of a bigger utility has stirred anger, anxiety, and warnings about more shutoff notices.
Here's what to know
During a Norfolk event on Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi's energy-cost listening tour, residents repeatedly returned to affordability concerns, WAVY reported. Outside the venue, members of the Stop NextEra Coalition protested, arguing that households cannot absorb another jump in electric bills.
State regulators began examining the Dominion Energy-NextEra Energy proposal July 15, which would make the combined company the world's largest regulated electric utility if it goes forward.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission plans to continue its review until January 11, 2027, although some Virginians want more time. Governor Abigail Spanberger will not call a special legislative session to lengthen that review.
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Delegate Jackie Glass said, "I'm not here to defend or oppose a merger. I'm here to defend people who live with its consequences."
Hashmi said the concerns she is hearing include "the coastal flooding concerns, the ways in which bills continue to rise exponentially."
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More background
Residents used stark personal examples to describe how little margin many families have.
One woman said, "Last week I received a shut-off notice. I had to come up with $1,400."
Norfolk resident Terry White told the crowd, "I have to use a medical device at night to survive, so if they cut my electricity off I'm gone."
When electricity bills rise, families may be forced to choose between power, medicine, rent, or food. In coastal Virginia, residents are also tying affordability to resilience, questioning whether a larger utility structure would make it harder to respond to flooding and other regional risks.
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Kim Sudderth, policy director for Virginia Interfaith Power and Light, said regulators should be "protecting Virginians and not necessarily the corporate interests."
Former U.S. Representative Thelma Drake, meanwhile, said the matter should not be rushed into the 2026 General Assembly session: "I hope they don't take it to the 2026 General Assembly session. There's no time. It's too busy, and it really needs [great] thought."
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Hashmi said she sees it as her job to make sure residents' concerns are heard during the review: "The office of the lieutenant governor has that capacity to amplify and to elevate. I intend to do as much of that as possible. That's my responsibility to the citizens."
Where can I learn more?
What's happening in Norfolk reflects a wider debate across Virginia. The state's review of the merger, rising Dominion bills, and other local disputes all help explain why residents say this process deserves more time and closer scrutiny.
• Virginia officials are already seeking a 64-question review of the Dominion-NextEra merger.
• Dominion customers across Virginia say bills are unaffordable despite promises that affordability matters.
• Virginia households are facing an $8 jump in Dominion bills as fossil costs climb.
Each of these stories comes back to the same fear: what this deal could mean for people already stretched by high power costs. For Norfolk residents, the merger debate is about monthly bills, trust in the utility, and whether families can count on safe, reliable service.
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