Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy, obviously feeling the heat from politicians and environmental groups opposed to their proposed $67 billion merger, are now trying to buy our support with a new pledge, issued today, to extend monthly bill credits for four years, redirect credits that would have gone to data center operators, and expand low-income financial assistance by $100 million through 2038.
Which is a sign, it would seem, that the public pressure is … working?
“Dominion and NextEra’s announcement clearly shows that the utilities’ initial filing did not provide the full information necessary for the Commission to evaluate the proposed transaction,” said Brennan Gilmore, the executive director of Clean Virginia, a powerful environmental lobby that has been leading the effort to get state leaders to give the State Corporation Commission more time for its review for the merger.
From the archives
- Coverage of the proposed merger of Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy: click here.
Gilmore, in a statement, made clear what critics of the merger think is going on with today’s announcement from the two megacompanies is really all about.
“Virginia’s energy future is too important to be negotiated through a series of last-minute, repackaged promises from companies with long track records of breaking them,” Gilmore said. “Approval of this transaction is not contingent on whether Dominion and NextEra have assembled an attractive enough package of benefits — it’s whether this change in control risks reliable service at a rate Virginians can afford.”
Not surprisingly, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, which supposedly represents the interests of the business community, is more focused on the big business sector of its community than the mom-and-pops whose bills would be set to go up post-merger.
“We believe the potential merger between NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy warrants thoughtful consideration as the proposal moves through the regulatory review process. Today’s announcement provides evidence that NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy are committed to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Brad N. Hall, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
That’s what we’d expect from the suits.
The release from Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy announcing their amended benefits package went out at 7:30 a.m. Monday.
I’m writing this piece at 3 p.m. Monday, so, seven and a half hours later.
No comment, at this time, from our governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, or any state legislators.
Odd, huh?
We’ll update later as we hear from folks. Assuming we hear from folks.
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Chris Graham
