ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County is formally intervening in the regulatory review of NextEra Energy's proposed $67 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy, joining Gov. Abigail Spanberger and other Northern Virginia localities seeking a direct role in a case that could reshape Virginia's electricity industry.
The Arlington County Board voted at a special meeting Wednesday, to participate as a respondent in the merger proceeding before the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The move will allow the county to formally represent Arlington's interests as regulators consider a deal that would create the world's largest regulated electric utility.
"NextEra's proposed acquisition of control of Dominion Energy carries significant implications for Arlington County residents, businesses, and municipal operations," Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said. "Residents are already seeing increasing energy bills. I believe we must intervene to protect our resident ratepayers, prioritize affordability, and advance the County clean energy commitments."
Arlington's action follows Spanberger's Aug. 17 decision to formally intervene in the SCC proceeding, making her the first Virginia governor to intervene in a case before the commission.
"As Governor, I remain skeptical of the benefits this merger would deliver to Virginia — particularly if those benefits come at the expense of affordability, existing jobs, or meeting our homegrown clean energy goals," Spanberger said.
The governor said intervening will give her administration the ability to advocate directly for Virginians during the SCC proceeding and ensure their long-term interests are considered alongside those of the companies.
Spanberger identified three "non-negotiable" priorities for her administration during the review: more affordable energy bills for Virginians, protection of Virginia's utility workforce and continued progress toward producing affordable, reliable, locally generated clean energy.
As a respondent, Spanberger's administration has the legal right to participate in the proceeding, request detailed information about the transaction and raise concerns about the proposed merger.
The governor's office also pointed to the broader debate over rapidly growing electricity demand from data centers. Spanberger has signed legislation establishing a statewide data-center electricity consumption tax, and the SCC recently ordered data centers to pay for transmission infrastructure constructed exclusively to serve their facilities.
Arlington's intervention also comes a week after Bill Murray, Dominion Energy's senior vice president of corporate affairs and communications, spoke at the Aug. 26 Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit at George Mason University's Mason Square campus in Arlington. Dominion was the event's grand sponsor.
Murray did not address the proposed acquisition in his opening remarks. Instead, he emphasized Dominion's responsibility to provide reliable electricity as Northern Virginia grows and electricity demand increases.
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"Keeping the lights on is the last 100 to zero issue in American life," Murray said, adding that while people may disagree about how electricity should be generated and delivered, there is broad agreement about the need for reliability.
Murray said Dominion has a legal obligation to serve its customers and described that responsibility as particularly significant in Northern Virginia because of the region's population and concentration of critical infrastructure, including the Pentagon, Reagan National and Dulles International airports and national intelligence operations.
"We never take that obligation lightly," Murray said.
He also acknowledged that growth creates challenges as utilities build infrastructure needed to serve increasing demand, while describing that growth as a "high quality challenge."
Later during the same summit, de Ferranti raised concerns about the pending Dominion-NextEra transaction as local leaders discussed rising electricity costs and the region's growing power needs.
"180 days is not enough time to consider a massive energy merger," de Ferranti said. "Long-term consumer interests need to be deeply considered."
He said localities need a voice in energy decisions that could affect customers seven, 10, 15 or 20 years into the future.
NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy filed a joint petition with the SCC on July 15 seeking approval of the acquisition.
If state and federal regulators approve the deal, the combined company would serve about 10 million customer accounts across Virginia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, including approximately 2.7 million households in Virginia.
Dominion Energy Virginia would retain its name and remain regulated by the Virginia SCC. Richmond would remain one of the combined company's two corporate headquarters, along with Juno Beach, Florida.
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The transaction would not give NextEra authority to independently set Virginia electricity rates. Dominion Energy Virginia would continue operating as a regulated utility subject to SCC oversight.
The companies have argued that combining the businesses would provide greater financial strength, purchasing power and development expertise as electricity demand grows.
They have also proposed $2.25 billion in shareholder-funded bill credits for customers in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina during the first two years after the transaction closes. About $1.78 billion of those credits are expected to go to Virginia customers, representing savings of roughly $10 a month.
The longer-term impact on customers' bills is less certain. The companies contend that greater scale, purchasing power, construction efficiencies and lower borrowing costs would help control costs after the credits expire.
Vice Chair Maureen Coffey said becoming a formal party to the SCC proceeding will allow Arlington to advocate for residents during that review.
"It is our responsibility to protect and fight for the interests of Arlington and our residents," Coffey said. "The only way for us to do this in this case—which, if approved, would shape energy in Arlington for generations to come—is by being party to the proceedings."
Board member Susan Cunningham said Arlington also wants to ensure that a merger does not jeopardize the county's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and its other climate initiatives.
"Our vision for a greener and cleaner Arlington is non-negotiable," Cunningham said. "Getting the details of any merger right will be crucial to continuing this progress."
Board member Julius D. "JD" Spain Sr. focused on the impact electricity costs are already having on residents.
"The bottom-line for me is affordability, and homeowners and renters alike have already seen their electric rates go up," Spain said. "Failure to act in this historic moment is not an option."
Board member Takis Karantonis said the concerns extend beyond Arlington.
"We act on behalf of our residents, but the truth is that all Virginians are in the same boat here," Karantonis said. "This merger needs to be significantly modified to meet the wide-ranging climate and energy goals we as localities have been working toward and to address the deep affordability challenges that families face every day."
Arlington is also not alone among Northern Virginia governments seeking a formal role in the case. At the Aug. 26 summit, Fairfax County Board Chair Jeff McKay said Fairfax had voted to intervene, while Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins said her city had already filed a motion to intervene.
The SCC proceeding is Case PUR-2026-00112.
Nov. 2 is the deadline to file to participate as a public witness, with public-witness testimony scheduled for Nov. 5, 9 and 10. Written public comments may be submitted through Nov. 9.
The SCC is expected to make its decision in January, according to Arlington County.
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