Return to RGGI to bring higher electric bills, SCC filing says
Virginia's decision to rejoin a regional carbon market could increase Dominion Energy ratepayers' electricity bills by 6% to 7.5% next year, according to a filing at the State Corporation Commission. This policy, which requires utilities to pay for carbon emissions, has implications for energy consumption, including by data centers.
A recent filing at the Virginia State Corporation Commission indicates that Dominion Energy customers could face a 6% to 7.5% increase in their electricity bills next year. This potential rise stems from Virginia's decision to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a market that mandates utilities to pay for the carbon dioxide emitted by their power plants.
Richmond Times-Dispatch reporters have highlighted that these increased energy costs will impact the energy consumption of data centers operating within the state, signaling broader economic and environmental considerations for the sector in Virginia.