Column urges Virginia regulators to reject proposed Dominion-NextEra merger

Aaron Sutch, Atlantic southeast region director for Solar United Neighbors, urges the Virginia State Corporation Commission to reject NextEra Energy's proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy. He argues that NextEra's record in Florida includes steep rate increases, high returns on equity, political lobbying and efforts to limit rooftop solar protections.

Sutch also points to Florida Power & Light's role in a political operation involving ghost candidates, which resulted in felony convictions and the resignation of the utility's chief executive. He says Virginia customers already face rising electricity costs tied partly to fossil-fuel investments and data center growth, and encourages residents to attend public hearings or submit comments during the commission's review.