SCC News

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is offering time for members of the public to give oral comments by telephone on Dominion Energy Virginia’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). An IRP provides a forecast of an electric utility’s load obligations and a plan to meet those obligations by supply side and demand side resources over the next 15 years to promote reasonable prices, reliable service, energy independence, and environmental quality.

Dominion states in its filing that the IRP addresses the 2023 PJM Load Forecast, which includes a significant increase in the expected peak and energy demand in the Dominion Energy Zone.  According to the company, the increase is driven primarily by data centers and, to a lesser extent, electrification in both the company’s service territory and in other service areas within the Dominion Energy Zone

The SCC has scheduled a public witness session to begin at 10 a.m. on September 18, 2023. Public witnesses intending to provide oral testimony must pre-register with the SCC by 5 p.m. on September 12, 2023. The hearing will be webcast at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting.

Public witnesses wishing to provide oral testimony may pre-register in one of three ways:

• Completing a public witness form for case number PUR-2023-00066 on the SCC’s website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting
• E-mailing the same form (PDF version on the same website as above) to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov
• Calling the SCC at 804-371-9141 during normal business hours (8:15 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and providing your name and the phone number you wish the Commission to call to reach you during the hearing
• To promote fairness for all public witnesses, each witness will be allotted five minutes to provide testimony.

A public evidentiary hearing will follow the public witness hearing at 10 a.m. on September 19, 2023, in the SCC’s second floor courtroom at 1300 East Main Street in Richmond to receive testimony and evidence from the company, any respondents and the SCC staff.

For those who prefer, there is also an opportunity to provide comments in writing on the Dominion application. Written comments may be submitted through the SCC’s website by September 12, 2023, at scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Simply go to the SCC website, select "Cases" and then "Submit Public Comments," and scroll down to case number PUR-2023-00066. Then click SUBMIT COMMENTS.
Comments can also be submitted by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments must refer to case number PUR-2023-00066.

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Contact: Andy Farmer, 804-371-9141

Case Number PUR-2023-00066 – Dominion Energy Virginia’s Integrated Resource Plan

Order for Notice and Hearing

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is offering time for members of the public to give oral comments by telephone on an application by Dominion Energy Virginia to revise its fuel rate effective July 1, 2023. The fuel rate is the portion of the electric bill that pays for the fuel used to generate electricity and costs associated with power purchased by the utility company to serve its customers.

Dominion proposes the implementation of only the current period factor rate of 2.8587 cents per kilowatt hour (¢/kWh) on an interim basis that would result in a 0.679 ¢/kWh decrease to the fuel factor rate. For a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month, this represents a decrease of $6.79 per month beginning July 1, 2023.

The Company states that recent legislation has authorized the ability to finance certain deferred fuel costs through fuel cost bonds (Fuel Securitization). Dominion asserts that approval of Fuel Securitization could mitigate the near-term impact to customers by allowing the company to spread prior period under-recovered fuel costs of approximately $1.275 billion over several years. Fuel Securitization will be the subject of a future Commission proceeding.

The Commission found that as the hearing on this matter will occur subsequent to July 1, 2023 – the beginning of the company's rate year – Dominion’s current period factor rate of 2.8587 ¢/kWh shall be placed into effect on an interim basis for usage on and after July 1, 2023.

The SCC has scheduled a public witness session to begin at 10 a.m. on September 5, 2023. Public witnesses intending to provide oral testimony must pre-register with the SCC by 5 p.m. on August 29, 2023. The hearing will be webcast at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting.

Public witnesses wishing to provide oral testimony may pre-register in one of three ways:

• Completing a public witness form for case number PUR-2023-00067 on the SCC’s website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting
• E-mailing the same form (PDF version on the same website as above) to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov
• Calling the SCC at 804-371-9141 during normal business hours (8:15 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and providing your name and the phone number you wish the Commission to call to reach you during the hearing
• To promote fairness for all public witnesses, each witness will be allotted five minutes to provide testimony.

A public evidentiary hearing will follow the public witness hearing at 10 a.m. on September 6, 2023, in the SCC’s second floor courtroom at 1300 East Main Street in Richmond to receive testimony and evidence from the company, any respondents and the SCC staff.

For those who prefer, there is also an opportunity to provide comments in writing on the Dominion application. Written comments may be submitted through the SCC’s website by August 29, 2023, at scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Simply go to the SCC website, select "Cases" and then "Submit Public Comments," and scroll down to case number PUR-2023-00067. Then click SUBMIT COMMENTS.

Comments can also be submitted by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments must refer to case number PUR-2023-00067.

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Contact: Andy Farmer, 804-371-9141

Case Number PUR-2023-00067
Order Establishing 2023-2024 Fuel Factor Proceeding

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is offering time for members of the public to give oral comments by telephone on an application by Appalachian Power Company for a triennial review of the company’s rates, terms and conditions for the provision of generation, distribution and transmission services.

The overall impact of the Appalachian Power proposals would increase the monthly bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per month by approximately $25.03, or 15.9 percent. For low-income customers qualifying for the proposed basic service charge waiver, the company’s proposals would increase the monthly bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kWh of electricity per month by approximately $16.53 or 10.5 percent.

The SCC has scheduled a public witness session to begin at 10 a.m. on August 23, 2023. Public witnesses intending to provide oral testimony must pre-register with the SCC by 5 p.m. on August 17, 2023. The hearing will be webcast at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting.

Public witnesses wishing to provide oral testimony may pre-register in one of three ways:

• Completing a public witness form for case number PUR-2023-00002 on the SCC’s website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting, 
• E-mailing the same form (PDF version on the same website as above) to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov, or
• Calling the SCC at 804-371-9141 during normal business hours (8:15 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and providing your name and the phone number you wish the Commission to call to reach you during the hearing.
• To promote fairness for all public witnesses, each witness will be allotted five minutes to provide testimony.

A public evidentiary hearing will follow the public witness hearing at 9:30 a.m. on August 24, 2023, in the SCC’s second floor courtroom at 1300 East Main Street in Richmond to receive testimony and evidence from the company, any respondents and the SCC staff.

For those who prefer, there is also an opportunity to provide comments in writing on the Appalachian Power application. Written comments may be submitted through the SCC’s website by August 17, 2023, at scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Simply go to the SCC website, select "Cases" and then "Submit Public Comments," and scroll down to case number PUR-2023-00002. Then click SUBMIT COMMENTS.

Comments can also be submitted by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments must refer to case number PUR-2023-00002.

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Contact: Andy Farmer, 804-371-9141

Case Number PUR-2023-00002 – Application of Appalachian Power Company for a 2023 triennial review of base rates

View Scheduling Order

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved the 2022 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) development plan for Dominion Energy Virginia for new solar, onshore wind, and energy storage resources. The company is required to submit an annual plan to the SCC to comply with the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA).

For the limited purpose of filing its third annual RPS plan, the SCC found that Dominion’s plan is reasonable and prudent.

The SCC approved:

• Seven utility-scale solar generating facilities, totaling approximately 474 megawatts (MW) of capacity;
• A stand-alone energy storage resource, totaling approximately 15.7 MW;
• The costs for the above projects and related interconnection facilities;
• The costs of two distributed solar projects (including interconnection facilities), representing four distributed solar facilities totaling approximately 6 MW; and
• 13 Purchase Power Agreements for solar and energy storage resources, totaling approximately 270 MW of solar and 49 MW of storage.

The SCC also approved a revenue requirement of $89.154 million for the recovery of certain VCEA-related resources for the rate year of May 2023 through April 2024.

In its final order, the Commission stated, “… as discussed in prior RPS orders – [the SCC] is guided in these matters by the statutes and the record. The Commission has continued to exercise its delegated discretion in a manner that faithfully implements the VCEA’s carbon-reduction requirements, while best protecting consumers who expect and deserve reliable and affordable service.”

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Contact: Andy Farmer, 804-371-9141

Case Number PUR-2022-00124 – Application of Dominion Energy Virginia for approval of its 2022 RPS Plan

View Final Order

RICHMOND – April is National Safe Digging Month, and the State Corporation Commission’s Division of Utility and Railroad Safety (URS) reminds all Virginians to Know What’s Below and Dig with C.A.R.E. to help keep Virginia’s underground utility infrastructure damage free and our communities, business districts and environment safe.

The steps to safe digging in Virginia are:

• Contact Virginia 811 before you dig.
• Allow the required time for marking the utilities.
• Respect and protect the marks.
• Excavate carefully.

Whether you’re a professional contractor, do-it-yourselfer or homeowner, you have an important role in preventing damage to underground utilities. No matter how big or small your project is, contacting the Virginia 811 Notification Center to request the marking of your underground utility lines before you dig will help avoid physical injury, property damage, costly repairs and service interruptions.

Contact Virginia 811 by going online at www.va811.com. You may also call 811 or 1-800-552-7001 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding legal state and national holidays. Emergency notification service is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

For more information about safe digging and demolition, contact URS at 804- 371-9980 or visit the SCC Damage Prevention page at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Damage-Prevention.

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Contact: Jordan Bondurant, 804-371-9141

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved a revised fuel rate for customers of Appalachian Power Company (APCo) that includes a mitigation proposal that would spread the recovery of its $361,411,867 deferred fuel balance over two years. The fuel rate increase has been in effect on an interim basis, subject to further modification, since November 1, 2022, and no additional changes were approved. For a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month, it represents an increase to the average monthly bill of $20.17. Without the mitigation proposal, however, the increase would have been $33.24 per month for the same usage.

The fuel rate is the portion of the electric bill that pays for the fuel used to generate electricity and costs associated with power purchased by the utility company to serve its customers.

In its final order, the Commission stated: “… we are deeply concerned about the significant rate increase requested in this case, and its impact on customer bills. The impact of the increase is worsened by its introduction during the winter months, which are typically higher usage months, and by other recent APCo rate increases. We are mindful of the numerous public comments and concerns expressed about the impact of such rate increases on APCo’s customers and have reviewed this matter carefully. APCo is, however, entitled by law to recover its prudently incurred fuel costs…”

The Commission directed the SCC staff to conduct a fuel audit for the period from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022, and to include the results of the fuel audit in its pre-filed testimony in APCo’s next fuel factor proceeding. As part of the fuel audit, the Commission directed Staff to analyze the reasonableness of APCo’s coal procurement activities.

The Commission also directed APCo to take additional steps within 60 days of its order to advise customers how they may contact APCo for bill assistance and to set up budget billing for their accounts.

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Contact: Ford Carson, 804-371-9141

Case Number PUR-2022-00139
View Final Order

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has concluded a revised triennial review of the base rates for Appalachian Power Company that reduces the annual rate increase that has been in effect on an interim basis since October 1, 2022.

For a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month, the new rates result in a monthly charge of approximately $6.00 compared to the interim charge of $8.55. Appalachian Power will submit revised tariffs to the SCC that recalculate the bill impact of the application of the new rates and refund the difference with interest to customers within 90 days of the Commission order. 

In August, the Supreme Court of Virginia found that the SCC did not have the authority last year to decide whether it was reasonable for Appalachian Power to include costs associated with the closure of several coal-fired plants in its accounting expenses between 2017 and 2019. The Commission had found that the costs, called an asset impairment charge, were unreasonable.

The Court directed the SCC to revise its final decision in the triennial review and remanded the case to the Commission for further proceedings.

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Contact: Andy Farmer, 804-371-9141

Case Number PUR-2020-00015 - Application of Appalachian Power for a 2020 triennial review of its base rates, terms, and conditions

Order on Remand - 12/21/2022

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has accepted a replacement for the performance standard in the Commission’s August 5, 2022, final order approving the application for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project by Dominion Energy Virginia.

In an Order on Reconsideration, the SCC approved a stipulation proposed by Dominion, the Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Counsel, Walmart, Inc., Appalachian Voices, and the Sierra Club that replaces the performance standard with five elements addressing, among other things, construction cost and carrying cost sharing, operating performance provisions, impact of the federal Inflation Reduction Act, and the scope of the agreement.

In approving the stipulation, the Commission stated that it has not otherwise expanded, or modified approval or cost recovery set forth in the August 5 final order. The SCC further noted that those proposing the stipulation “assert, unanimously in support thereof, that the [ ] Stipulation adequately protects the interests of consumers. In addition, Clean Virginia and the Committee, though not formal parties to the [ ] Stipulation, confirm that they have no opposition to the Commission's approval thereof.”

In its order, the Commission reiterated the significant impact that this project will have on customers’ electric bills. The project likely represents the largest capital investment, and single largest project, in the history of the Company. “[T]he electricity produced by this Project will be among the most expensive sources of power – on both a per kilowatt of firm capacity and a per megawatt-hour basis – in the entire United States,” the SCC stated.

In a concurring opinion, Commissioner Jagdmann wrote that she agrees with the Order on Reconsideration in all respects. She emphasized that the General Assembly is uniquely positioned to align some of the costs of the project that currently will be paid solely by most of Dominion customers with the economic development benefits and clean energy attributes of this project that the operative statutes recognize advantage the Commonwealth more broadly:

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Contact: Andy Farmer, 804-371-9141

Case Number PUR-2021-00142 - Application of Dominion Energy Virginia for approval and certification of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project

Order on Reconsideration - 12/15/2022

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has approved bringing a new area code – 686 - to Virginia regions now served by the 804 area code. It is expected that the 804 area code could run out of available numbers during the third quarter of 2024.

The SCC approved a proposal by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator for an all-services distributed overlay of the new 686 area code for the 804 area code region. The new area code will be superimposed over the same geographic region covered by the current 804 area code. That region encompasses portions of Central Virginia and the Northern Neck including Richmond, Petersburg, Ashland, Charles City, Chesterfield, Columbia, Hague, Henrico, New Kent, Reedville and Water View.

Existing customers will keep their 804 area code and seven-digit telephone number. Phone numbers in the new 686 area code will not be assigned until all available phone numbers in the 804 area code are exhausted.

Implementation of the new area code overlay will be completed by early 2024, which is six months prior to the anticipated 804 area code exhaust. The relief provided by the new 686 area code is expected to last approximately 32 years.

The 804 area code already transitioned to mandatory 10-digit dialing (three-digit area code plus seven-digit phone number) in July 2022 due to the national implementation of 988, the new three-digit abbreviated dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

To learn more about 804 area code relief, visit scc.virginia.gov/pages/Public-Utility.

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Contact: Katha Treanor, 804-371-9141
Case number PUR-2022-00083

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) directed investor-owned electric utilities and electric cooperatives to address federal grant opportunities in Virginia’s utility infrastructure under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the benefit of customers. The Commission also invited other interested parties to file comments. The IIJA creates a program of federal financial assistance to promote electric utility investments in advanced generation, transmission, and distribution technologies.

The IIJA provides grants for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, and other fueling infrastructures, as well as grid hardening activities to reduce the occurrence of – or consequences of – events that disrupt operations of the electric grid due to extreme weather, wildfire, or natural disasters.

The IIJA also establishes loans under a transmission facilitation program; additional funding for the Smart Grid Investment Matching Grant Program; incentive payments to qualifying hydroelectric facilities; financial assistance for a demonstration project for pumped storage hydropower for intermittent renewable energy; additional funding for various demonstration and pilot projects; and programs to develop carbon capture technology to improve environmental performance of coal and natural gas use.

The public must submit written comments by February 2, 2023. Written comments may be submitted through the SCC’s website at scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Simply go to the SCC website, select "Cases" and then "Submit Public Comments," and scroll down to case number PUR-2022-00180. Then click SUBMIT COMMENTS.

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Contact: Ford Carson, 804-371-9141

Case Number: PUR-2022-00180