SCC Approves Dominion Grid-Transformation Plan

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has approved Dominion Energy Virginia’s Phase III of its plan for electric distribution grid-transformation projects that the company seeks to deploy in 2024-2026, while reducing from $508.3 million to $182.7 million the amount allowable for Dominion to spend on strengthening mainfeeder lines.  

In addition to approving the continuation of several programs – including deployment of advanced metering infrastructure; a customer information platform; targeted corridor improvement; voltage optimization enablement; and telecommunications and physical security enhancements – the Commission approved an expanded mainfeeder hardening pilot, consisting of 44 mainfeeders.

The Commission also approved two new programs: an outage management system and a non-wires alternative pilot. The non-wires alternative pilot consists of up to five front-of-the-meter battery energy storage systems to be installed over five years.

In total, the Commission approved $824.1 million in capital investments through 2026 to improve the safety and security of Dominion’s electric distribution system and $58.6 million in operations and maintenance.  

In approving the hardening of 44 mainfeeders, the Commission noted that Dominion’s initial request to harden 111 mainfeeders would have cost $1.3 billion over the life of the investments when including financing costs. “Simply put, the Company has not sustained its burden of proving these costs are reasonable and prudent,” the Commission wrote.

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Contact: Greg Weatherford, 804-371-9141

Case Number PUR-2023-00051 – Petition of Dominion Energy Virginia for approval of a plan for electric distribution grid transformation projects