Perriello Opposes NextEra Takeover of Virginia’s Utilities; Calls on McGuire to Stop Cashing Checks

Virginia Families and Rural Communities Will Pay the Price if $67 Billion Acquisition by Out-of-State Monopoly Proceeds

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — Tom Perriello today announced his opposition to the proposed $67 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy by NextEra Energy, which would hand control of Virginia's primary state-regulated utility to a Florida-based corporate monopoly. The deal would create the largest “regulated” electric utility in the world.

"These giant monopolies keep sticking Virginia families with higher bills, hidden costs, and horrendous transmission lines and data centers that communities clearly do not want,” said Perriello. "Monopolies corrupting our politics is a big part of what got Virginia into this mess, and handing even more power to a Florida monopoly is guaranteed to make things worse for our electric bills, our rural communities, and our ability to land the clean energy jobs of the future.”

The proposed acquisition, announced in May and filed for regulatory approval in July, would combine Dominion Energy with NextEra Energy, the largest electric and energy infrastructure company in North America, headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. NextEra shareholders would own 74.5% of the combined company. The deal is subject to approval from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, which has scheduled its first public hearing for November, as well as state regulators in North Carolina and South Carolina, and federal regulators. The companies project the review process will last until late 2027.

Perriello has been fighting Dominion Energy's overreach in Virginia communities for years, opposing the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, standing against the Valley Link transmission line, and refusing to accept a single dollar from Dominion Energy or its affiliated political operations. The same cannot be said of his opponent.

"John McGuire has taken check after check from Dominion and the corporate interests standing to make millions from this mega-deal," said Perriello spokesperson Brytan Mendes. "He’s silent on this acquisition and parrots Dominion’s talking points about the Valley Link transmission line, instead of standing up for Virginia consumers and communities. This region deserves someone willing to fight back for the people against this power grab."