Advocacy group seeks answers in Dominion merger

(The Center Square) – A Virginia advocacy group is asking regulators to require Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy to provide additional information as the State Corporation Commission reviews their proposed merger.

Clean Virginia filed a motion to compel Tuesday, arguing the companies have not fully answered questions involving enforcement of merger conditions, competition, costs to customers and NextEra’s management history.

The group is asking the hearing examiner to overrule objections from the companies and require complete responses within 10 days.

The filing focuses in part on what would happen if Dominion or NextEra violated a condition imposed by the commission as part of an approval.

Clean Virginia asked what steps NextEra would have to take to divest Dominion if the commission determined a condition had been violated. It also asked what consequences the companies believe should follow.

Dominion and NextEra objected to those questions, arguing they were hypothetical and sought speculative responses or legal conclusions.

Clean Virginia also challenged the companies’ responses to questions involving competition for large electric customers.

One request asked whether Dominion’s tariffs and cost-allocation practices could give the utility an advantage over competitive retail suppliers or shift certain generation costs to other customers.

The companies objected that the questions were not relevant and sought legal conclusions.

The motion also seeks more information about NextEra’s past political activity through Florida Power & Light, its principal utility subsidiary.

Clean Virginia requested records related to an internal investigation discussed publicly by former NextEra Chairman James Robo in 2022 involving allegations about political consultants and Florida Power & Light.

The companies objected that the material was not relevant to the Virginia merger proceeding and also cited concerns involving privilege, ongoing litigation and the scope of the requests.

Clean Virginia argues the information is relevant to the qualifications and track record of the management that would take control of Virginia’s largest electric utility.

“For this deal to go through, the Commission must find with certainty that it will not impair or jeopardize adequate service at just and reasonable rates,” Clean Virginia Executive Director Brennan Gilmore said in a statement.

The SCC is reviewing NextEra’s proposed acquisition of control of Dominion Energy Virginia as part of the companies’ broader merger. Public comments are due Nov. 9, and the evidentiary hearing is scheduled to begin Nov. 17.

This story originally appeared on thecentersquare.com.