Virginia lawmakers seek longer Dominion merger review

(The Center Square) – Fourteen Democratic lawmakers are asking first-year Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger to call a special session to give regulators more time to review the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy.

In a letter dated Monday, the lawmakers said the State Corporation Commission’s current review timeline does not give regulators enough time to fully examine the deal.

“A transaction of this magnitude cannot be meaningfully examined on that schedule,” the lawmakers wrote.

Under Virginia law, the SCC has 60 days after a completed application is filed to approve or reject the transaction, with the option to extend that period by up to another 120 days. If the commission does not act within that time, the application is deemed approved.

The lawmakers said a special session convened and adjourned by the end of September would allow legislation extending the review period to take effect while the case is still underway.

The request follows a similar push from Republicans earlier this summer.

Sen. David Suetterlein and Del. Joe McNamara asked Spanberger in a July 21 letter to call a special session to extend the commission’s review period. They said Virginia could otherwise be forced to act before regulators in other jurisdictions considering the merger.

In a Tuesday joint statement, the Republicans welcomed the new Democratic support.

“We appreciate that 14 more of our Democratic colleagues from across the Commonwealth are publicly urging the Governor to call for this special session that working Virginians plainly know is necessary to prevent a rushed merger that could result in even higher electric bills,” they said.

Dominion and Florida-based NextEra filed their merger application with the SCC on July 15.

Public witness testimony is scheduled for Nov. 5, 9 and 10, with written comments due Nov. 9 and an evidentiary hearing beginning Nov. 17.

Spanberger formally intervened in the commission proceeding in August. Her office has said her priorities include energy affordability, Virginia utility jobs and the Commonwealth’s long-term energy needs.

The companies announced the proposed $67 billion merger in May. If approved, the combination would serve about 10 million customers across Virginia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

This story originally appeared on thecentersquare.com.