Wed Apr 30 10:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Pittsylvania County Rejects Data Center Project; Dominion Energy Seeks Rate Hike

**CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA –** Pittsylvania County has rejected a data center project that had been a major topic of conversation for the past six months. This follows news that Dominion Energy is seeking a significant rate increase for its Virginia customers.

The State Corporation Commission (SCC) will hold a public hearing on September 2nd at noon to address Dominion Energy’s proposed base rate increase. This increase, if approved, would raise the average residential customer’s monthly bill by $21.43, a 15.3% jump to $161.43 by January 1, 2027. The hearing will be livestreamed, and public comment can be submitted online or via mail until August 26th. A separate hearing on Dominion’s proposed fuel factor increase has yet to be scheduled.

Dominion argues the rate increase is necessary to cover rising costs and maintain service reliability. The company also proposes a new rate class for high-energy users, such as data centers, and increased minimum charges for large-scale electricity consumers. The utility claims it intends to shift some demand-related costs from base rates to the fuel factor to stabilize customer bills.

The SCC regulates utilities in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, where Dominion serves over 3.6 million customers, including more than 2.5 million in Virginia. The company’s proposed changes are currently under review.

Read More