Richmond City Council delays vote on Dominion-NextEra merger resolution

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Richmond City Council delayed its vote Monday on a resolution concerning the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy until Dec. 14.

Many council members were concerned about the language of the resolution and said they did not have enough information about possible changes to the deal.

More than 10 Richmond residents spoke in favor of the resolution. Some council members also cited the resolution’s legal implications.

Richmond City Council President Cynthia Newbille said council does not have full information on the deliberations of the Attorney General and the Attorney General’s staff. She said they put forth about 117 items, of which about 101 have been agreed to, 10 have been modified and six are waiting to be addressed.

Other council members said they believe the time to act is now because, they said, Dominion Energy has too much political power and not enough promise to keep rates down.

Darius Johnson, Dominion Energy’s vice president of human resources and a resident of the 4th District’s Westover Hills area spoke as a community member against the resolution. He told the council he has lived in Richmond for more than 25 years.

Johnson said Richmond is home to more than 1,100 Dominion Energy employees and their families, and that the companies have committed to maintaining Dominion Energy’s current Virginia employee headcount for five years.

“This is an important decision, and the State Corporation Commission is giving it a thorough review, but a resolution opposing this merger overlooks the real opportunities that this combination could bring to our city, our workers, and its residents,” Johnson said.

Council member Kenya Gibson who introduced the resolution said energy is a basic human need and that a company in Virginia profits from it.

“So, the question I believe on the table is, and pardon the pun, does an energy monopoly need more power?” Gibson said.

Gibson said Dominion is the largest contributor to political campaigns in Virginia, including the campaigns of those who regulate its activities. She said she believes Dominion has donated about $7 million since the merger announcement in May to candidates who were not on the ballot.

“The CEO wanted to talk to me, which was shocking to me,” Gibson said. “The CEO has recently stated that they are not interested in pursuing that type of protection for Virginians. This is concerning.”

“I was really disappointed. I thought this was a slam dunk. Council Member Gibson, with help from advocates like us, said we need to just come out against this merger full stop — no concessions, period,” said Andrew Sidle, a Richmond resident a member of the Stop NextEra Coalition.

Erika Schmale, a Richmond resident and member of the Stop NextEra Coalition, said grassroots efforts opposing the measure are “still very strong.”

The State Corporation Commission is taking public comments over the phone on Tuesday and written comments are being accepted through Nov. 12. An evidentiary hearing for a judge to review the merger is Nov. 17.

People in opposition of the merger are expected to rally at the SCC building that same day.

The proposed resolution calls for binding commitments from the companies to protect jobs, support the city’s climate goals and provide relief for some low-income households.

It also calls for the companies to begin construction on a new co-headquarters tower in downtown Richmond within two years of the State Corporation Commission’s final order and to maintain current Virginia employee levels for at least 15 years.

The companies have said customers will not be responsible for merger-related costs. They have also pledged four years of residential bill credits and announced plans for the downtown tower.

The State Corporation Commission is expected to vote on the merger in January.