For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Contact:
Michael Town | Executive Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 319-6083 | mtown@valcv.org
Blair St. Ledger-Olson | Director of Advocacy & Campaigns
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(703) 203-5787 | blair@valcv.org
RICHMOND – A new survey released today finds that Virginians overwhelmingly believe the NextEra/Dominion merger will raise power bills and want elected officials to ensure Virginia families aren’t left footing the bill. Released by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters and conducted by Global Strategies Group (GSG), over 600 likely 2027 voters were sampled in Virginia.
Key findings of the poll include:
- Voters instinctively oppose the merger because they expect it to increase their electric bills. Even before hearing additional information, three in four voters (76%) organically assume the merger will raise electricity costs.
- Educating voters about NextEra’s record further deepens opposition by reinforcing the distrust many voters already have toward utility companies.
- Virginians are looking for their state leaders to protect their interests during the merger, and more than two thirds of voters (68%) say they would be more likely to support a candidate who opposes the merger, compared to only 10% who would be less likely.
- Nearly two-thirds of voters (64%) say the Virginia General Assembly bears the greatest responsibility for protecting Virginians’ interests in the merger. Meanwhile, roughly half (48%) say the same about Governor Spanberger.
- Voters want lawmakers to empower regulators to hold utility companies accountable and make sure the merger does not increase costs. Voters most want to see that safeguards are put in place requiring data centers to pay the full cost of the electricity, grid upgrades, and infrastructure they need, rather than passing those costs onto Virginia families (81% strongly support this, and 67% would be much more likely to vote for a legislator who supports this).
“Virginians are sending a crystal-clear message: they do not want a mega-utility monopoly that pads corporate profits by driving up our monthly power bills even further,” said Virginia LCV Executive Director Michael Town. “Our state leaders must give regulators the time and power they need to thoroughly scrutinize this merger and protect everyday Virginians from footing the bill for creating the largest utility in the world.”
“I oppose the merger because families across the Commonwealth are already feeling the pain in their pocketbooks from data centers. Our constituents want us looking out for their best interests, not out-of-state corporate monopolies’ bottom lines,” said Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg.
This poll comes as the Virginia state legislature is considering holding a special session to extend the timeline in which the merger will be reviewed. Given the magnitude of the merger, creating the largest utility in the world, the most thorough possible review is needed to protect Virginians from additional cost pressures.
The full poll results can be found attached at this link. GSG interviewed 600 likely voters in Virginia on July 16-20, 2026. The margin of error at the 95% confidence level for the poll is +/- 4%.
About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.
http://valcv.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Virginia-Utility-Merger-Memo-F08.05.26.pdf
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