Photos and videos from the rally can be found here.

Charlottesville, VA—Charlottesville-area residents gathered Monday ahead of Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi’s Energy Costs Listening Tour stop to speak out against the proposed $67 billion Dominion Energy–NextEra merger and call for greater public accountability in decisions that will shape Virginia’s energy future.

Organized by the Stop NextEra coalition, the rally brought together community members concerned about rising electric bills, corporate accountability, local infrastructure, and the future of clean energy in Virginia.

The proposed merger would create the largest regulated utility in the world, giving Dominion and NextEra even greater influence over decisions affecting Virginia households and communities.

Residents highlighted several practical concerns about the proposed deal, including:

• The potential impact on electric bills for families already facing rising costs
• The need for stronger accountability as two major energy corporations combine
• Impacts on communities and landowners from energy infrastructure and transmission projects
• The future of Virginia’s clean energy transition and whether the merger will advance affordable, reliable energy
• The lack of meaningful public input and transparency in the merger review process

“NextEra is a nationally ranked utility company for many reasons, but they are all the wrong ones! Between 2020 and 2026, NextEra hiked rates, by 45%, raising the average bill by $511! When Virginians are already struggling with increasing prices, we’re here today to ask our lawmakers to say no to this merger,” said Sage Bradburn, an Albemarle County resident.

Following the rally, community members participated in Lt. Gov. Hashmi’s Energy Costs Listening Tour stop, bringing their concerns about affordability and Virginia’s energy future directly into the public conversation.

“This will effect the communities and energy future of millions of Virginians. The public can’t be an afterthought, we have to think about the public benefits, if there are any, with this decision,” Lt. Governor Hashmi said. “Virginia consumers need to have a seat at the table as well.”

“Dominion and NextEra need to hear our voices. Now is the time to speak up. And we have to stop the acquisition,” Delegate Katrina Callsen said. “Dominion is the architect of the problems they offer the solutions to. It looks a lot less like generosity and a lot more like gaslighting.”

The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is currently reviewing the proposed merger. The Stop NextEra coalition is calling for a transparent process that gives Virginians meaningful opportunities to understand the proposal, ask questions, and weigh in before decisions are made.

The coalition is also urging state leaders to hold public field hearings across Virginia, so residents do not have to travel to Richmond to participate in decisions that directly affect their communities.

“Virginia’s energy future should work for everyone in our community, not just corporate shareholders,” said Melissa Thomas with the Stop NextEra Coalition. “People deserve to know how this merger could affect their electric bills, their communities, and the energy system we will rely on for decades to come.”

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About the Stop NextEra CoalitionThe Stop NextEra coalition is a statewide coalition of Virginians and organizations working to ensure that the proposed Dominion–NextEra merger receives meaningful public scrutiny and that Virginia’s energy future puts families, communities, affordability, accountability, and a clean energy transition first. Learn more at: https://stopnextera.com/