Largest demand growth since WWII: VA could see 50% hike in electric bills

An American energy company based in Virginia is seeking to meet a growth in power demand at its highest since World War II. And this will mean an increase in electricity bills.
Dominion Energy, headquartered in Richmond, released a comprehensive long-term plan on Oct. 15 that aims to meet this increasing power demand by investing in new power generation, the expansion and modernization of its power grid and energy storage, and energy-efficient programs. The plan will be implemented over the next 15 years.
Jeremy Slayton, of Dominion Energy’s media relations, said under the comprehensive plan, Virginia residential rates − Dominion serves customers in Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina − will increase by 2.7% annually. Today, the typical monthly power bill is about $142. By 2039, Dominion Energy forecasts a monthly power bill to be about $214 for Virginia residents− a 50% increase, Slayton said.
“We are experiencing the largest growth in power demand since the years following World War II,” Ed Baine, president of Dominion Energy Virginia, said in a news release. “No single energy source, grid solution or energy efficiency program will reliably serve the growing needs of our customers. We need an ‘all-of-the-above’ approach.”
Several factors are driving the power demand in Virginia, Slayton said, including population growth and more data centers that power the internet, electric devices and electric vehicles.
“During the late ’40s, the ’50s and the ’60s, electric use in homes and businesses became more common, particular for energy-intensive appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, clothing driers and toward the later years, air conditioning,” Slayton told USA TODAY. “That is the magnitude of what we’re experiencing in Virginia.”
To meet the need, 80% of Dominion Energy’s comprehensive plan features carbon-free power generation. This includes an 130% increase of Dominion’s offshore wind production and a more than 150% increase in new solar energy. Slayton said Dominion Energy has the second largest solar fleet in the country.
About 20% of the comprehensive plan will feature power generated from natural gas.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].