State regulators are rejecting major elements in Dominion Energy’s $6 billion dollar plan to modernize the grid.
Members of the State Corporation Commission approved Dominion’s plans to secure the grid against cyber attacks, but rejected a multitude of other plans, including a proposed smart meter program.
Because of sweeping legislation passed last year, Dominion now has to seek pre-approval of its plans from state regulators.
Nate Benforado with the Southern Environmental Law Center says Thursday’s decision shows a willingness by the state corporation commission, or SCC, to apply more scrutiny to the powerful energy company.
“That’s what we have to do. That’s what the SCC is set up to do,” Benforado says. “And I think they’re stepping up in some ways that are good for customers.”
Members of the SCC told Dominion that its plan to install costly new technology, including smart meters, was ill-conceived.
“It was essentially a laundry list of expenditures without a real road map to how the customers are going to benefit from this,” explains Benforado.
Ed Baine, Dominion’s senior vice-president of electric distribution, says the company is disappointed but remains committed to building a “smarter, stronger, and greener grid.”
“(We) will use the guidance provided by the Commission as a framework to refile our next plan,” Baine wrote in a statement.
Editor's Note: The Southern Enfironmental Law Center is a financial supporter of Radio IQ.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
