A coalition of solar and storage companies has filed testimony opposing the proposed merger of Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy, arguing that the combination could weaken competition and affect renewable energy growth in Virginia.
The Storage and Clean Energy Coalition (SCEC) said it filed testimony opposing the transaction as proposed. In its filing, the group said the deal presents an unacceptable risk to Virginia's competitive landscape. It also raised concerns that the merger could affect the growth of renewable energy in the state.
SCEC criticized the utilities for not addressing competition in power generation procurement, distributed energy resources, or non-wire alternatives to traditional utility infrastructure. According to the coalition, Dominion and NextEra have told regulators that the merger would not affect competition, a claim SCEC disputes.
Lindsey Hallock, interconnection policy director at Permit Power, an SCEC member, said the issue matters for Virginia households seeking to lower bills by generating and storing their own electricity. She said current utility policies make connecting home solar and batteries to the grid costly and slow. Hallock called on the commission to require interconnection reform as a condition of approval, including automated processing and authorization of meter socket adapters that can reduce installation costs.
SCEC also warned that existing interconnection queues at both utilities could grow longer after a merger. The group is asking for automation tools for residential and small commercial projects and for meter sockets that can avoid main service panel upgrades.
The testimony further points to NextEra's political activity in Florida, where its Florida Power & Light utility sought to influence legislation that would have substantially reduced rooftop solar compensation for residential customers. SCEC cited that episode as an example of NextEra using influence to shape policies in its favor.