RICHMOND, VA (Rocktown Now) — Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has formally intervened in the proposed $67 billion merger between Dominion Energy and Florida-based NextEra Energy, becoming the first Virginia governor to intervene in a case before the State Corporation Commission.

Spanberger filed a Notice of Participation as a Respondent with the SCC, giving her administration a formal role in the regulatory review of what would be the largest utility merger in U.S. history.

“As Governor, I remain skeptical of the benefits this merger would deliver to Virginia — particularly if those benefits come at the expense of affordability, existing jobs, or meeting our homegrown clean energy goals,” Spanberger said. “Virginians deserve to know that their long-term interests, not simply those of the companies involved, are being put first.”

Spanberger said the intervention will allow her administration to directly advocate for Virginians who could be affected by the proposed merger.

The governor identified three priorities that will guide her participation in the SCC review: keeping energy bills affordable, protecting Virginia’s utility workforce and advancing the state’s efforts to develop affordable, reliable, local and clean energy.

“Virginians can trust that they have a voice in the room and a seat at the table in a merger that is wholly unprecedented in size and its potential impact on the Commonwealth,” Spanberger said.

Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond said the governor’s intervention will allow the administration to continue pressing for answers and protections throughout the regulatory process.

“This bold step by the Governor is warranted given the stakes of this case,” Allmond said. “This intervention will allow us to continue that fight, ask the tough questions that need to be asked, and ensure that any outcome at a minimum delivers progress on the Governor’s three non-negotiable priorities.”

As a formal party to the case, Spanberger’s administration will be able to raise concerns, request information about the proposed merger and participate in the proceedings as the SCC considers whether the transaction should move forward.

Spanberger announced her intention to intervene in a Washington Post op-ed last week. In the piece, she also pointed to more than a dozen laws she has signed aimed at lowering energy costs for Virginia families and small businesses.

Among those initiatives is a statewide consumption tax intended to ensure data centers contribute toward the power they consume. The governor also highlighted recent action by the SCC requiring data centers to cover the costs of transmission infrastructure built exclusively for their facilities.

Spanberger said those efforts are part of her broader goal of ensuring Virginia’s energy system remains affordable, reliable and capable of supporting economic growth while advancing the Commonwealth’s clean energy goals.