Virginia's electricity costs rise amid data center boom
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Virginia saw one of the smallest increases in electricity costs in the nation this past year, per new federal data, but it could get even higher as data centers proliferate statewide.
Why it matters: Virginia is the data center capital of the world, and while those centers have previously been concentrated in NoVa, proposals for them have increasingly cropped up in the Richmond area.
By the numbers: Between May 2024 and May 2025, the average cost of electricity for residential customers in Virginia rose about 3%, from 14.95 cents to 15.41 cents, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
- The nationwide average was roughly 6.5%. Some states, like Maine, saw spikes of over 36%.
- Meanwhile, over a dozen of the Richmond area's nearly 70 data centers were added within the last six months, according to DataCenterMap.com.
Between the lines: While many factors can impact electricity prices, a state watchdog report last December said the state's demand for power could double within the next decade if unconstrained.
- Per the report, that could cost Dominion Energy customers up to $37 more per month by 2040.
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