Richmond power bills jump after rate hike and deep freeze
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Dominion Energy customers are getting hit with a double whammy in their latest bills: a base rate increase that just went into effect and usage from an extraordinarily cold January.
Why it matters: In some cases, locals' latest power bills are nearly double, per a torrent of social media posts.
State of play: Last year, the State Corporation Commission OK'd Dominion's request to increase the company's base rate for its 2.5 million Virginia customers.
- The monthly increase would cost "the typical residential customer" around $11.24 a month, the SCC wrote in its decision.
Yes, but: Multiple factors go into what determines a customer's base rate, Dominion spokesperson Craig Carper tells Axios, including usage, time of year and rate class (residential vs. commercial).
- Usage here is critical, because the more energy you use, the higher the base rate.
- Plus, a typical residential customer for Dominion — who would pay $11.24 more, per the SCC — is generally someone in a two-bedroom apartment or a modest one-story home, Carper adds.
- On top of that, this January was anything but typical.
Threat level: Dominion recorded eight of the 10 highest energy-demand days in its history over the last three weeks, Carper says.
- And those weeks were "the longest sustained period of cold in our territory since the 1940s," he adds.
- All of which adds up to some whopper electric bills for Richmonders.
What they're saying: "We know it's hard and people are feeling the pinch. We're all feeling it," Carper says.
- For locals who need help paying their bill, Dominion has a couple of options through its EnergyShare assistance program as well as a budget billing option.
- And channeling big dad energy, Carper adds some advice: "My No. 1 tip is to turn your thermostat down two degrees below your comfort level — and wear a sweater."
For locals who use gas heat, the city also has a resource guide for managing high winter heat bills.
What's next: Another rate increase from Dominion will hit in January 2027.