Dominion’s political reach runs from Newport News campaign committees to statewide utility legislation. This report follows company funding into its Virginia PAC, payments to politicians and lobbying on bills that shape utility costs. Newport News supplies the local example; federal audits document historical accounting failures affecting wholesale charges, followed by refunds and revised procedures. The records do not establish purchased votes or trace current campaign contributions to household bills. [1, 16, 18, 21, 22]
Government
Dominion Energy and the politics behind your electric bill
Campaign filings, lobbying disclosures and federal audits show Dominion’s political reach from Newport News to Richmond, and why customers have a stake in utility decisions.
Follow this reporting
Dominion political funding, lobbying and Newport News decisions
Campaign reports, lobbying disclosures and City records establish selected Dominion payments, advocacy and decisions. This file traces who received or moved the money, who had authority and what was requested around specific actions.
Case file reviewed November 12, 2026 · Open case file
Good News PAC: reporting discrepancy and money flow
Follow the unresolved $12,700 in June payments, PAC and campaign donors, returned transfers, vendor spending and the James River Strand contract. The final sweep adds $14,020 in reported staff payments, a separate $1,566.68 printing notice and CB3’s reported $3,000 Good News PAC receipt. These pooled-fund entries do not trace a particular donor’s dollars or establish personal income.
Case file reviewed November 12, 2026 · Open case file
People mentioned (12)
- Phillip D. JonesMayor, At Large · City Council
- John R. Eley IIICouncilman — South District 3, Seat B · City Council
- Curtis D. Bethany IIIVice Mayor — North District 1, Seat B · City Council
- Mamie E. LockeSenator, District 23; Rules Committee Chair · Senate of Virginia
- J.D. “Danny” DiggsSenator, District 24 · Senate of Virginia
- Abigail D. SpanbergerGovernor of Virginia · Office of the Governor
- L. Louise LucasSenator, District 18; President pro tempore · Senate of Virginia
- Don ScottSpeaker of the House; Delegate, District 88 · Virginia House of Delegates
- Danica A. RoemSenator, District 30 · Senate of Virginia
- Tamiko AlstonReported staff-expenditure payee · Campaign-finance participants
- James BeamerLobbyist named in Dominion’s filing · Lobbying disclosure participants
- Jeremy SlaytonMedia contact — Offshore Wind and Electric Transmission · Dominion Energy media relations
Story details
At a glance
- Thirty-five October notices report $1.94 million in Dominion PAC political payments. Incoming company funding is counted separately. [22]
- Good News PAC reported $50,000 from Dominion, followed two days later by a $48,000 transfer to the mayor’s campaign. [1]
- Federal audits documented historical lobbying-accounting failures affecting wholesale charges; later reports describe refunds and revised procedures. [16, 17, 18]
In brief
Full report
The company that sends your electric bill also sends corporate money into Virginia politics. Dominion Energy’s disclosures show money reaching campaign committees while its lobbyists work on laws governing utility costs. For customers, the stakes run from monthly bills to decisions about the company’s business. [6, 15, 21, 22]
From Newport News PAC transfers to Richmond utility laws, the records show the reach of that political spending. The strongest documented billing failure is historical: federal auditors found improperly classified lobbying costs reaching wholesale customers. [1, 16, 18]
COMPANY MONEY REACHES RICHMOND
Dominion’s Virginia PAC reported $1.95 million from the company in two October notices. Separately, 35 notices report $1.94 million in political payments from October 9–29. Incoming corporate funding and outgoing PAC payments are separate financial measures. [22]
Selected 2026 donor disclosures show these direct contributions to four officials’ campaign committees through the reviewed October 29 notices. [6]
- Mamie Locke — Locke for Senate: $700,000
- Louise Lucas — Lucas for Senate: $350,000
- Don Scott — Friends of Don Scott: $325,000
- Danny Diggs — Diggs for Senate: $100,000
Selected direct committee giving in 2026 through October 29. Associated PACs are excluded; matching disclosures count once. [6]
Recipient filings also show $500,000 to two Locke committees and $125,000 to Diggs’s campaign in 2025. That funding preceded their February 2026 votes; the selected 2026 gifts followed them. Chronology alone does not establish a vote’s motive. [6, 7]
THE COMPANY DISCLOSED LOBBYING ON THESE BILLS
A Virginia disclosure names SB 253, SB 339, SB 502 and HB 1393 as lobbying subjects. It reports $154,597 in expenses for James Beamer and seven other lobbyists included in his filing, including $117,839 for events, entertainment, meals and travel. This confirms reported lobbying activity on the bills; it does not identify the position taken on each or a request to a particular official. [21]
Senator Danica Roem’s SB 502 would have barred utility and utility-established PAC contributions, with an exception for qualifying employee-funded PACs. It failed to advance from Senate Privileges and Elections on February 10, 2026, after a 7–7 vote and one abstention. Diggs voted against advancing it; Locke is not listed on that committee roll call. [8]
UTILITY LAWS SHAPE CUSTOMER OBLIGATIONS
Lawmakers write utility laws; the State Corporation Commission decides rates and regulatory cases under them. Locke and Diggs both supported SB 339, a high-load cost-allocation proposal that passed the Senate 40–0 but was continued to the next session in the House. On SB 253’s March 14 conference report, Locke voted yes and Diggs no. Both later supported three governor recommendations. [8, 9]
SB 253 became law with customer protections and cost-recovery provisions. Citing SB 253/HB 1393, the SCC’s September 29 order authorized about $931.85 million, including up-front financing costs and subject to adjustment, for deferred-fuel bond financing and recovery through customer charges. In everyday terms, customers would repay old fuel costs and financing expenses through charges. [9, 19]
The SCC found the financing in the public interest under its conditions. The order is an authorization, not proof bonds have been issued or that a new charge already appears on a household bill. The amount is cost recovery, not an equivalent company profit. No reviewed record establishes that donations purchased the law. [19]
Dominion’s annual report describes an approximately $55 billion Virginia capital plan for 2026–2030, net of Stonepeak reimbursements; data-center customers accounted for 28 percent of Virginia Power’s 2025 electricity sales. Grid expansion and cost allocation affect investment opportunities and customer obligations. The SCC also identifies a separate large-load rate class and contract and minimum-payment safeguards designed to limit cost shifting, including provisions starting in 2027. [10, 23]
AUDITORS FOUND LOBBYING COSTS REACHING CUSTOMERS
A federal audit already documents lobbying expenses entering customer charges. In August 2024, auditors identified about $97,000 in lobbying expenses Dominion Energy Services had misclassified as ordinary industry-association dues during 2019–2023. Allocated portions reached Virginia Electric and Power Company and Dominion South Carolina and were improperly billed through wholesale transmission rates. [16]
The finding concerns the lobbying portion of Edison Electric Institute dues. The $97,000 is the expense pool, not a calculated Newport News household loss. A separate audit found $139,385 in lobbying expenses charged in full through NextEra Energy Transmission’s GridLiance subsidiaries’ federal formula rates. These are separate entities and costs. [16, 17]
Neither company contested the findings and recommendations. FERC’s later enforcement report records refunds and revised procedures. The findings establish historical wholesale-accounting failures; they do not establish that the same errors continue in current residential bills. They warrant attention as Virginia reviews the proposed Dominion–NextEra transaction. [18, 23]
In a separate 2025 review of charitable and lobbying expenses, SCC staff identified $30,000 improperly included in Dominion’s reported test-period utility-service costs. Staff proposed removing Virginia-allocated costs while also crediting improved accounting controls. That testimony does not establish how much customers were actually charged. [24]
NEWPORT NEWS SHOWS THE LOCAL ROUTE
Good News PAC began its September 1–October 7, 2025 reporting period with a reported balance of 86 cents. It recorded $50,000 from Dominion and $400 in other cash receipts. Dominion supplied 99.2 percent of those reported receipts. On September 25, two days after recording the contribution, the PAC transferred $48,000 to Friends of Phillip Jones. The mayor’s campaign reports the matching receipt. [1]
A June 2025 organization statement names Phil Jones as treasurer; the transfer lists “PDJ” as authorizer. Dominion dates its payment September 18. Those are different stages of one contribution. The sequence documents concentrated support and a campaign transfer, without establishing a Dominion instruction. A separate June 2025 payer/recipient reporting discrepancy about $12,700 remains unresolved; the opening balance is reported cash, not independently verified bank cash. [1, 2]
Good News reported $175,000 from Dominion across selected 2024–2026 filings through October 7, 2026. John Eley for Council reported $35,500 in 2026. Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany’s Friends of CB3 reported $25,000 on September 28 and a same-day $25,000 transfer to uNNity PAC. That onward transfer is not another Dominion gift. [2, 3]
In a conversation with Audit Newport News, John Eley said he “wasn’t being bought out.” He said Dominion had “seen the work” he was doing in the community. [25]
Four October Good News notices report $14,020 to Tamiko Alston for “Staff,” with “PDJ” as authorizer. They show reported PAC spending, without describing the work or assigning a donor’s funds to it. Committee resources do not establish an official’s personal profit. [20]
Council approved a $4,649 Dominion easement on September 23, 2025, the contribution’s reported receipt date. Jones and Bethany were among six affirmative votes; Eley was absent. A February-dated plat, September 9 bid process and the proposed deed’s City-service purpose qualify that timing. The record establishes neither a discounted price nor an exchange for approval. [4]
August 2025 emails separately show city staff discussing electricity capacity for possible data-center sites, before the contribution. They establish inquiries, not a completed study or service commitment. Newport News also belongs to the electricity purchasing group VEPGA, whose overall increase was 24.9 percent in July 2026. Individual impacts vary; no City invoice comparison or household increase is established by that figure. [5, 11]
THE RESPONSES AND THE NEXT DECISIONS MATTER
Abigail Spanberger’s inaugural committee reported $100,000 from Dominion in December 2025. On October 19, 2026, her administration sought a six-year residential base-rate freeze and $29 monthly credits for four years as merger conditions. Her filing requested those protections; it did not grant them. [12, 13]
Dominion spokesperson Jeremy Slayton told Radio IQ in August that its giving is bipartisan and transparent and that it does not seek favors. Locke told the outlet that accepting a gift does not prevent her opposing a donor. These are previously published explanations. [14]
The SCC’s October 28 update schedules the merger evidentiary hearing for November 17 and written comments through November 12. Customers can examine the funding, lobbying and decisions together. The unanswered questions are what Dominion requested, how officials responded and how customer interests were protected. [23]
References 25
- [1] September 2025 Good News cash and transfer sequence
Report 451182 closes at $0.86; 457948 reports $50,400 cash receipts, including $50,000 from Dominion, and the $48,000 campaign transfer. Dominion report 458814 dates its payment September 18; campaign amendment 503886 matches the transfer. $50,000 ÷ $50,400 = 99.2%. These are disclosures, not bank statements. The earlier, separate $12,700 payer/recipient receipt discrepancy remains unresolved; the filed opening cash is not independently verified bank cash.
- [2] Good News organization and selected Dominion receipts
Organization effective June 2, 2025 names Phil Jones treasurer. Ordinary-report receipts: $50,000 in 2024, $55,000 in 2025 and $70,000 through October 7, 2026, totaling $175,000. The June 2025 office designation is not backdated to 2024.
- [3] Other selected local campaign receipts
John Eley for Council amendments 503404 and 503406 report $500 March 23 and $35,000 July 15. Friends of CB3 report 507557 shows $25,000 September 28 and the onward transfer, matched in uNNity report 508149. Downstream pooled spending is not attributed to Dominion. Later ordinary reports 510189/511802 (Eley), 511098 (Jones) and 512221 (CB3) extend selected activity coverage through October 22 without a new Dominion-named Schedule A receipt. CB3’s October 8 $3,000 Good News receipt is an intermediary transfer, not another direct Dominion gift.
- [4] Dominion easement and council action
September 23, 2025 adopted minutes, item E9, and the individual packet. Waterworks properties are in York County at 3629 George Washington Memorial Highway and 100 Darby Road. February 3 plat and September 9 bid predate the reported payment. No executed deed or valuation workpapers obtained. The proposed deed specifies service to City facilities and lighting; this qualification accompanies the timing evidence.
- [5] City data-center correspondence
August 13–20, 2025 emails discuss 165 Yorktown Road and 100 Dozier Road and a no-cost four-to-six-week study. The related September 22 mayoral exchange is a request and acknowledgment, not an approval. Public FOIA release index links the records.
- [6] Selected 2026 state campaign giving through October 29
Donor Schedule D and later large-expenditure notices: Locke $100,000 May 4, $125,000 July 7, $125,000 August 27, $100,000 September 23 and $250,000 October 28 = $700,000. Lucas $100,000 May 4, $125,000 July 1 and $125,000 September 3 = $350,000. Don Scott $100,000 May 26, $125,000 July 1 and $100,000 October 14 = $325,000. Diggs $25,000 April 24, $25,000 July 1 and $50,000 September 28 = $100,000. These are direct named-committee totals; affiliated PACs are excluded. Notices repeated in later ordinary reports count once.
- [7] Earlier state recipient reports
Locke: $350,000 in 2025 amendment 458957 and $150,000 in 478222, across two committees. Diggs: $50,000 in 446937 and $75,000 in 478855. Figures describe 2025 recipient receipts, separately from 2026 donor reporting.
- [8] Official legislative text history and votes
2026 Regular Session HISTORY.CSV and VOTE.CSV: SB 502, February 10, S8V1392, 7–7–1; Diggs S0119 = N, Locke S0067 absent from this roll call. SB 339, February 17, SV505, 40–0, both Y; continued March 5 in House Labor and Commerce. SB 253 conference report March 14, SV1470: Locke Y, Diggs N; April 22 recommendations 7, 9 and 10, SV1527: both Y. Text and versions matter.
- [9] Enacted SB 253
Complete two-page chapter 1124, approved May 14 and effective July 1, 2026. Clauses 2–5 separately address underground-line recovery, high-load cost allocation, tariff treatment and possible deferred-fuel financing. This is distinct from an earlier vote or bill version.
- [10] Company financial stakes
Dominion 2025 annual report, physical page 20 / printed page 10: Virginia capital plan, data-center sales share and regulated earnings model. These are company-reported territory-wide figures, not local project costs. The same page describes high-load contractual protections beginning January 2027.
- [11] Municipal electricity purchasing
VACo’s June 24 announcement reports a 24.9% overall VEPGA increase effective July 1, 2026, with individual member impacts varying. Newport News membership is separately documented. The figure does not establish a household increase or an audited Newport News invoice increase; no City account-level invoice comparison is included.
- [12] Governor inaugural funding
Abigail Spanberger Inaugural Committee report 483312 (IC-25-00003), filed March 16, 2026, covers November 6, 2025–February 28, 2026. Schedule A reports $100,000 from Dominion Energy dated December 10, 2025. This is recipient-side inaugural-committee reporting, not a gubernatorial campaign gift or a company-filed report.
- [13] Governor position in the proposed transaction
Governor’s October 19, 2026 release and Richard McCann testimony, PUR-2026-00112: requested six-year residential base-rate freeze and $29 monthly credits for four years. These were requested merger conditions. The SCC information page lists the review and forthcoming hearings; it is not a complete docket or a final order granting the requests.
- [14] Previously published responses
Radio IQ, August 24, 2026, Brad Kutner: statements by Jeremy Slayton and Mamie Locke concerning political giving and the proposed transaction. These are previously published statements, attributed here to Radio IQ.
- [15] Dominion political policy
Company statement gives its business rationale and describes corporate-funded state PACs separately from voluntary PAC participation. The current webpage names the Nominating, Governance and Sustainability Committee for oversight, while its linked undated four-page PDF names the Audit Committee. The article does not resolve or rely on that committee-name difference.
- [16] Dominion final federal audit
August 12, 2024 delegated letter order and final audit FA22-4-000, covering 2019–2023. Finding 9, printed pages 84–85 / physical PDF pages 89–90: approximately $97,000 misclassified EEI lobbying expense pool and allocated wholesale charges. This is not the dollar amount of a Virginia retail overcharge or refund.
- [17] NextEra transmission final federal audit
August 21, 2024 delegated letter order and audit PA23-2-000. Finding 2, printed pages 27–29 / physical PDF pages 31–33: $139,385 in lobbying expenses on GridLiance subsidiaries’ books, charged in full through federal formula rates. Separate entities and costs from the Dominion finding.
- [18] Audit responses and reported corrective action
FERC 2024 enforcement staff report, printed pages 63–65 / physical pages 64–66. Describes uncontested findings, refunds and revised procedures for both audits. No selected lobbying refund total or current failure is established.
- [19] Virginia deferred fuel financing order
SCC September 29, 2026 financing order PUR-2026-00078, reproduced as SEC exhibit 99.1. Printed page 2 cites chapters 1123 and 1124; page 7 finds $931,851,010 eligible, subject to adjustments, and financing in the public interest under the order’s conditions. This is financing authorization and cost recovery, not the completed issuance advice letter, profit or proof of a purchased vote.
- [20] Good News reported staff expenditures
Four large-expenditure notices report $14,020 to Tamiko Alston for Staff: $1,540 October 14; $8,500, $1,680 and $2,300 October 23, authorizing name PDJ. Tasks, bank clearance, City employment and donor-specific funding are unestablished. Separate notice 512176 reports $1,566.68 to Affordable Printing October 27 and is excluded from the staff total. Count ordinary-report duplicates once.
- [21] Virginia lobbying subjects and reported expenses
Company-published James Beamer disclosure, labeled May 2025–April 2026 and signed June 30, 2026. PDF pp. 1–2 list SB 253, SB 339, SB 502 and HB 1393. Page 3 is an incorporated filing for Beamer and seven others, reporting $154,597 total, including $117,839 events/entertainment/meals/travel. Displayed components $117,839 + $8,048 + $28,711 sum to $154,598, $1 above the printed total; the report’s total is retained and no violation inferred. The filing does not state a per-bill position or an individual official’s requested action.
- [22] October company funding and PAC payments
Two Schedule A notices report Dominion Energy Inc. funding of $1 million October 9 and $950,000 October 22. Thirty-five Schedule D notices dated October 9–29 report $1.94 million of political payments. Incoming and outgoing totals describe separate sides of a pooled PAC, not $3.89 million in additional giving. The notices cover later activity than the ordinary report ending October 7. Repeated transactions in later ordinary reports count once.
- [23] Current SCC review and customer protections
SCC merger information page updated October 28, 2026: PUR-2026-00112 evidentiary hearing scheduled November 17 and written comments due November 12. The SCC Facts page separately describes the GS-5 class, special large-load minimum-payment/contract safeguards and the direct-connect framework. These are distinct from SB 339’s unenacted proposal. The general information page is not a complete docket or a finding that all cost-shifting risk has ended.
- [24] SCC staff review of charitable and lobbying expense accounting
Carol B. Myers’s 2025 testimony in PUR-2025-00058/00059, printed pp. 70–73: staff credited improved controls but identified $30,000 of improperly classified expenses on a total-company basis. Proposed Virginia earnings adjustments were $5,000 for 2023 and $21,000 for 2024; rate-year analyses remove $21,000 of test-year expenses. These different periods/bases and the separate FERC pools are not added together. This is staff testimony and proposed adjustment, not a final order or measured customer loss.
- [25] John Eley response
Audit Newport News’s direct conversation with John Eley. Eley’s quoted words describe his explanation for accepting Dominion’s support. Contribution amounts are separately sourced to campaign filings. The conversation date and method are not specified.
Publication notes
Reporting and source review completed October 30, 2026. Contribution figures retain the periods and reporting sides identified in the text; matching disclosures count once. Eley’s response comes from a conversation with Audit Newport News. Other attributed explanations are previously published statements or formal audit responses. The cover is an AI illustration.