Virginia’s largest utility did not get a new base rate change for October 1, 2026. Dominion Energy Virginia’s 2026 increase was set in November 2025, when the State Corporation Commission (SCC) ruled on its biennial review. Since then, several riders have moved bills up and down by smaller amounts.
This article covers Dominion Energy Virginia, which serves more than 2.5 million customers in the state, and Appalachian Power. It does not cover electric cooperatives or municipal utilities.
Quick Summary
| Item | Utility | Status | Residential impact at 1,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base rates, 2026 step | Dominion | Approved Nov. 2025 | +$11.24 a month |
| Base rates, 2027 step | Dominion | Approved Nov. 2025 | +$2.36 a month |
| Transmission rider | Dominion | Approved July 31, 2026 | +$0.94 a month |
| Renewable energy (RPS) rider | Dominion | Approved Aug. 5, 2026 | −$2.16 a month |
| Distribution rider expansion | Dominion | Filed Aug. 12, 2026, not approved | +$3.46 a month |
| Base rate request | Appalachian Power | Hearing Oct. 20, 2026 | +$9.10 a month |
What the SCC Approved for Dominion
- Revenue: $565.7 million for 2026 and $209.9 million for 2027. Dominion had asked for $822 million and $345 million.
- Bills: $149.92 + $11.24 = $161.16 in 2026, then + $2.36 = $163.52 in 2027. That is $13.60, or about 9%, over two years. Dominion had sought $19.57.
- Return on equity: 9.8%, up from 9.7%, against a request of 10.4%.
- Large customers: a new rate class, GS-5, for customers using 25 megawatts or more starts January 1, 2027. It requires 14-year contracts with minimum demand payments. The SCC’s stated aim was to assign more cost to data centers.
These bill figures cover base rates only. Riders and fuel are billed separately.
Rider Changes in Summer 2026
Virginia utilities recover many costs through riders, each reviewed in its own case. According to a regulatory summary by the law firm ReisingerGooch:
- Transmission (PUR-2026-00056): approved July 31, adding about $0.94 a month. Microsoft appealed on August 28.
- Renewable portfolio standard (PUR-2025-00221): approved August 5, lowering bills about $2.16 a month.
- Distribution (PUR-2026-00126): Dominion filed on August 12 to recover grid and undergrounding costs, about $3.46 a month. No schedule had been set.
Appalachian Power
Appalachian Power asked for $61.4 million a year and a 10.5% return on equity (PUR-2026-00044). It estimates $9.10 a month at 1,000 kWh. The hearing begins October 20, 2026. Separately, the SCC approved a coal ash closure plan on August 5 that could add $1.06 to $2.28 a month from 2027.
What This Means for Homeowners With Solar
We did not verify Virginia’s current net metering tariffs for this article, so we give no export rates here. Two items are worth watching:
- The SCC published draft shared solar rules on August 25, 2026 (PUR-2026-00127), with comments due October 9.
- Higher per-kWh base rates raise the value of solar you use yourself. Fixed charges are not reduced by solar.
Our solar payback guide shows how the retail rate and the export credit change the math.
What to Check on Your Bill
- Your utility and rate schedule. The figures above use 1,000 kWh a month.
- The rider lines. Most 2026 movement after January came from riders, not base rates.
- The fuel line, which is set separately.
For help sorting the lines on your bill, see our guide to reading your electric bill.
What Happens Next
- October 20, 2026: Appalachian Power rate hearing.
- November 17, 2026: SCC hearing on the proposed Dominion and NextEra merger (PUR-2026-00112).
- January 1, 2027: Dominion’s second base rate step and the GS-5 class take effect.
Limitations
The SCC’s own news release could not be opened for this article, so the biennial review figures come from Cardinal News and the rider figures from a law firm summary. Two public radio and news reports we checked say the $11.24 step applies “for 2026” without giving a day, so we still cannot state the exact effective date. One of them gives the starting bill as about $140, where Cardinal News gives $149.92; we use the more specific figure. We did not confirm the current fuel factor or net metering terms.
Sources
- Cardinal News, “Regulators approve Dominion Energy rate increase,” Nov. 26, 2025
- Virginia SCC, “SCC Issues Order on DEV Biennial Review 2025”
- ReisingerGooch, “Virginia Energy Regulatory Updates (August 2026)”
Frequently asked questions
Did Dominion Energy rates go up on October 1, 2026?
We found no base rate change with that date. The 2026 increase came from a November 2025 State Corporation Commission order, and rider updates were approved in July and August 2026.
How much did Dominion bills rise in 2026?
About $11.24 a month for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh, with a further $2.36 in 2027, according to reporting on the commission's order. The starting bill was $149.92.
Is Appalachian Power raising rates in Virginia?
It has asked to. The request is for $61.4 million a year, about $9.10 a month at 1,000 kWh. It is not approved. The evidentiary hearing begins October 20, 2026.
