NORFOLK, Va. — Virginia customers of Dominion Energy will save more money on their electric bills because of a law Virginia legislators passed earlier this year.
Starting at the beginning of July, the company lowered its rates by around $14 a month for typical residential customers, as well as lower rates for non-residential customers.
“Providing any bit of relief to customers is going to go a long way especially when everything else is going up,” said company spokeswoman Cherise Newsome.
The rate cut was allowed by a 2023 law which Dominion said eliminated about $7 in monthly charges for Dominion Energy. It also allowed the company to seek regulatory approval to spread fuel costs over several years, taking the costs down an additional $7.
According to Newsome, the energy company submitted requests to the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and it could take months to learn whether the board approves their plan. In the meantime, Dominion Energy will lower the fuel charge on an interim basis.
According to Dominion, the residential rates are now 20% below the national average and 39% below the East Coast regional average because of the rate change.
"This [rate reduction] will provide immediate relief for our customers now and ongoing savings in the future. It's an important part of our mission of delivering reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy to our customers," said the President of Dominion Energy Virginia, Ed Baine.
Of course, like most bills, the more energy you use, the higher the cost.
This is especially true during the summer months, as people across the country deal with hot temperatures.
However, Newsome offers several tips to reduce energy use this summer, when they typically see spikes.
For instance, when you’re not home, Dominion Energy recommends keeping air conditioning units at 78 degrees and closing shades to reduce warmth caused by sunlight.