Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) has intervened in the regulatory review of the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. In testimony filed Monday with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), Spanberger argued that the merger poses significant risks to consumers, specifically regarding utility costs. To mitigate these concerns, she is calling for a legally binding six-year moratorium on electricity rate increases.

Spanberger’s filing suggests that the SCC should deny the merger application unless both companies commit to this extended rate freeze. The proposal is framed as a consumer protection measure intended to prevent the potential financial burdens of a large-scale utility merger from being passed directly to ratepayers. While the merger is currently under review by state regulators, the involvement of a high-profile political figure like Spanberger highlights the heightened public and political scrutiny surrounding the deal. The companies involved have not yet publicly committed to the specific terms of the freeze requested in the testimony, and the SCC has yet to issue a final ruling on the merger or the conditions attached to it.