Dominion/NextEra Merger: How to Get Involved

The goal of the toolkit is to provide South Carolinians with information about what’s going on with the Dominion/NextEra merger and the various ways you can get involved. If there is something that the toolkit does not provide or you need assistance, please contact the SC Appleseed Energy team for assistance at [email protected].

About SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center

We are a nonprofit based in Columbia, South Carolina that is focused on helping bring forward policy changes that help low-income South Carolinians. We have a staff that includes attorneys, outreach workers, community organizers, and communications and support staff. Our goal is to influence policymakers to ensure the law is fair, to educate the public and their advocates about the law, and to assist attorneys in bringing systemic litigation where the law is unfair.

Summary of the Concerns

If approved, this merger would create the largest private, regulated electric utility in the country, and place immense power in a company that seems more focused on maximizing profits than providing affordable, clean, and reliable energy to its customers.

NextEra announced this takeover effort weeks after Dominion was approved to raise its rates, right after Dominion was allowed to start building a $5 billion gas plant in Colleton County, and within days of the scheduled end of the legislative session. They’ve also asked for, and gotten, a fast-tracked schedule for the review of this takeover that makes it hard for South Carolinians to make sure that our interests are protected. 

We’re especially concerned because NextEra is not treating its current customers well. In 2024, Florida Power& Light (FPL), which NextEra owns, cut off power to its customers at over twice the rate that Dominion did in South Carolina and nearly four and a half times the rate of Duke Energy Carolinas (which serves the upstate). The following year, FPL pushed the Florida Public Service Commission to approve an $8.9 billion rate increase. They ultimately got an historic $6.9 billion rate increase that raised FPL’s return on equity (profit) to 10.95 percent, higher than Dominion’s and every other utility in the continental U.S. Even as customers struggle to keep up, NextEra banked more than $5 billion in profit last year and compensated its CEO nearly $25 million. 

To accomplish this takeover, they’ve offered customers about a $10/month reduction in their energy bill, which stops after two years. That doesn’t even offset Dominion’s $12/month rate increase that just took effect and gives us no protection against future rate increases.

What is Going On Right Now?

Currently, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is reviewing the merger proposal and initiating public engagement in the process to hear from South Carolinians. The final decision is set to be made on January 29, 2027. They are currently taking written feedback from the community and will be hosting a series of live Public Hearings starting in November. Using the info provided here, you can send a message to the PSC today on why you believe this merger is not a good deal for you and your community. It is important that the PSC hears from as many people as possible regarding this merger before the public hearings in November. Thank you for taking the time to share your voice on the issue!

Call to Action

Here are all the ways you can get involved in the merger:

1. Send a Letter of Protest. The Public Service Commission is currently taking written feedback regarding the merger. You can do so by using our action tool, or by directly: 
   
   • Emailing the completed Letter of Protest to [email protected]; or
   • Email using the form provided by the PSC (see the link below)
   • Mailing the completed Letter of Protest to 101 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, SC 29210
     
     In all communications, make sure you include the docket number (2026-186-EG) your name and address, and that you are a customer of Dominion.
     
     Find more details at https://psc.sc.gov/consumer-info/file-letter-protest
     Reminder, our action tool is open now if you’d like a direct, quick method to respond: https://www.scjustice.org/action/
     
     
2. Sign up to speak at one of the Public Hearings in November. The PSC is holding 5 total sessions (3 in Columbia, 1 in Charleston, 1 in Aiken) to hear from the public. Individuals will be limited to 3 minutes. There are three ways to register: 
   
   • Email [email protected]; or
   • Complete the following survey: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019fcdf84a44761ab092129f3b6ff7d6; or
   • Call 803-896-4120.
     
     We plan on hosting a training prior to the public hearings in November. Stay tuned for details on how to attend and also tips from the team over the coming weeks. More information on the public hearing dates and locations can be found in the next section.
     
     
3. Educate! Use this time between now and hearings to talk with the community about the issue and make sure everyone who is a Dominion client understands what is at stake. We have some talking points further down in the toolkit to help you have those conversations. Speak with community members about the merger and offer the ways they can get involved.
   
   
4. Take to Social Media: This is a premium time to share any and all content related to the merger over the next several months. Take note of news stories or legislators who comment on the issue and voice your opinion! 
   
   

An additional way to get involved is to formally intervene. Intervening in cases like this at the PSC is a legal right available to the public, but navigating the formal commission rules and evidentiary hearings is often highly difficult without legal counsel. If you are interested in formally intervening, the deadline is September 10, 2026. We recommend you review this guide to understand what goes into following this method: https://www.psc.sc.gov/sites/psc/files/Documents/Pro%20Se%20Litigant/FINAL%20Amended%20Pro%20Se%20Litigant%20Guide.pdf 

Public Hearing Dates

These are the scheduled times that the Public Service Commission will be listening to live testimonies from the public. We recommend preregistering as soon as possible to secure a position.

Dates and Locations of the Hearings

How to Speak with Peers About the Merger

Below are some key talking points to use with your peers to discuss what is going on with the merger and why they should get involved.

I’m a Dominion Customer, what is happening?

A giant utility company based in Florida called NextEra is trying to buy Dominion for $67 billion. If this goes through, around this time next year you’ll be paying your bills to the world’s biggest regulated private utility company.

I keep hearing this merger described as a monopoly, why is that bad?

A monopoly happens when one company controls all or nearly all the supply of a product or service and has no competition.

As a current Dominion Customer, you already can’t shop around. This merger would make a mega-monopoly and make NextEra more powerful. When a giant company controls a whole market, it hurts everyone. 

Without competition, these big companies do not bother to invent new things or improve their products. This also hurts democracy because one powerful corporation gets to make all the choices for the public.

What could it mean for our electric bills?

Our electric bills are already high and they could go up. NextEra just got a huge $6.9 billion rate hike in Florida that set their profit level higher than every other utility in the continental U.S., they rank number 2 in the nation for shutting off people’s power, and they proposed this merger right after Dominion already raised our rates this summer.

Besides how it impacts our electric bills, why should I be worried?

NextEra has a messy history with political scandals and lawsuits. They made over $5 billion in profit last year and paid their CEO nearly $25 million while regular families struggled. a\And they offered to pay $150 million to settle a lawsuit that claimed they did things like spied on reporters and funded fake election candidates to trick voters.

Times are tough as it is, SC should not open its doors to NextEra.

Is this tied to Data Centers?

Yes, there is evidence and statements from the utility companies showing that the proposed merger is driven by plans to profit from the artificial intelligence (AI) data center boom, raising concerns that data centers will expand into South Carolina.

Can we really stop this?

YES! We have the power to stop them in all the ways outlined in this toolkit. The PSC must approve the deal first, and they scheduled 4 public hearings where everyday people like us can show up, speak out, and fight this buyout. Dominion operates in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and must get approval in all three states for the merger to go through. It takes one state to stop this and only 4 SC PSC Commissioners to say No.

Let’s send those letters and pack the rooms so the PSC knows South Carolinians don’t want this.

Want to Get Even More Involved?

We’d love to connect with you! Talk to our Organizer, Anjani Moro for more ways you can take on the issue. Email her today at [email protected]