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Ghazala Hashmi launches ‘Energy Costs Listening Tour’ in Virginia
Hashmi’s statewide tour will bring together residents, local leaders and energy experts to discuss the proposed takeover.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 11, Aug 2026
- 17:28 EDT
- 31
Ghazala Hashmi / Instagram/ @ltgovhashmi
Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi launched the “Energy Costs Listening Tour” to hear Virginians’ views on the proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy by NextEra Energy.
The $67 billion proposed takeover is one of the largest utility transactions in U.S. history and could affect electricity costs, the ownership of Virginia’s largest utility and the state’s energy future.
Also Read: Ghazala Hashmi featured in Virginia women’s history exhibition
The tour will bring together local leaders, energy experts and community members in Loudoun, Hampton Roads, Richmond, Charlottesville and Roanoke. Residents will have opportunities to ask questions, raise concerns and share their views on the proposed acquisition, her office said.
“One of the biggest decisions about Virginia's energy future is happening right now,” Hashmi said in a video statement. “That's why I'm launching the Energy Cost Listening Tour.”
Hashmi said the proposed takeover could reshape Virginia’s electric system for decades and called for transparency and accountability in the review process.
“A takeover this large deserves transparency. It deserves accountability,” she said. “It also deserves a review process that puts Virginia families first, rather than out-of-state corporate interests.”
The tour will give Virginians opportunities to hear from experts, ask questions and share their concerns about the potential impact of the acquisition on utility bills, communities and the state’s energy future.
“Virginians deserve the opportunity to understand what this proposal could mean for their utility bills, their community, and our shared energy future,” Hashmi said. “These conversations are about listening, sharing information, and ensuring the public has a meaningful voice before a decision of this magnitude is made.”
Input gathered during the tour will inform ongoing discussions about Virginia’s energy future and the proposed acquisition.
The tour comes as Virginia regulators review the proposed acquisition. Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy filed their merger application with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) on July 15, formally beginning the regulatory review. The SCC is expected to decide whether to approve, reject or impose conditions on the proposed deal.
Current law requires state regulators to complete their review within six months. Hashmi has previously called for a more thorough review, including additional time for legislative oversight.
The proposed acquisition has also drawn scrutiny from Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who said she would formally intervene in the SCC proceedings, citing concerns including electricity costs, jobs and the state’s energy future.
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