Interfaith gathering calls on Virginia regulators to protect ratepayers 

RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Faith leaders and community advocates gathered outside the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) today to oppose NextEra Energy’s proposed $67 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy, calling on state regulators to reject a deal that prioritizes the profit margins of one of the wealthiest corporations on earth over of the needs of working families, small businesses and communities in the Commonwealth.

The rally highlighted the growing strain that rising electricity costs are placing on households, congregations, and neighborhoods. The faith leaders who spoke emphasized the devastating effect that rising utility costs have had on their congregants, who have already been hit hard by rising prices and are struggling to make ends meet. As electricity costs rise, families have increasingly turned to their faith communities for help paying their electric bills, and the faith leaders who gathered at the SCC described a feeling of sadness and helplessness as they are confronted with needs that they are increasingly unable to meet.

“Our electric bills are not just numbers on a monthly statement,” said Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill. “They represent a real part of a family’s household budget. They affect whether parents can afford groceries, whether older adults can keep their homes comfortable and safe, and whether working families can make ends meet. We should not be asked to accept a merger that could further increase costs or put corporate profits ahead of the well-being of the people and communities Dominion is supposed to serve. The SCC must put Virginia’s families first. That is not just good public policy. It is a moral responsibility.”

“I learned in my fourth grade classroom that capitalism was supposed to bust mergers, stimulate competition, and prevent monopolies from happening. But this merger isn’t your grandfather’s or grandmother’s capitalism. This merger is extraction capitalism. This merger is trickle up capitalism and we must stand against it,” said Reverend Daniel Willson of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Chesterfield.

“In 2024, NextEra turned off power to about 1.2 million households for not paying their bills,creating a bigger burden for families. Our faith teaches us to stand for those who do not have a voice,” said Reverend Dr. Kevin L. Jones of Ebenezer Baptist Church.”This is a justice issue, my friends. We are standing here today for our elders who are living on a fixed income. 
We are standing here today for those families that can’t make ends meet. We are standing here today with concerned citizens and organizations and our brothers and sisters across the Commonwealth of Virginia. We are here today on one accord—letting our voices be heard, is letting the SCC commissioners know that we do not support this merger, and neither should they.”

The proposed merger would place Dominion Energy under the control of Florida-based NextEra Energy, a move that would create the largest energy corporation in the country. The looming threat of the merger has prompted significant concern from community members and public officials about rising electricity prices, corporate accountability, and who will bear the costs of Virginia’s growing energy demand. The faith leaders who gathered at the SCC today brought a moral dimension to the broader concerns, framing their opposition to the merger as a matter of economic justice, human dignity, and the ethical responsibility to care for neighbors.

Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1NJQ11tWs0u2WOG2BKgSp7TGrIVBTt4XB

Video of Rally: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Q18uoyQ72/ 

Please credit photos/videos to Progress VA unless otherwise specified.

Contact: Kelsey Cowger, kelsey@progressva.org, 434-484-2795

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SOURCE Progress Virginia