A Cautionary Tale for SC Decision Makers

charges Dominion Energy was reaping, it drafted legislation which used “grid modernization” to justify retention of most of these and future overcharges...”

Besa goes on to say that Virginia’s lackluster growth is in part due to the federal budget sequester, but argues you cannot take billions of dollars out of the pockets of ratepayers and the local economy to help one company without impacting economic growth.

“3.Corrupting impact of influence peddling by Dominion Energy

...“Dominion Energy is already known as the largest corporate contributor in Virginia politics. But outside of the company’s giving, individual executives and employees bundle donations to state lawmakers from their own pockets in an artful display of power.”

In conclusion, Besa states SC faces difficult choices in addressing the failed nuclear project of SCE&G. He feels it is critical that the members of the SC General Assembly exercise due diligence in vetting the track record of any suitors for SCANA’s remaining assets, including exclusive right to serve its electricity customers.

Glen Besa, Sierra Club Virginia

Director, Retired

“1. Dominion Rate Scamming

Repeatedly over the past several years Dominion has used its influence with the Virginia General Assembly to bypass or short circuit review of Rate Adjustment Clauses (RAC) by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), the body that regulates electric utilities in Virginia.

• In 2014, even before securing SCC or Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval for a new nuclear reactor… in Virginia, Dominion received Virginia General Assembly approval to recover $300 million for developmental costs of the reactor from its Virginia ratepayers. (SB459)

• In 2015, Senate Bill 1349 allowed Dominion to retain its ratepayer overcharges estimated to amount to as much as $1 billion over the period 2015-2020 by blocking the SCC from ordering refunds. Even before this bill past, state law crafted by Dominion allowed it to retain 30% of all overcharges.

• This year, in response to increasing public criticism over the $1 billion in over-