Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced on Thursday that she will intervene in the merger deal between NextEra and Dominion Energy. This unusual move comes amid growing voter discontent over rising electricity bills.

Florida-based NextEra agreed in May to acquire Dominion Energy for nearly $67 billion. If completed, the deal would create the world's largest regulated electric utility. Dominion Energy is the utility supplying power to Northern Virginia, the largest data center market globally.

Spanberger won the 2025 gubernatorial election partly on a promise to address voter concerns about data centers driving up electricity costs. In a commentary published in The Washington Post, she expressed clear skepticism: "As a Virginian, I have deep doubts about whether selling our primary state-regulated utility to an out-of-state company is beneficial for the state. I have serious questions about what this deal means for us."

She further emphasized: "If two large companies can reap financial benefits from this merger, then the Virginians who pay the bills should also benefit. Therefore, any potential deal must deliver more affordable electricity rates and achieve sustained, long-term energy cost savings."

The Virginia State Corporation Commission is responsible for reviewing the transaction and can approve, reject, or impose conditions on it. Spanberger's office noted that this is the first time a governor has intervened in the case before the commission's formal review. The intervention will allow the governor's office to raise concerns, request information, and articulate the benefits residents expect from the deal.