Dominion Energy lands in Richmond as NextEra merger faces scrutiny

Dominion Energy’s Gulfstream G450 touched down at Richmond International Airport Thursday after a 79-minute hop from Groton, Connecticut. The flight arrives the same week Virginia energy watchdogs urged rigorous scrutiny of Dominion’s proposed all-stock merger with NextEra Energy, per a report from WHRO [whro.org]. The $67 billion deal, already endorsed by both boards, faces reviews by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, federal regulators, and commissions in the Carolinas — a process that could stretch two years [vpm.org].

The Groton departure is notable; the Connecticut city is home to the Naval Submarine Base and several corporate offices, suggesting meetings with financial or legal advisors as Dominion prepares to file its merger application in the coming weeks. The aircraft’s recent flight log shows trips to South Carolina and Florida, consistent with the multistate regulatory outreach. With a 180-day clock set to start once the Virginia application is filed, the company is likely shuttling executives to line up approvals. For Dominion, already serving 4.1 million customers across three states, the stakes are high: the combined utility would become the world’s largest regulated electric company, as reported by WTVR [wtvr.com].