History of Dominion Energy in Timeline
Dominion Energy, Inc. is a Richmond, Virginia-based American energy company. It provides electricity to portions of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as well as natural gas to portions of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Dominion also operates power plants in Indiana, Illinois, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
1901: Formation of Virginia Passenger & Power Company
Marking a significant step in the company's early history, the water rights of the Upper Appomattox Company were transferred to the newly established Virginia Passenger & Power Company in 1901.
June 29, 1909: Founding of Virginia Railway & Power Company
On June 29, 1909, Frank Jay Gould established the Virginia Railway & Power Company, a direct ancestor of Dominion Energy. Shortly after its formation, the company acquired Virginia Passenger & Power.
1925: Name Change to Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO)
In 1925, Virginia Railway & Power Company underwent a name change to become Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO), operating as a regulated monopoly.
1940: VEPCO's Expansion Through Merger
VEPCO significantly expanded its service area in 1940 by merging with the Virginia Public Service Company, effectively doubling its reach.
1944: Divestiture of Transit Operations
VEPCO made a strategic decision to divest its transit operations in 1944, focusing on its core energy business.
1980: Introduction of "Virginia Power" and "North Carolina Power" Brands
In 1980, VEPCO adopted new branding, using "Virginia Power" for its operations in Virginia and "North Carolina Power" for its operations in North Carolina.
1985: Separation of Distribution Operations
In 1985, Dominion restructured its operations by dividing its distribution activities between two operating companies: Virginia Power, serving Virginia and West Virginia's Greenbrier Valley, and North Carolina Power, responsible for North Carolina.
1986: Expansion in Northern Virginia
Dominion broadened its footprint in Northern Virginia in 1986 through the acquisition of Potomac Electric Power Company's (PEPCO) Virginia distribution territory.
1987: Sale of West Virginia Assets and Retention of Mount Storm Power Station
Dominion divested its assets in West Virginia to Utilicorp United in 1987, which subsequently adopted the brand name West Virginia Power. However, Dominion retained ownership of the Mount Storm Power Station in West Virginia.
1999: Acquisition of West Virginia Power by Allegheny Energy
West Virginia Power changed hands in 1999, becoming part of Allegheny Energy and merging into its subsidiary, Monongahela Power. Allegheny Energy's subsidiaries, including Monongahela Power, were later acquired by FirstEnergy in 2010.
2000: Acquisition of Consolidated Natural Gas Company (CNG)
Dominion expanded its presence in the natural gas sector in 2000 by acquiring Consolidated Natural Gas Company (CNG) based in Pittsburgh. This strategic move added natural gas service to Dominion's portfolio in energy-intensive markets across the Northeastern U.S.
2000: Rebranding to Dominion
In 2000, Dominion streamlined its brand identity by rebranding all its operations, including Virginia Power, North Carolina Power, and Consolidated Gas, under the unified name "Dominion." This rebranding aimed to present a cohesive image of the company.
2001: Acquisition of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Company
Continuing its expansion in the natural gas sector, Dominion acquired Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Company in 2001, further strengthening its natural gas delivery network.
2001: Dominion Cove Point LNG Reopens Amidst Safety Concerns
In 2001, when Dominion's subsidiary, Dominion Cove Point LNG, was set to reopen, local residents voiced concerns about its close proximity to the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. The residents argued that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had not adequately considered the risks associated with a potential attack or explosion at the LNG facility, given its proximity to a nuclear power plant.
2002: Dominion's Toxic Emissions Reported to the EPA
In 2002, Dominion reported its emissions of various toxic substances to the EPA, as required under environmental regulations. The reported emissions included significant quantities of gastrointestinal or liver toxicants, musculoskeletal toxicants, suspected respiratory toxicants, and suspected skin or sense organ toxicants. This reporting provided valuable data for assessing the company's environmental impact and potential risks to human health and the environment.
2003: EPA and Dominion Engage in Dispute over Brayton Point Power Station Discharges
In 2003, a dispute arose between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Dominion Energy regarding the discharge permits for the Brayton Point Power Station. The EPA aimed to reduce the plant's impact on the receiving water body, Mount Hope Bay, by imposing stricter limits on thermal discharges and water intake.
2005: Dominion Shows Progress in Reducing Toxic Emissions
In 2005, Dominion Resources demonstrated progress in reducing its toxic emissions, as reflected in its improved ranking on the Toxic Release Inventory. The company's Toxic Score, which quantifies its environmental impact from pollutant releases, indicated a reduction compared to previous years, signifying efforts to minimize its environmental footprint.
2005: Washington Gas Raises Concerns About Dominion's Imported Natural Gas
In 2005, Washington Gas raised concerns about the quality of natural gas imported at Dominion's Cove Point LNG plant, claiming the gas was "too hot." They argued that the gas, containing fewer heavy hydrocarbons and burning hotter, was causing problems for their customers and leading to main breaks. Dominion, however, denied these claims and asserted that expanding the service area for the imported gas would not increase leaks in the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia.
February 13, 2007: Dominion Proposes Transmission Line Route Change
On February 13, 2007, The Washington Post reported that Dominion planned to change the route of a 500 kV transmission line. This decision aimed to address concerns from critics in Northern Virginia who opposed the initial route through protected forests and farmland. The new route sought to bypass these areas by running alongside existing power lines.
December 2007: Dominion Settles EPA Dispute over Brayton Point Power Station
In December 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reached a settlement with Dominion Energy regarding the Brayton Point Power Station in Mount Hope Bay, which flows into Narragansett Bay. The settlement required the power plant to install new closed-cycle cooling towers to mitigate the environmental impact on aquatic life, resolving a dispute that had begun in 2003.
2007: Dominion Divests Majority of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Assets
Dominion made a strategic move in 2007 to prioritize its electric generation and energy distribution, transmission, storage, and retail businesses. This led to the sale of a substantial portion of its oil and natural gas exploration and production assets, primarily located in Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina.
2007: Divestiture of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Assets
In 2007, Dominion made a strategic decision to refocus on its core electric and gas operations. As part of this shift, the company sold a significant portion of its Houston-based natural gas and oil exploration and production business. The sale, generating pre-tax proceeds of nearly $14 billion, involved separate transactions with Loews Corporation and XTO Energy for onshore US oil and gas reserves, Eni for Gulf of Mexico reserves, and two Canadian trusts for Canadian reserves. Despite this divestiture, Dominion retained some production areas in Appalachia.
February 15, 2008: Dominion's Transmission Line Proposal Approved
On February 15, 2008, the SCC approved Dominion's controversial proposal for a 230 kV transmission line in Loudoun County. The approval allowed for 1.8 miles of above-ground construction along a wooded portion of the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail, a decision that sparked concerns about environmental and historical impacts.
March 5, 2008: Virginia General Assembly Orders Underground Transmission Line Construction
On March 5, 2008, in a unanimous decision, both the Senate and House of Delegates of the Virginia General Assembly passed emergency legislation requiring Dominion to bury a section of their proposed 230 kV transmission line. The legislation, prompted by concerns about the above-ground construction's impact on the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail, mandated underground construction for a 1.8-mile stretch.
April 2, 2008: Governor Kaine Approves Underground Transmission Line Legislation
On April 2, 2008, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine approved the emergency legislation requiring Dominion to construct a portion of its 230 kV transmission line underground along the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail. This decision aimed to mitigate environmental and historical concerns and marked a significant victory for advocates of undergrounding power lines.
June 2008: Dominion Begins Construction of Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center
In June of 2008, Dominion began constructing a 605 MWe coal-fired power station in Wise County, Virginia.
September 2008: Rainforest Action Network Protests Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center
In September 2008, activists from the Rainforest Action Network blockaded the construction site of Dominion's Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in Wise County. The protest highlighted concerns about the plant's environmental impact, particularly its reliance on coal and its potential contribution to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
October 7, 2008: Dominion's Transmission Line Route Proposal Accepted
On October 7, 2008, Dominion's proposal to change the route of a 500 kV transmission line was accepted by the State Corporation Commission (SCC). The new route was intended to address environmental concerns, but still faced opposition from Congressman Frank Wolf and Governor Tim Kaine, who argued there was no need for the line.
2008: Dominion Improves Toxic Release Inventory Ranking
In 2008, Dominion Resources improved its ranking on the Toxic Release Inventory, moving to 27th from its previous position. The company's Toxic Score, a measure of its environmental impact based on pollutant releases, toxicity, and population exposure, showed a marked reduction compared to earlier reports.
2008: Dominion PAC's Political Contributions
The Dominion Political Action Committee (PAC) donated $539,038 to political campaigns in 2008. The contributions were divided between Republicans (50%) and Democrats (47%).
December 2009: Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center Reaches Halfway Point
By December 2009, the construction of Dominion's Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in Wise County had progressed to the halfway mark. The plant, projected to be operational by mid-2012, was designed to burn a blend of coal and biomass, aiming to reduce its environmental impact while providing power to the region.
2009: Dominion PAC's Political Contributions
In 2009, the Dominion Political Action Committee (PAC) actively contributed to political campaigns in Virginia, donating a total of $814,885. These contributions were distributed with 56% going to Republican candidates and 41% to Democratic candidates.
2010: FirstEnergy Acquires Allegheny Energy Subsidiaries
In 2010, FirstEnergy acquired Allegheny Energy's subsidiaries, including Monongahela Power, which had previously absorbed West Virginia Power.
2010: Publication of "Dominion’s First Century: A Legacy of Service"
In 2010, a commemorative book titled "Dominion’s First Century: A Legacy of Service" was published, documenting the company's 100-year history.
2010: Dominion's Ranking Improves on Toxic Air Pollutants List
In the 2010 Political Economy Research Institute's ranking of corporations emitting airborne pollutants, Dominion Resources secured the 51st position in the United States. This ranking demonstrated a significant improvement in the company's environmental performance compared to previous years.
2012: Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center Projected Completion
In 2012, the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center was projected to be completed. The plant was controversial because it would be fueled by coal and biomass, and although it was slated to be the cleanest coal plant at the time, concerns still lingered over its effect on deforestation, mercury emissions, and support of mountaintop removal coal mining.
February 2016: Announcement of Questar Corporation Acquisition
Dominion Resources publicly announced its intention to acquire Questar Corporation in February 2016.
September 2016: Completion of Questar Corporation Acquisition
Following the announcement earlier in the year, Dominion Resources finalized the acquisition of Questar Corporation in September 2016.
September 2016: Dominion Energy Acquires Questar Corporation
In September 2016, Dominion Energy expanded its operations in the Western United States by acquiring Questar Corporation. This acquisition included assets in parts of Utah and Wyoming.
2016: Dominion PAC's Political Contributions
During the 2016 election cycle, the Dominion PAC contributed a substantial amount, totaling $1,276,016.17, to various political candidates and committees.
2016: Dominion Recognizes Employee Volunteers
In 2016, Dominion selected twelve employees from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia to be recognized in the Benjamin J. Lambert, III, Volunteer of the Year Program.
2017: Dominion Energy Ranked on Fortune 500
Dominion was recognized for its size and performance in 2017 by being listed at #238 on the Fortune 500 list.
2017: Rebranding to Dominion Energy
In 2017, Dominion Resources underwent a rebranding, changing its name to Dominion Energy and introducing a new logo.
2017: Dominion's Volunteer Recognition Program
In 2017, Dominion celebrated the 33rd year of the Benjamin J. Lambert, III, Volunteer of the Year Program. The program recognizes top volunteers by donating $1000 to their charity of choice.
January 2018: Announcement of SCANA Corporation Acquisition
Reuters reported in January 2018 that Dominion Energy had plans to acquire SCANA Corporation in a deal valued at $7.9 billion.
May 2018: Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Despite facing strong opposition from environmental and community heritage groups, construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline officially began with a groundbreaking ceremony in Lewis County, West Virginia, in May 2018.
2018: Launch of "Grid Transformation Program"
Dominion Energy launched an initiative called the "grid transformation program" in the summer of 2018, with the goal of adding 3,000 megawatts of new solar and wind energy capacity by 2022.
January 2019: Completion of SCANA Corporation Acquisition
Dominion Energy successfully completed the acquisition of SCANA Corporation in January 2019.
January 2019: Dominion Energy Completes Acquisition of SCANA Corporation
In January 2019, Dominion Energy finalized a significant acquisition by taking ownership of SCANA Corporation.
July 2020: Cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project
Dominion and Duke Energy jointly decided to cancel the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project in July 2020. The decision was driven by escalating costs resulting from lawsuits, primarily filed by environmental groups opposing the project.
July 2020: Announcement of Asset Sale to Berkshire Hathaway
Dominion announced its plans to sell natural gas transmission and storage assets to Berkshire Hathaway in July 2020. The deal was estimated to be worth approximately $10 billion.
December 2020: Keel Laying for the Charybdis WTIV
A significant milestone for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project was reached in December 2020 with the keel laying for the Charybdis. This vessel, designed to comply with the Jones Act, is a specialized wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) being constructed at Keppel AmFELS shipyards in Brownsville, Texas.
2020: Dominion's COVID-19 Response
In response to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Dominion halted service disconnections for nonpayment and waived late and reconnection fees. The company also provided $1 million in aid through its charitable foundation to organizations assisting with COVID-19 relief, such as the American Red Cross and other local groups.
2021: West Virginia's Critical Infrastructure Protection Act
In 2021, Dominion lobbyists advocated for the West Virginia Critical Infrastructure Protection Act. The law, which created felony charges for protests targeting the oil and gas industries, was passed and was said to be backed by the natural gas industry.
February 2022: Sale of Dominion Energy West Virginia to Hearthstone Utilities Inc.
Dominion Energy sold its subsidiary, Dominion Energy West Virginia, to Hearthstone Utilities Inc. for $690 million in February 2022. Hearthstone continued operations in West Virginia under the new name "Hope Gas."
2022: Dominion Energy's Energy Mix and Renewable Strategy
In 2022, Dominion Energy's electricity production relied on a mix of sources: 18% coal, 23% nuclear, 48% natural gas, and 11% hydro and other renewables. The company is developing a strategy to increase the role of renewable energy sources, including wind and biomass, as well as energy conservation and efficiency programs. This strategy aims to address future energy needs while minimizing environmental impact.
2022: Target Year for Renewable Energy Capacity Addition
The "grid transformation program" launched by Dominion Energy in 2018 set a target of 2022 to achieve the addition of 3,000 megawatts of new solar and wind energy capacity.
September 2023: Enbridge Acquires Gas Distribution Companies from Dominion
In September 2023, Enbridge entered into an agreement to acquire East Ohio Gas, Questar Gas, and Public Service Co. of North Carolina from Dominion. The total enterprise value of this acquisition was $14 billion.
2026: Target Completion Year for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Farm
Dominion's ambitious Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, with an estimated completion date of 2026, aims to have all wind turbines installed and operational by this year.
