Dominion's millions for Democrats, and a grid on the edge

RICHMOND, Va. - In September, the grid operator for Virginia told Washington the region was running about 700 megawatts short of its reserve margin, and that the problem was worst in the zone served by Dominion Energy. The company at the center of that zone is also one of the biggest checkbooks in Virginia politics.

PJM Interconnection's Sept. 16 application for a federal emergency order said strain was "experienced most acutely in BGE, PEPCO, and Dominion zones." Energy Secretary Chris Wright granted Order No. 202-26-45 the next day. It let PJM run listed plants past their pollution limits and order large power users onto backup diesel generators before any rolling blackouts.

Where the money goes

Virginia has no limit on corporate political contributions. Records compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project show Dominion's 20 largest Democratic recipients in the 2025-26 cycle took at least $8.42 million.

That list includes Shannon Taylor's attorney general campaign ($775,000), Underground to Uplift PAC ($755,408), Del. Charniele Herring ($625,000), Leaders for an Equitable Tomorrow PAC ($601,612), Speaker Don Scott ($600,409), Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell ($600,000), Sen. Mamie Locke ($600,000), Virginia Future Generations PAC ($600,000) and Levar Stoney ($427,604), according to VPAP.

In 2023-24, VPAP shows the top 20 Democratic recipients took at least $7.15 million, led by Don Scott at $1.12 million and Mamie Locke at $750,000.

Republicans take Dominion money too. VPAP shows the company's top 20 GOP recipients took about $5.58 million in 2025-26 and $5.06 million in 2023-24, led by Attorney General Jason Miyares at $1.42 million. Virginia Scope, using VPAP data, reports Dominion has given nearly $18 million to Democrats and more than $15 million to Republicans since 2018.

Federally, Dominion Energy PAC gave $117,800 to Democratic candidates in 2023-24, 32.7% of its candidate giving, plus $162,500 to Democratic PACs and party committees, according to OpenSecrets.

These figures come from VPAP and OpenSecrets compilations and have not been independently re-verified against state filings.

Why it matters now

The Democratic leaders at the top of Dominion's list control the legislature that sets Virginia's energy policy. In 2020, a Democratic General Assembly passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act. It requires Dominion Energy Virginia to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2045 and sets a schedule for retiring carbon-emitting plants in Virginia, according to the Legislative Information System summary of HB 1526.

DOE's order doesn't blame that law, or any single cause, for September's shortfall. PJM cited heat, about 33,191 megawatts of generation offline for maintenance, transmission limits and exports. But when the grid needed help, the record shows what answered: Dominion's Mount Storm coal plant in West Virginia ran one unit for 12 hours under the waiver, and six diesel backup units in Ashburn ran 8 to 10 hours.

The morning of Sept. 17, PJM told DOE that "a critical generation facility that supports the affected Zones" had gone offline. It hasn't named it.

The questions for leadership

Speaker Scott and Majority Leader Surovell are among the largest Democratic recipients of Dominion money. Voters can fairly ask them three things. Do they accept that the Dominion zone was among the most stressed in PJM in September? What will they change to keep it from happening again? And will Dominion's giving shape that answer?

The order also says rate recovery for the emergency "is available" through federal tariff filings. When those costs reach Virginia bills, the same lawmakers will be the ones voters hold responsible.

The State Corporation Commission, whose commissioners are elected by the General Assembly, was copied on the order. No public SCC statement on it was found.

Documents

The order, PJM's application, its supplemental letter and Exhibit A are posted on the Department of Energy's 202(c) page for Order No. 202-26-45 at energy.gov. PJM's daily compliance report for Sept. 17 is posted at pjm.com.