What rising Dominion rates could cost you
Dominion rates have risen about 2.7% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at Dominion's historical average rate increase (2.7% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
A moderate rate, a large footprint
Dominion Energy Virginia's average residential electricity price has risen from 11.06 cents per kWh in 2015 to 14.09 cents in 2024, an increase of about 27 percent, or roughly 2.7 percent per year. The chart shows Dominion's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
Virginia's two-tier net metering, and where Dominion sits
Dominion (Phase II utility)
Systems can be sized up to 150 percent of expected annual consumption, the more generous of the two Virginia tiers. The catch: Dominion may levy a standby charge, about $4.19 per kW distribution plus $1.32 per kW transmission, on residential systems whose capacity exceeds 20 kW, though most homes stay under that.
Appalachian Power (Phase I utility)
Sizing is capped at 100 percent of annual use, but no residential standby charge is allowed. Same 1:1 retail crediting, different sizing ceiling and standby treatment. The Phase I and II labels, set in state law, are what split the two Virginia utilities.
Current residential rates
Dominion residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule 1 Residential Service (standard) | Base components: distribution about 3.6c per kWh (first 800 kWh); generation about 3.0c to 4.6c depending on season; transmission about 1.0c per kWh | $7.58 per month basic customer charge |
| Time-of-use options (Schedules 1T, 1EV) | Prices vary by time of day; see Dominion's rate schedules | see schedule |
The Schedule 1 figures are base rate components. Fuel and various riders bring the all-in price to about 14.1 cents per kWh in 2024 per EIA. In its 2025 biennial review (Case PUR-2025-00058), the Virginia State Corporation Commission approved base rate increases that raise a typical 1,000 kWh residential bill by about $11 per month in 2026. Confirm current figures on Dominion's rate pages.
Retail-rate net metering, still intact
Virginia keeps retail-rate net metering under Va. Code 56-594, and Dominion credits exported solar on a 1:1 basis, each exported kWh offsets a kWh you would otherwise buy. Dominion is a Phase II utility, so a residential system can be sized up to 150 percent of your expected annual consumption, with a hard statutory cap of 25 kW for residential. Monthly net excess rolls forward, and any excess remaining at the 12-month true-up can be purchased under an optional power purchase agreement at a Commission-approved rate. One Dominion-specific detail: systems whose capacity exceeds 20 kW can be charged a distribution standby charge of about $4.19 per kW plus a transmission standby charge of about $1.32 per kW, though most residential systems fall under that threshold. The statewide net metering program is capped at 6 percent of each utility's prior-year peak load. Whether solar makes sense depends on your usage, roof, and rate plan, so get a site-specific quote.
Good netting, middling rates
Dominion's appeal is that its net metering still works the old-fashioned way: exports bank against retail on a 1:1 basis, so a well-sized system captures full value without needing a battery for the economics. The 150 percent sizing headroom lets you build a little ahead of future usage.
The tempering factor is the rate level. Dominion's all-in price is around 14 cents, moderate rather than punishing, so each offset kWh saves less than it would on a high-rate California utility, and payback runs longer. Watch the 20 kW standby threshold if you are planning a large system. Get a site-specific quote.
Dominion service area
Dominion serves most of eastern and central Virginia, including Richmond, Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Northern Virginia.
To confirm whether a specific address is served by Dominion, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | Dominion (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 11.06 |
| 2016 | 11.19 |
| 2017 | 11.52 |
| 2018 | 11.66 |
| 2019 | 12.06 |
| 2020 | 12.18 |
| 2021 | 12.13 |
| 2022 | 13.41 |
| 2023 | 13.92 |
| 2024 | 14.09 |
Sources: EIA Form 861 annual data (Sales_Ult_Cust files, 2015-2024) · EIA Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price (Table 6) · Virginia Code 56-594 (net energy metering) · Dominion Energy Virginia net metering · Dominion Schedule 1 Residential Service tariff · Virginia SCC order, Dominion 2025 biennial review
FAQ
Does Dominion Energy Virginia have real net metering?
Yes. Under Virginia Code 56-594, Dominion credits exported solar on a 1:1 basis, each exported kWh offsets a retail kWh you would otherwise buy. As a Phase II utility, Dominion allows residential systems to be sized up to 150 percent of your expected annual consumption, with a statutory cap of 25 kW.
Will Dominion charge me a standby fee for solar?
Only on larger systems. Dominion can impose a standby charge, roughly $4.19 per kW for distribution plus $1.32 per kW for transmission, on residential systems whose capacity exceeds 20 kW. Most residential rooftop systems fall below that threshold and are not affected.
What happens to my extra solar credits at year end?
Monthly net excess rolls forward to offset later bills. Any excess still remaining at the end of your 12-month period can be purchased under an optional power purchase agreement at a rate approved by the State Corporation Commission, so it is not simply lost.
Are Dominion rates rising?
Modestly. Dominion's all-in residential price is around 14 cents per kWh, and the 2025 biennial review approved base rate increases that raise a typical 1,000 kWh bill by about $11 per month in 2026. That is a gentler climb than the steepest utilities on this site.