Reliable Energy

After years of the review, the project has received approval from federal officials at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as state regulators and James City County for the switching station. This paves the way for Virginians on the Peninsula to have cleaner energy and continued reliability for years to come.

Construction on the Skiffes Creek transmission line is underway. We are making great progress and expect to complete the project by summer 2019. Until the line is completed, the Peninsula remains at a higher risk of power outages, especially during unseasonable or extreme temperatures. While Dominion Energy will do everything we can to serve customers safely and reliably, there’s only so much that’s possible until more electricity can be brought to the Peninsula. As we continue working, here a few things you can do to help keep the lights on:

• Raise your thermostat to 78 degrees
• Keep shades closed when the air conditioner is on
• Wash dishes and clothes in the early morning or late evening

Click here to see more ways to conserve.

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Cleaner Air, Cleaner Energy

Dominion Energy plans to build a new transmission line that will bring energy from cleaner sources to power the Peninsula. It’s the best choice to comply with federal environmental laws and cut carbon and other emissions by hundreds of thousands of tons each year.

Preserving America’s Historic Sites

The towers will be out of sight of Historic Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg and the Yorktown Battlefield. Even from the eastern end of Jamestown Island, the line will be more than three miles away, putting it far on the horizon. The crossing is at the same spot of the river where you can see amusement park rides, a sewage treatment plant and Surry Power Station.

The Best Option

Dozens of experts considered numerous alternatives to bring clean power to the Peninsula—electrical engineers, environmental specialists, the Virginia State Corporation Commission, the Virginia Supreme Court and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They looked at solar, wind, and natural gas options, underground gas lines, and even retooling the aging coal units at Yorktown Power Station.

The facts consistently proved these options wouldn’t work. Some were too tough on the environment or cultural sites. Others were unable to deliver enough power. Still others would cost too much and take too long to build. Experts agree that the Surry-Skiffes Creek transmission line is the best option to power the Peninsula, with the least environmental impact and lowest costs to customers.