Choice state: you can pick a supplierVirginia Electricity Rates
Rate data for Virginia is being refreshed. The regulator and market facts below are current; figures return with the next data load.
Can you choose your electricity supplier in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia opened its retail electricity market in 2007 under Virginia Energy Choice, so you can buy the supply portion of your bill from a competitive supplier while your utility keeps delivering the power and handling outages.
ElectricRates.org does not yet list Virginia plans. We add states as our enrollment partner brings their utilities online; you can compare and switch today in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington DC.
Rates and rules are overseen by the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Major utilities: Dominion Energy, Appalachian Power. Grid operator: PJM Interconnection.
Get notified when Virginia plans go live
One email when you can compare and switch here. Nothing else.
Notify meVirginia looks like a choice state on paper, but a mover cannot shop for a cheaper supplier: Code § 56-577 limits retail choice to customers over five megawatts and to 100 percent renewable offers where the incumbent has none, so you stay with Dominion, Appalachian Power or your co-op, where the one lever on cost is a program like PIPP (bill capped at 6–10% of income, no deposit) or Dominion's smart-meter-only Off-Peak Plan.
Who will deliver your power in Virginia
The utility is fixed by your address. These are the largest in the state, with what each says it needs from a new customer.
Dominion Energy Virginiainvestor-owned
Investor-owned utility serving Virginia; the Dominion pages cited here do not describe the regions it serves.
Dominion says new residential customers need the new street address (with unit number), full legal name, Social Security Number and email; the meter number is helpful but not required. Service orders are worked Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. excluding holidays, a $5.70 connection charge appears on the first bill, and it asks you to give as much notice as possible. New customers (or anyone without a satisfactory 12-month payment history) pay a security deposit, typically two times the average bill or $260 if usage is unknown, billed in three installments and refunded as a bill credit 12 months after it is paid in full.
Start service with Dominion Energy Virginia →Sources: dominionenergy.com, dominionenergy.com
Appalachian Powerinvestor-owned
34 counties across an 11,000 square-mile territory in central and southwestern Virginia; an AEP company headquartered in Charleston, W.Va. About nearly 530,000 customers in Virginia (per AEP).
You start service online by searching your address or 7-to-10-digit meter number. Giving a Social Security number is optional and is used to verify credit history; a deposit or other security will be required if that verification cannot be performed, and your credit history determines whether a deposit is required or can be reduced. Deposits are normally required of new customers and are based on heat type or usage history at the address; in Virginia you can instead provide a letter of credit from another utility showing at least 12 months of on-time payments or use the Virginia Department of Social Services security-deposit guarantor option. The deposit earns interest at a rate set annually by the SCC (if held at least six months) and is applied to your account after twelve consecutive bills are paid on time.
Start service with Appalachian Power →Sources: appalachianpower.com, appalachianpower.com, aep.com, appalachianpower.com
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC)cooperative
22 counties in central and northern Virginia including Albemarle, Caroline, Spotsylvania and Warren; offices in Fredericksburg and three other locations. About more than 184,000 connections (per REC).
REC takes start-service requests for existing homes through an online form (name, service address, start date, contact) and says to allow one full business day for a callback because it must phone you before processing; residential members can also call 800-552-3904, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. A deposit may be required but cannot exceed your estimated liability for the two highest-usage months of the last 12, is payable in three or more monthly installments, is held at least one year and is credited back with SCC-set interest after 12 months of on-time payments; it can be waived with a letter of credit from your previous utility showing no more than two late payments in 12 months, a final bill showing good credit, or an acceptable credit report.
Start service with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative →Sources: myrec.coop, myrec.coop, myrec.coop
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC)cooperative
Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford counties plus the City of Manassas Park and the Town of Clifton, headquartered in Manassas. About more than 180,000 homes and businesses (per NOVEC).
New customers moving into a home that already has electric facilities apply online or call the Customer Care Center at 703-335-0500, Monday through Friday 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The first bill carries a one-time refundable $1 membership fee and a nonrefundable $40 service connection fee, plus a security deposit of up to $300 if required (capped at an estimated two months of usage), payable in full or in three monthly installments and refunded as a credit on the 13th bill after 12 consecutive months in good standing.
Start service with Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative →Deposits, ID, and supplier choice in Virginia
Deposits. SCC rules let a utility request a deposit because service is billed in arrears, but the request is capped at the estimated liability for two months of usage; residential customers must be allowed to pay a large deposit in three installments, and the deposit is refunded after one year of on-time payments. (scc.virginia.gov)
Choosing a supplier. Virginia Code § 56-577 limits retail choice to nonresidential customers whose peak demand exceeded five megawatts and, for everyone else, to buying 100 percent renewable supply from a licensed supplier only if the incumbent utility does not offer an approved 100 percent renewable tariff; Dominion offers its own 100% Renewable Energy option (Rider TRG) for 1.36 cents per kWh on top of standard rates. Licensed competitive service providers are listed by the SCC, which says current offerings must be obtained from each provider directly.
A utility must give at least 10 calendar days' written notice before a possible disconnection date, either on the bill or in a separate mailing; the SCC advises paying in full or asking about payment arrangements rather than waiting until service is cut off. The SCC does not adjudicate damage claims, which go to the utility first and then the courts.
Sources: scc.virginia.gov, law.lis.virginia.gov, scc.virginia.gov, scc.virginia.gov, dominionenergy.com
Help paying an electric bill in Virginia
Energy Assistance Program (EAP) — Virginia's LIHEAP
Virginia Department of Social Services (apply online through CommonHelp, by phone, or on a paper form; your local department of social services is the contact)
Households with a heating or cooling expense and gross monthly income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level; Cooling Assistance also requires a vulnerable member (age 60 or older, disabled, or a child under 6). Fuel Assistance applications run from the second Tuesday in October to the second Friday in November, Crisis Assistance November 1 to March 15 (equipment and security deposits) and January to March 15 (fuel and utility bills), and Cooling Assistance June 15 to August 17; apply through CommonHelp, by phone at 855-635-4370, or on paper.
Sources: dss.virginia.gov, liheapch.acf.gov
Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP)
Virginia Department of Social Services, for Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power electric accounts
Dominion Energy or APCo/AEP customers with an active electric account and household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Your electric bill is capped at 10% of income if you heat with electricity or 6% otherwise ($10 a month with no income), PIPP customers pay no security deposit and no late fees, and 12 consecutive on-time payments wipe out the past-due balance; apply through CommonHelp or a local DSS office with 30 days of income proof, your current bill and household Social Security numbers.
Sources: dss.virginia.gov, dominionenergy.com
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, delivered by local providers
Income-eligible households (limits are in a PDF linked from the page); the program installs air sealing, insulation, ventilation fans, duct repair and heating/cooling repairs or replacement but does not help pay utility bills. DHCD says to contact the local provider for the county where the home is located to apply, or email WAP@dhcd.virginia.gov / call 804-371-7000.
Sources: dhcd.virginia.gov, dss.virginia.gov
Dominion Energy Virginia with local agencies (referral via 2-1-1)
A heating and cooling assistance program for low-income households whose heating help applies to any heat source; supported by donations from utility stockholders, employees and customers, businesses, churches and civic groups, with matching funds and administrative costs paid by the utility; call 2-1-1 for a referral to your local EnergyShare agency.
Source: liheapch.acf.gov
Appalachian Power Neighbor to Neighbor
Dollar Energy Fund on behalf of Appalachian Power
Appalachian Power customers experiencing financial hardship; eligible customers receive a utility assistance grant applied directly to their bill.
Source: liheapch.acf.gov
Programs that change what you pay
- Rooftop solar (net metering)available
- Virginia Code § 56-594 (version effective January 1, 2027) defines an eligible residential customer-generator as having capacity of not more than 25 kilowatts, with surplus purchased at the Commission-approved standard contract rate under a power purchase agreement. Dominion credits excess energy against future usage and carries monthly surplus forward, requires the system to be sized at no more than 150% of expected annual consumption, lists Schedules 1, 1S and 1G as its residential net-metering-compatible rate schedules (non-time-of-use or demand-based time-of-use schedules qualify), and applies standby charges above 20 kW AC; apply with the Net Metering Interconnection Notification form.
Sources: law.lis.virginia.gov, dominionenergy.com
- Community solaravailable
- Under the state Shared Solar Program, Dominion retail customers (renters included) buy a subscription from a licensed subscriber organization and get a bill credit for their share of an offsite facility's output, subject to a minimum bill that low-income customers are exempt from; the first part of the program's capacity is capped at 200 MW and a 2026 amendment authorized an additional 525 MW, while Appalachian Power (the Phase I utility) runs its own shared solar program under § 56-594.4. Dominion's separate Community Solar pilot (blocks of 100 kWh at $2.013 or a 100% match at 2.013 cents per kWh) reports its first facility fully subscribed.
Sources: dominionenergy.com, scc.virginia.gov, scc.virginia.gov, energy.virginia.gov, dominionenergy.com
- Time-of-use ratesavailable
- Dominion's voluntary Off-Peak Plan is open to Virginia residential customers who already have a smart meter and are not in a demand-response program; it has super off-peak (midnight to 5 a.m.), off-peak and on-peak tiers in summer (May–September) and winter (October–April) seasons, posted at $0.310059/kWh summer weekday on-peak down to $0.133130/kWh summer super off-peak, with the same $7.58 basic charge. You can disenroll any time without penalty but cannot opt back in for 12 months.
Source: dominionenergy.com
Questions people ask before moving to Virginia
How far ahead should I set up electricity before moving to Virginia?
None of these three utilities' start-service pages gives a fixed lead time: Dominion asks for as much notice as possible and works service orders Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding holidays, while REC says to allow one full business day for a callback before it processes an online request. NOVEC's Customer Care Center takes calls Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., so plan on requesting service at least a few business days ahead.
Sources: dominionenergy.com, myrec.coop, novec.com
Will I have to pay a deposit as a new customer?
Usually yes: SCC rules cap any deposit at the estimated liability for two months of usage and require residential customers be allowed three installments, with a refund after one year of on-time payments. Dominion's is typically two times the average bill or $260 if usage is unknown, NOVEC's is up to $300, and REC and Appalachian Power will accept a letter of credit from your previous utility covering 12 months of payment history in place of a deposit (REC also accepts a final bill showing good credit or an acceptable credit report).
Sources: scc.virginia.gov, dominionenergy.com, novec.com, myrec.coop, appalachianpower.com
Can I shop for a cheaper electricity supplier in Virginia?
Not as a household: Virginia Code § 56-577 opens retail choice only to nonresidential customers with peak demand over five megawatts, and lets other customers buy from a licensed supplier only for 100 percent renewable supply and only where the incumbent utility has no approved 100 percent renewable tariff. Dominion sells its own 100% Renewable Energy option (Rider TRG) for an extra 1.36 cents per kWh, cancellable any time without penalty.
Sources: law.lis.virginia.gov, scc.virginia.gov, dominionenergy.com
What does electricity cost in Virginia?
EIA's 2024 state profile puts Virginia's average retail price across all sectors at 10.62 cents per kWh, ranked 38th nationally, with natural gas the primary generation source. Dominion says a customer on its basic residential rate typically pays between 16 and 18 cents per kWh plus a $7.58 monthly basic charge.
Sources: eia.gov, dominionenergy.com
What help is there if I can't afford my electric bill?
Households at or below 150% of the federal poverty level can apply to the Virginia DSS Energy Assistance Program (Fuel, Crisis and Cooling components, with Crisis able to cover a utility security deposit from November 1 to March 15) through CommonHelp or 855-635-4370. Dominion and Appalachian Power customers at the same income level can enroll in PIPP, which caps the electric bill at 10% of income (6% if you do not heat with electricity), waives the security deposit and late fees, and forgives the past-due balance after 12 on-time payments.
Sources: dss.virginia.gov, dss.virginia.gov, dominionenergy.com
I rent an apartment — can I still get solar credits on my bill?
Yes, through Virginia's Shared Solar Program: Dominion retail customers subscribe to an offsite facility through a licensed subscriber organization and receive a bill credit for their share of its output without any panels on the roof, though a minimum bill still applies unless you qualify as low-income. Virginia Energy notes the program is open to renters, condo owners and homeowners alike.
Sources: dominionenergy.com, energy.virginia.gov
Researched 2026-10-15 from utility, regulator, and agency pages; every statement links to where it was read. Rules change: confirm deposits and program dates with the utility or agency before you rely on them.
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