Dominion Energy provides energy and gas service to customers in multiple states. Unfortunately, their website is dreadful and, as Deborah observed, their customer service isn’t spectacular.
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Deborah wrote:
“Bless you for creating this site! I live in Virginia Beach and the only electrical company we have here is Dominion Energy.
I phoned them and asked if they offered any temporary relief as I could not pay the current bill and they gave me a 211 number to call for assistance in Virginia. When I phoned they asked my zip code and gave me names of local churches that may be able to give me cash to pay my delinquent bill. Not what I was looking for.
They cut off my power… If you could find any helpful information regarding Dominion Energy, I’d really appreciate it.”
It seriously drives me crazy when companies treat their customers like that… because we KNOW there’s help out there for Dominion Energy customers in Virginia!
Make sure you’re on the best rate plan for your household!
The standard rate for electrical service includes a $7 per month basic customer charge and a base rate for the first 800 kWh of energy used. Customers who use more than 800 kWh will pay a higher rate for the rest of the energy they consume.
If you can avoid using energy during peak hours, you may prefer the Energy Time of Use plan. This plan includes a $12 per month basic customer charge but far lower rates for energy used during off-peak hours. Peak hours are between 11am – 10pm on weekdays in the summer (June 1 to September 30). Throughout the rest of the year, peak hours are between 7am – 11am and 5pm – 9pm on weekdays.
If you can avoid using multiple appliances at one time, you may be better served by the Demand Time of Use plan. This plan has a $12 per month basic customer charge. However, the kWh rates are much lower during most hours of the day and when the demand is low. The calculations are complicated but can be found here if you’re interested.
Check out these helpful payment options!
It can be hard to budget for the seasonally high bills that spike in the heat of summer and the cold of winter. Budget Billing can help with that! They’ll average the last 12 months of usage and charge you a consistent amount every month. You’ll be paying more in the cheap months but you won’t have to wrestle with those seasonal spikes that can break a low income budget!
Dominion Energy offers short-term payment extensions to customers who need a little more time to pay their bill. Extensions are not available to those on the budget billing or bank draft programs. There are no fees to get an extension but eligibility depends on the status of your account.
If you need even more time, a long-term payment plan may be available to you. Your past due balance can be divided into equal payments for up to six months! You will need to pay your current bill in addition to the past-due balance each month. These plans require a down payment. Late charges will continue to accrue on the balance. Be careful, though – if you don’t honor the terms of this agreement, you will not be able to get another payment plan for the next 12 months!
Whenever possible, pay your bill online! Dominion Energy charges an additional $1.50 to accept in-person payments or $1.65 to accept payment over the phone.
If you have a hard time reading your bill, Dominion offers large-print and braille bills at no additional cost. Call 866-366-4357 to request these special billing options.
You can also designated a third party (such as a friend, relative or caretaker) to receive notice before your power is disconnected.
Deborah wrote:
“I asked where the $1.00 Energy Share donation went to that they requested on every bill and the person I was speaking with ‘had no idea’. She sounded really bored with the whole call but did thank me for calling. I replied in kind. At least she didn’t hang up on me, right?!”
EnergyShare is a program that Dominion Energy offers to customers facing a financial hardship. The program specifically caters to customers who are low income, elderly, disabled or military veterans who are having trouble paying their bills.
EnergyShare also offers a helpful weatherization program that provides free home improvements that can help low income customers save money on their future bills. These lasting energy-efficiency improvements include LED light bulbs, energy-efficient showerheads, faucet aerators, hot water pipe insulation, furnace fan motors, heat pump and A/C tune-ups and more.
The donations that are made to EnergyShare are set aside for eligible customers. Local community action agencies screen customers for eligibility and awarded pledges from the fund. You can click here to find your local agency – you’ll need to call them to schedule an application appointment!
Get help staying warm – or cool – with these helpful programs!
The state of Virginia also offers several programs that can assist with your Dominion Energy bill. These programs include fuel assistance, crisis assistance, cooling assistance and more!
Fuel assistance helps homes with heating costs. You can opt to use these funds toward your Dominion Energy bill or for delivery of alternative fuels. Applications are accepted and processed between the 2nd Tuesday in October and the 2nd Friday in November.
Emergency fuel assistance applications are processed between January 1 and March 15.
Crisis assistance helps homes with a heating emergency. Applications are processed between November 1 and March 15. This program can assist with heating equipment repair/replacement, supplemental heating equipment, security deposits and more.
Cooling assistance is available between June 15 and August 15. These funds can be used to purchase or repair cooling equipment, pay security deposits or pay your energy bill! To qualify, your household must include a child under the age of six or a vulnerable adult who is at least 60 years old.
The Virginia Fan Care program distributes FREE fans to low income adults who are at least 60 years old. This program is administered by the local Area Agency on Aging. Call (800) 552-3402 for more information.
Weatherization assistance is also available from the state! This program provides assistance with minor home repairs and improvements that can help you save money on your power bill each month. Insulation, air sealing and more are available! Like EnergyShare, this program is administered by local community action agencies. See the list here!
Save money on your Dominion Energy bill with these helpful programs.
Dominion Energy offers a number of helpful energy calculators that can help you determine why your energy bill costs so much. These calculators can also help you identify ways to cut back and save money on your electrical usage! Check out the Home Energy Saver, Appliance Energy Use Calculator and Holiday Lighting Calculator.
If you own your home and have a central air conditioner, you can participate in the Smart Cooling Rewards program! This program awards up to $40 in bill credits in addition to monthly savings. When you enroll, Dominion Energy will install an A/C cycling switch on your home’s cooling system. During high demand days, the system will cycle on and off. Your fan will continue to blow already-cooled air but the cooling unit won’t always be running. Cycling times only occur on weekdays and usually last 2-4 hours.
Find more ways to save money on your energy bill by clicking here!
Click here to see everything we know about saving money in Virginia!
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.