(The Center Square) – Virginia lawmakers questioned Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy executives Tuesday about employee protections, financial safeguards and clean energy requirements under the proposed acquisition.

Dominion Energy Virginia President Ed Baine and NextEra Vice Chairman Armando Pimentel briefed the Energy Commission of Virginia. Members also asked about records involving alleged political misconduct in Florida.

Baine reviewed commitments announced Sept. 14 including the proposed $10 monthly residential bill credits for four years and another $100 million for EnergyShare assistance through 2038. He said the expanded credits would redirect money previously planned for data centers and add shareholder funding.

Baine said NextEra would add 600 jobs in Virginia, along with 400 supplier jobs and a shareholder-funded headquarters tower beside Dominion’s existing headquarters. The commitments depend on the acquisition receiving approval.

Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, D-Henrico, asked about long-term job security. Baine said employees’ jobs would remain unchanged for 18 months and their compensation for 24 months. He also cited a five-year commitment to maintain a minimum number of employees in Virginia.

Commission Chairman Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, asked about safeguards involving dividend payments and whether affiliated companies could gain an advantage when competing for utility projects.

Pimentel said Dominion Energy Virginia would retain separate management, its current board and its own finance and treasury operations. Its funds would remain separate from those of NextEra and its other subsidiaries, he said.

Discussing NextEra’s unsuccessful bid to acquire Texas utility Oncor, Pimentel said the company opposed restrictions that could prevent dividends from reaching the parent company because they could affect the parent’s credit rating. He said Dominion’s circumstances were different.

Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, asked whether NextEra’s board and management recognized their obligation to meet Virginia’s clean energy requirements and believed they could achieve them.

Pimentel said NextEra intends to comply with the Virginia Clean Economy Act, while leaving open future discussions about affordability.

“What I see today is that we will meet the goal by 2045,” Pimentel said.

Responding to Del. Michael Webert, R-Fauquier, Pimentel said NextEra’s experience with solar and battery storage, along with its scale and relationships with manufacturers and contractors, could help Dominion build more efficiently and faster.

Del. Irene Shin, D-Fairfax, asked about a memorandum sent to former NextEra Chairman James Robo concerning alleged misconduct involving Florida Power & Light. She asked whether commission members could review it.

Pimentel told members that Robo received the memo from an outside law firm and commissioned an independent investigation. He described its allegations as unsubstantiated.

As previously reported by The Center Square, State Corporation Commission Chief Hearing Examiner D. Mathias Roussy Jr. ruled Friday that the companies must provide the memo to Clean Virginia by Thursday, if it exists and is within their possession or control.

The ruling does not establish wrongdoing or decide whether to approve the acquisition.

Pimentel said NextEra would not release the memo publicly while related litigation remains active, but would work out how to provide information to the SCC and those requesting it.

He said NextEra expects another Federal Energy Regulatory Commission filing in the next week or so and anticipates approval in January.

SCC public hearings are scheduled Wednesday in Newport News and Friday in Fairfax County. Written comments are due Nov. 9, and the evidentiary hearing begins Nov. 17.