The head of NextEra said conversations with officials in Virginia and the Carolinas about the utility’s planned $67 billion merger with Dominion Energy were “going well” and that NextEra’s record in its home state of Florida should serve as an example of what to expect if and when the deal closes.
“We’ve faced significant growth in Florida for 20 straight years, and have been able to do it by investing in new generation while keeping bills affordable,” CEO John Ketchum told analysts and investors during the company’s earnings call Friday.
NextEra, based in Juno Beach, Florida, filed papers with utility regulators in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina earlier this month along with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Nuclear Regulatory Commission — seeking approval of a deal that would fortify the company’s position as the nation’s largest utility holding company with operations along the Atlantic Coast from Miami to Alexandria, Virginia.
Like much of the country, all three states face expected electricity demand growth, which has sparked concerns about rising utility bills and questions about the effect on reliability and customer service.
