As a combat veteran with two decades in the Marine Corps, then civilian service in Washington, Drew Warren is always looking for the next challenge. He found it at Dominion Energy as senior advisor for Military Affairs and Public Policy. In August, he spoke at the 2022 Veterans Advanced Energy Summit, a conference for veterans working in energy.

“I was impressed with Dominion Energy’s commitment to the military in our communities, our national security key accounts, and veteran employees from my first day with the company,” Warren says. The dedication to people and mission embedded in our culture reminds him of a similar ethos when he was a Marine. “There’s so much history here, and we’re constantly coming up with new initiatives to build upon the proud legacy that Dominion Energy has for recognizing service and sacrifice.”

Among those efforts: a $150,000 donation to Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, whose planned mental-health services will help veterans in crisis. Dominion Energy also has contributed to Veterans Bridge Home, an organization dedicated to helping veterans find jobs, homes, and other resources, to support its Mission 85, a summit where leaders of veterans’ organizations, health care professionals, policymakers, and others will explore solutions to the epidemic of veteran suicide. The company is proud to participate in the Commandant of the Marine Corps Corporate Fellowship program for the first time in 2022. The Marine Corps officer selected to serve as this year’s fellow will work in the company’s cyber security division and develop relationships in an area critical to the military, infrastructure, and utilities industry.

“We invest in veterans because veterans have invested in us,” says Bill Murray, the company’s senior vice president for corporate affairs and communications. That dedication to veterans has held true for more than a century — and always will.

Please reach out to Drew Warren if you have questions about the military and veterans affairs activities occurring at Dominion Energy.

As anyone who has recently visited a gas station knows, fuel costs have risen significantly due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, inflation, and the war in Ukraine. Electric utilities across the country likewise have faced dramatic price increases for the commodities they purchase to fuel traditional power-generation facilities.

The costs Dominion Energy incurs when procuring these commodities are recovered through the “fuel factor” component of electric rates. This charge is revised annually to reflect new price projections and true-up any difference between projected and actual costs from the previous year.

Challenging global market conditions and projections that fuel costs will remain high mean that this year’s fuel factor update in Virginia carries more significant implications for our customers. We are taking steps to mitigate the near-term impact and help insulate customers from volatile commodity prices in the future.

First, we recommended spreading the recovery of certain fuel costs over three years to help reduce the impact on bills. Next, we filed for approval of reductions in other components of electric rates which will produce offsetting savings. Finally, we are developing Virginia’s fleet of solar and wind resources. These facilities have no fuel costs, so they will reduce customers’ exposure to fuel price spikes.

This strategy helped cushion the impact of this year’s fuel factor adjustment in Virginia. Still, we are sensitive to any cost increase. We continue to work with customers to find programs, services, and payment options that best match their individual needs and circumstances.

Dominion Energy recently published our 2021 Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility Report (SCR), demonstrating continued progress and a commitment to transparency and accountability on environmental, social, and governance matters. The report shows we are delivering on the transition to clean energy while remaining reliable and affordable for our customers.

In 2020, we announced a new emissions-reduction goal: net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions, across both our electric and gas businesses, by 2050. In 2022, we broadened this commitment to include emissions beyond our direct operations. The SCR shows we cut carbon emissions by 46% between 2005 and 2021 and cut methane emissions by 38% between 2010 and 2021. At the same time, we kept our electric rates and gas utility rates below national and regional averages.

The company also remains steadfast in its commitment to support the communities we serve. In 2021, we contributed $48.6 million to social betterment through energy assistance, charitable giving, and support for nonprofits. Meanwhile, our employees volunteered 81,000 hours for worthy causes. And we continue to sharpen our focus on environmental-justice concerns, screening over 75 projects in 2021.

We also recently published our 2021 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Report. From 2020 to 2021, we increased diverse hiring from 50.7% to 57.5% and raised overall diverse workforce representation to 35.5% — consistent with our goal to reach 40% by 2026. In 2021 we also increased spending with diverse suppliers by 24.5% and contributed more than $11 million to DE&I-focused organizations.

Even as we reflect on a year of progress, we look forward to further improvement. As chair, president, and chief executive officer Bob Blue has said, “Dominion Energy’s vision of becoming the most sustainable energy company in America inspires us to reach ever higher.”

Want to keep in touch with fellow retirees in the Richmond area? If so, join the Dominion Energy Metro Richmond Retirees Association. Email us for details.

If your retiree group is interested in posting a meeting schedule, we would like to hear from you.