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In order to serve you better, please select your Dominion Energy location services.

Choose Your State of Service

In order to serve you better, please select your Dominion Energy location services.

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Dominion Energy is not an Internet Service Provider; however, we are actively working to create partnerships with ISPs. Our goal is to provide the important “middle-mile” fiber optic cable needed for ISPs to extend service into unserved communities. View this factsheet for more information on the Rural Broadband initiative.

Contact your local Internet Service Provider for information on high-speed internet in your area. Our current middle-mile broadband infrastructure projects are listed below.

Rural Broadband

Projects

Dominion Energy Virginia is actively working to develop projects in more than 25 counties. The contractors listed here are supporting the Rural Broadband Program as well as Grid Transformation Plan fiber projects. You may see their employees and vehicles while they survey, conduct rights of way work, repair downed lines, and/or install fiber optic cable.

Botetourt County & BARC Connects

Dominion Energy is working to provide "middle-mile" fiber optic cable infrastructure to bridge the digital gap and allow for future expansion of fiber service to areas in Botetourt County in partnership with BARC Connects.

  • Dominion Energy employees and contractors supporting this project are adhering to social distancing guidelines and protocols.
  • UPDATE - Approximately half of the 34-mile project has been completed; permitting and installation continue in 2022.
  • Dominion Energy is not an internet service provider. Contact BARC Connects for more information related to internet services.

Central Virginia Partnership & Firefly Broadband (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Project)

Dominion Energy Virginia, Firefly Fiber Broadband℠ a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and the Counties of Albemarle, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, and Powhatan have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to advance a regional broadband partnership that aims to deliver fiber-optic broadband service to unserved and underserved households and businesses in areas of Central Virginia, subject to regulatory approvals. The agreement could extend access to more than 25,000 Virginians who currently lack access to reliable broadband services. See announcement.

  • UPDATE - Scoping and design for fiber installation is occurring across several central Virginia counties including Albemarle, Appomattox, Louisa, Goochland and others listed above. Fiber installation work is gearing up and will continue in 2022.

Louisa & Appomattox & Firefly Broadband 

Dominion Energy, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC), Firefly Fiber Broadband, and Louisa County have announced a partnership to provide high-speed internet access to currently unserved locations. Similar project work is occurring in Appomattox County as well.

Under the agreement, the partners will work together to finalize a network plan to be submitted later in 2022 to the State Corporation Commission for approval.

UPDATE - Scoping and design work continue in 2022.

  • Dominion Energy is not an internet service provider. Firefly Broadband will be the internet service provider for this Partnership.

Partnerships with All Points Broadband

Hanover County has announced the “Connect Hanover” initiative to make broadband services available to residents living in unserved areas of the county. All Points Broadband will assist the County in developing and implementing a strategy to deliver broadband access with minimum speeds of 100 Mbps/100 Mbps to all remaining unserved areas. All Points Broadband is partnering with Dominion Energy Virginia and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC), who will lease “middle-mile” fiber capacity to All Points and leverage the initiative to improve the operation and efficiency of their electric grids.

Dominion Energy also has partnerships with All Points Broadband to build middle-mile fiber in the following counties: Loudoun, Rockingham, Augusta, Fauquier, Clarke, Culpeper and Middlesex.

  • UPDATE – Project scoping and design work for middle-mile projects is underway and will continue into 2023.

Northern Neck Region & All Points Broadband

All Points Broadband, Dominion Energy Virginia, Northern Neck Electric Cooperative and the counties of King George, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to advance a regional broadband partnership. This project aims to deliver fiber-optic broadband service to unserved households and businesses in Virginia's Northern Neck Region. See the press release for more information.

  • Dominion Energy employees and contractors are currently conducting field assessments and surveys in several counties in the Northern Neck area. All personnel are adhering to social distancing guidelines and protocols. Note: this 200+ mile fiber project crosses parcels in Northumberland, King George, Westmoreland, Richmond, Lancaster, and Stafford counties.
  • Dominion Energy is not an internet service provider. Currently unserved residents of the Northern Neck can preregister for service and sign up to receive updates on the initiative online at All Points Broadband or by email at fiber@allpointsbroadband.com.
  • PROJECT EXPANSIONS:
    • All Points Broadband and Dominion Energy have recently announced additional projects in the area to King William County (see link) and
    • Lancaster and Middlesex Counties (see link)
  • UPDATE -; Scoping and design and middle-mile fiber installation is occurring across several Northern Neck counties listed above. Fiber installation work is gearing up and will continue in 2022.

King William & All Points Broadband 

Dominion Energy and All Points Broadband have announced entering into a Memorandum of Understanding to deliver broadband access to over 900 currently unserved locations in King William County.

  • Under the agreement, the companies will work together to finalize a network plan to be submitted later in 2022 to the State Corporation Commission for approval.
  • UPDATE – Scoping and design work continue in 2022.
  • Dominion Energy is not an internet service provider. King William residents should visit allpointsbroadband.com to determine whether they are in the project's first phase and to register for future updates from All Points Broadband, the internet service provider in the area.

Southside Virginia & Empower Broadband

Dominion Energy Virginia has entered a partnership with EMPOWER Broadband to help the ISP reach customers in Halifax, Mecklenburg, Brunswick Counties.

  • UPDATE – Scoping and design work is continuing in Mecklenburg County and Halifax.
  • Dominion Energy is not an Internet Service Provider. Questions related to internet service should be directed to https://www.empowermec.net/

Surry & Sussex & RURALBAND Fiber Internet

Dominion Energy Virginia has entered a partnership with Prince George Electric Cooperative (PGEC) to provide high-speed internet access to thousands of unserved residents in rural areas of Surry County. See the press release for more information.

  • Dominion Energy has completed middle-mile fiber work in Surry County.
  • UPDATE – Scoping and design work is continuing in Sussex County.
  • Dominion Energy is not an Internet Service Provider. Questions related to internet service should be directed to RURALBAND; visit their website at https://www.RURALBAND.coop for updates and additional information.

Business Partners

We are actively working to create partnerships with Internet Service Providers to reach localities without high-speed internet within our electric service territory. Any Internet Service Provider wishing to partner with Dominion Energy Virginia is invited to contact us for more information at RuralBroadband@DominionEnergy.com.

FAQs

According to the 2020 FCC Broadband Consumer Guide, broadband, or high-speed internet access, allows users to access the internet and internet-related services at significantly higher speeds than those available through "dial-up" services. Broadband speeds vary significantly depending on the technology and level of service ordered. Broadband services for residential consumers typically provide faster downstream speeds (from the Internet to your computer) than upstream speeds (from your computer to the Internet).

Dominion Energy will be installing fiber optic communications cable in many areas of our service territory as part of our efforts to transform Virginia's energy grid into a more reliable and resilient system. As part of that work, we are also providing middle-mile broadband service in rural areas of the state that do not have broadband service today. It is often too expensive for traditional Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to install fiber across the long distances that often exist between the largest data connections and homes and businesses. We can fill that void by using Dominion Energy's telecommunications network to bridge the gap by making our broadband capacity available to non-governmental ISPs in unserved communities.

No. Dominion Energy is not an Internet Service Provider. We are installing fiber in rural areas as we continue to transform Virginia’s energy grid and improve system reliability and grid security. By utilizing fiber capacity for both our operational needs and for broadband access, Dominion Energy can help reduce broadband deployment costs for ISPs to reach “unserved” homes and businesses. Note, under this initiative, “unserved by broadband” means a designated area in which less than 10 percent are capable of receiving high-speed broadband service greater than 25 MBps download speed and 3 MBps upload speed.

It's cost effective for Internet Service Providers to install fiber for broadband in areas that are populated. But in certain rural areas the middle-mile connecting communities it is often too costly to install if used solely for broadband service. Dominion Energy may be able to install the middle-mile and therefore shorten the last mile for ISPs to provide less-populated communities with broadband internet. To hear what the late Tom Farrell, former Dominion Energy CEO had to say about broadband and the middle-mile, watch this video: https://youtu.be/8mHybUwissA.

Dominion Energy's broadband program is subject to approval by the Virginia State Cooperation Commission (also known as the SCC). If approved, expenses will be socialized through a rate adjustment clause (also known as a Rider).

Program Overview

We are partnering with ISPs to determine areas needed for broadband expansion. Dominion Energy is offering to serve as the middle-mile provider for fiber. When eligible areas and neighborhoods are identified, the Rural Broadband project team will begin a comprehensive outreach process to work cooperatively with localities and property owners. Ultimately, we will add fiber optic cable to existing poles with our electric distribution lines.

Because the middle-mile program is planned throughout our rural service area, both Dominion Energy and our contractors will be involved in project management, design, right of way, easements, communications, and installation/removal of equipment. Refer to the projects section of this webpage for authorized contractors working on each project location.

The time required will vary among projects. Property owners will be notified in advance of a scheduled project.

Dominion Energy is not an Internet Service Provider; however these projects help local ISPs offer broadband service to additional homes and business that do not currently have broadband options. Please refer to the projects section of this webpage for more details on internet service expansion by ISPs.

Middle-Mile Projects

For most of the Dominion Energy’s middle-mile fiber projects under this initiative, the only additional equipment will be the addition of a single new communications cable, attached to poles without interfering with power lines or other communications infrastructure. Occasionally, a coil bracket with extra fiber may be attached to a pole for future repair efficiency.

Some of our telecommunications partners also own poles that other utilities, including Dominion Energy, may attach to. When an additional fiber optic cable is added the existing poles may not be adequate. Whenever an existing pole is not adequate to install a new fiber optic cable, the project team will work with landowners and coordinate replacement with a new pole that meets today’s standards.

In most instances, there will be minimal work required for fiber optic cable installation. Example of a typical fiber optic cable installation on overhead distribution power line. Along with safety, respecting property is a top priority for Dominion Energy and our contractors. We notify property owners prior to installation to minimize impact and inconvenience.

Dominion Energy will maintain the electrical service to existing power lines. In the event a brief outage is needed during fiber optic cable construction, crews will work with the project team to notify customers in advance, whenever possible.

Dominion Energy does not compensate customers if a new supplementary communications easement is required. The Rural Broadband Program is voluntary. If an easement is needed, customers can signal their support to expand high-speed internet to rural locations by signing a supplementary communication easement to enable installation of the associated fiber.

If the company doesn't have existing rights and isn't able to secure the supplemental communications easement, the overall project could be delayed depending on other viable routes, if any, to build out the fiber network. Also, any changes in project scope to avoid parcels without the necessary easements (known as “workarounds”) could add significant costs to the overall project; costs that are borne by all customers. Project delays mean that residents in rural communities will continue to lack broadband service which can hinder growth and access to critical online services.

Dominion Energy employees and contractors will work cooperatively with property owners to perform the work needed to expand broadband access to their neighbors and community. Dominion Energy and its representatives will work with property owners along the distribution line where middle-mile fiber is to be installed to develop a plan, which may include a request to sign a “Supplementary Communication Rights Easement Agreement.” Dominion and/or our authorized contractors will contact owners of properties when a supplementary communication easement is needed.

This easement agreement provides legal permission to install a new communication line and/or add a pole in support of expanding broadband access. Easements enable utility companies to access public or private land for specific purposes such as constructing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing lines and equipment. The property owner still owns the land subject to the limited rights granted to the utility company. Any changes in project scope to avoid parcels without the necessary easements (known as “workarounds”) could add significant costs and delays to the project; costs that are borne by all customers.

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