PJM, Dominion, NOVEC, et al.
TL;DR It’s complicated. PJM oversees regional transmission lines, contracting them out to companies. Dominion Energy then does transmission lines and power generation for its area, then retail companies within Dominion’s territory get it to homes and businesses.
PJM is a Regional Transmission Operator (RTO). A RTO is a nonprofit, independent organization that oversees the generation, transmission, and retail of electricity in their territory. All RTOs are overseen by FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. PJM plans on a 15 year forecast. They plan the routes of the transmission lines and coordinate the companies that are building the lines such as NextEra, and First Energy. Dominion Energy also builds some of the transmission lines. The cost of the transmission lines that PJM builds are shared by all their customers. That means you! Your utility bills are projected to go up drastically over the next 15 yrs. Data centers also help pay for the transmission lines, but meanwhile they are getting a bulk discount, and we don’t know what that is.
In July 2022, PJM realized we had a problem with data centers, So, PJM came up with a $5.1 billion plan.
When new transmission lines need to be built, the power company (not PJM) can use eminent domain where necessary, working through the courts after receiving regulatory approval. The landowner will receive some money for the land that is taken. They try to minimize impact, such as avoiding houses or using existing rights of way. However these are huge projects and can cause significant damage to home values, environmental recourses, historical sites, etc.
Dominion Energy
Dominion Energy operates transmission lines and power generation plants, as well as natural gas, for the entire Dominion Zone, which includes parts of North Carolina. Dominions recent IRP (Internal Resource Plan) clearly states that the dramatic increase in energy consumption, and the forecast for much more is solely due to data centers.
Companies that provide distribution services.
Within Dominion Energy’s zone, and the state of Virginia are various companies that provide distribution services, such as: Dominion Energy Virginia, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC), Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC). Distribution services includes providing substations and distribution lines, generally 115kv and below. NOVEC predicts that 95% of its power distribution will go to data centers by 2032.
Companies operating within PJM territory
PJM Service area
