Electric bills in Virginia have jumped since 2022 as data centers soak up power, which is bad news for people already stretched thin.

• Typical household electric bills in Virginia are up sharply, driven by the data center boom and grid upgrades.
• Utilities are building thicker lines and bigger towers to serve data centers, and regular customers pay for it through their bills.
• A $67 billion Dominion Energy–NextEra merger covering millions of customers is under review, with public hearings running into early November.
• The state's net-zero-by-2050 plan would need solar farms covering 277,000 acres of farmland and forest, drawing complaints over lost trees and water use.
• Rising power and water bills are squeezing spending on restaurants, travel, and theme parks, pointing to weak corporate results this winter.

Outlook: Expect more pressure on household budgets and softer fourth-quarter earnings reports in January as consumers pull back.