What Dominion Energy Nuclear Does

Dominion Energy operates nuclear power plants that generate electricity for millions of customers across Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The company runs two major nuclear stations: the Surry Power Station (two reactors) and the North Anna Power Station (two reactors), both in Virginia. These plants produce roughly 30 percent of the electricity Dominion delivers to homes and businesses in its service territory.

Nuclear plants work by splitting uranium atoms in a controlled reaction that heats water into steam, which spins turbines to create electricity. Dominion's reactors have been running for decades — Surry since 1972 and North Anna since 1978 — and the company regularly renews their operating licenses with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the federal agency that oversees all U.S. nuclear power.

If you receive your electric bill from Dominion Energy, a portion of the power reaching your home likely came from one of these nuclear stations. Understanding how they operate and how they affect your bill can help you make sense of your energy costs and the company's long-term plans.

Key Takeaways

  • Dominion Energy operates four nuclear reactors across two Virginia power stations that supply roughly 30 percent of the electricity in its service area.
  • The Nuclear Regulatory Commission oversees safety, security, and operations at both stations through regular inspections and license renewals.
  • Nuclear power plants run continuously at high capacity, which keeps electricity costs relatively stable compared to plants that burn natural gas or coal.
  • Dominion's nuclear plants produce electricity with no direct carbon emissions, though the company still operates fossil fuel plants alongside them.
  • Your electric bill includes a separate line item for nuclear fuel and operations costs, which the company can adjust through rate cases filed with state regulators.

How Dominion's Two Nuclear Stations Operate

The Surry Power Station sits on the James River near Williamsburg, Virginia, and houses two pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Each reactor can produce about 800 megawatts of electricity. North Anna, located near Louisa, Virginia, also has two PWRs, each producing roughly 1,000 megawatts. Together, these four reactors generate enough power to serve millions of homes.

Both stations operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as long as they are licensed and maintained. Unlike natural gas plants that ramp up and down based on demand, nuclear plants run at constant output. This steady production keeps the fuel cost per kilowatt-hour low and predictable, which is one reason nuclear power has historically been cheaper than many alternatives once the plant is built and operating.

Each station employs hundreds of workers — operators, engineers, security personnel, and maintenance staff — all trained and certified by the NRC. The company conducts regular safety drills, inspects equipment, and replaces aging parts to keep the reactors running safely. Spent nuclear fuel is stored on-site in find pools or dry casks while the federal government works on a permanent disposal solution.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Oversight and Safety

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is the federal agency responsible for ensuring that every commercial nuclear plant in the United States operates safely and securely. The NRC inspects Dominion's stations regularly, reviews maintenance records, investigates any incidents, and renews operating licenses every 20 years. Dominion's reactors have had their licenses renewed, and the company has applied for additional 20-year extensions.

Safety systems at both stations are designed with multiple layers of backup. If one cooling system fails, others set up automatically. Control rooms are staffed around the clock, and security includes armed guards, surveillance, and barriers to prevent unauthorized access. The NRC publishes inspection reports and performance data online, so the public can review how each plant is performing.

In the event of an emergency, Dominion maintains evacuation plans with local governments and has trained response teams. The NRC also requires nuclear plants to carry insurance and participate in a pool that covers potential damages from a nuclear incident, though such events are extremely rare at U.S. commercial reactors.

How Nuclear Power Affects Your Electric Bill

Your Dominion Energy bill typically breaks down into several components: the cost of fuel (coal, natural gas, nuclear), the cost of operating and maintaining the power plants, the cost of running the transmission and distribution lines, and taxes or regulatory fees. The nuclear portion covers uranium fuel, plant operations, security, waste storage, and decommissioning funds set aside for when the reactors eventually close.

Because nuclear plants run continuously and have low fuel costs, the price per megawatt-hour is often lower than natural gas plants. However, the upfront capital cost to build or maintain a nuclear station is enormous, so Dominion recovers those costs through rates approved by state utility commissions. Virginia's State Corporation Commission and North Carolina's Utilities Commission review Dominion's rate cases and decide whether cost increases are justified.

Dominion can request rate adjustments through a process called a rate case, where the company presents its costs and the commissions hold hearings to decide what customers should pay. These cases are public, and consumer advocates often participate to challenge the company's numbers. The outcome directly affects your monthly bill.

Dominion's Long-Term Nuclear Strategy

Dominion has committed to operating its existing nuclear plants through their licensed lifespans and has pursued license extensions to keep them running beyond 60 years. The company views nuclear power as a key part of its plan to reduce carbon emissions, since nuclear plants produce electricity without burning fossil fuels or releasing greenhouse gases during operation.

In 2022, Dominion announced plans to build a new small modular reactor (SMR) at the North Anna site, though this project remains in early planning stages and would require NRC approval, significant capital investment, and regulatory permission from state commissions. The company has also invested in renewable energy — solar and wind farms — but nuclear remains the largest single source of carbon-free generation in its portfolio.

Dominion's long-term strategy balances keeping existing nuclear plants running, investing in renewables, and maintaining natural gas plants for flexibility. This mix means nuclear will likely remain a major part of your power supply for decades, barring major policy changes or unexpected plant closures.

What Happens When a Nuclear Plant Shuts Down

When a nuclear plant reaches the end of its licensed life or the company decides to close it early, the reactor is decommissioned — a process that can take 10 to 20 years. The plant is drained of fuel, contaminated equipment is removed and disposed of, and the site is cleaned up to meet NRC standards. Dominion has already decommissioned one reactor (Kori Unit 1 in South Korea, which the company no longer owns) and has set aside financial reserves for eventual decommissioning of its U.S. plants.

Decommissioning costs are substantial — often hundreds of millions of dollars — and Dominion recovers these costs through rates, just as it does for operations. The company must prove to regulators that it has enough money set aside before a plant closes, so customers are not left paying for cleanup after the fact. The NRC oversees the decommissioning process to may support it meets environmental and safety standards.

If Dominion closes a nuclear plant earlier than expected, the company must still maintain the site securely and complete cleanup, which can take decades. During that time, the company loses the revenue from electricity sales but continues to incur costs, which can put upward pressure on rates for remaining customers.

Comparing Dominion's Nuclear Power to Other Energy Sources

Nuclear plants produce electricity with zero direct carbon emissions, making them valuable for reducing greenhouse gas pollution. Coal plants emit carbon dioxide and other pollutants; natural gas plants emit carbon dioxide and methane; solar and wind produce no emissions but depend on weather and require battery storage for reliability. Nuclear plants run 24/7 regardless of weather and produce large amounts of power from a small physical footprint.

The trade-offs are different. Nuclear plants have high upfront costs and long construction times (often 10+ years), while natural gas plants can be built faster and cheaper. Solar and wind are now cheaper to build but require more land and storage technology. Nuclear waste requires find, long-term storage, while coal ash and natural gas emissions disperse into the air. Each energy source has environmental and economic advantages and disadvantages.

Dominion uses all three: nuclear for baseload power, natural gas for flexibility, and renewables for growth. This diversified approach means your power comes from a mix of sources, and the company's rates reflect the cost of maintaining all three types of plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is nuclear power safe?

U.S. commercial nuclear plants have an excellent safety record. The NRC oversees every aspect of operations, and plants have multiple redundant safety systems. Dominion's reactors have operated for decades without a serious incident. Like any industrial facility, nuclear plants carry some risk, but that risk is carefully managed and monitored by federal regulators.

What happens to nuclear waste from Dominion's plants?

Spent fuel is stored on-site in find pools or dry casks at both Surry and North Anna. The federal government is responsible for permanent disposal, though a permanent repository has not yet been built. Dominion sets aside money for long-term waste management and must follow NRC rules for safe storage. Waste remains radioactive for thousands of years, so find storage is essential.

Can Dominion's nuclear plants cause a Chernobyl or Fukushima-type disaster?

U.S. nuclear plants, including Dominion's, are designed differently and operate under stricter safety rules than the reactors that failed in those incidents. Dominion's plants have containment buildings, backup cooling systems, and security measures that those older reactors lacked. The NRC also requires continuous operator training and regular safety upgrades. While no industrial facility is risk-free, the design and regulation of U.S. plants make catastrophic failure extremely unlikely.

Why does Dominion keep running old nuclear plants instead of building new ones?

Operating an existing plant is much cheaper than building a new one, which can cost $10 billion or more and take a decade to construct. Dominion's existing reactors produce low-cost electricity and have been paid for long ago, so the company can operate them profitably while recovering decommissioning costs through rates. New plants are being built elsewhere, but existing plants remain economical as long as they pass safety inspections and can be licensed.

How much of my electricity bill goes to nuclear power?

The exact percentage varies by your location within Dominion's service area and changes year to year based on fuel costs and plant operations. Your bill should show a breakdown of costs by fuel type, or you can contact Dominion to ask what percentage of your power came from nuclear. On average, nuclear accounts for roughly 30 percent of Dominion's generation, so a significant portion of most customers' power comes from the company's reactors.