Dominion News

Will Your Family Be Prepared For Hurricane Season?

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:07:00 -0400

- Hurricane season begins June 1; families encouraged to prepare now

- Dominion Virginia Power offers online safety tips, alerts for customers

- Save money: Purchase hurricane-related supplies during Virginia tax-free holiday May 25-31

May 16, 2013

RICHMOND, Va., May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hurricanes and severe storms are a staple of summer in Virginia. Dominion Virginia Power is making sure it's prepared for the June 1 start of hurricane season and urging its customers to get ready, too.

The company works year-round with state and local authorities to make sure it can respond quickly to the extensive damage that major storms, especially hurricanes, can cause. As the start of hurricane season approaches, Dominion also conducts refresher training and multi-day emergency preparedness and response drills.

Virginians can save money if they purchase hurricane-related supplies and equipment from May 25-31 when some of it will be exempt from state sales tax. Information is available at: http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=HurricanePreparednessEquipmentHoliday

Here are some important tips for customers when a storm approaches:

Treat all downed lines and anything touching them as energized and dangerous. Be sure your children know the danger.
Report and check the status of power outages when using the company's website at www.dom.com via smartphone, other mobile device or computer. You will need the account number or 10-digit phone number listed on the account, and the last four digits of your Social Security number, federal tax identification number or PIN. Phone numbers can be updated online through Manage Your Account or by calling our phone number update line at 1-800-222-0401.
You also can report an outage using Dominion's toll-free service number, 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357). Program this number into your phone's memory or keep it handy so you can find it if the lights go out.
Put together an emergency preparedness kit with needed supplies such as flashlights, water, medicines, portable radios, extra batteries and canned goods.
Look after neighbors and relatives who may need assistance if they lose power.

Dominion offers extensive information online. Real-time electric outage maps and restoration information, safety tips and much more are posted at Dominion's website, www.dom.com, its online storm center at www.dom.com/storm-center/index.jsp and through www.twitter.com/DomVAPower and www.facebook.com/dominionvirginiapower.

General hurricane preparedness information is available at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's "Ready America" website: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/hurricanes.shtm. Weather reports including those provided by the National Hurricane Center are posted at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.

If severe weather is expected, take these common-sense steps to prepare:

Check out the hurricane evacuation guidelines available at the Virginia Department of Transportation's Web site: http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hurricane_default.asp. Also see the information on the Virginia Department of Emergency Management's Web site at: http://www.vaemergency.com/readyvirginia/stayinformed/hurricanes.
If you experience an outage, report it and then turn off major appliances such as heat pumps, water heaters and stoves. Unplug other appliances such as TVs, stereos, microwaves and computers. This may extend the life of appliances and reduce possible overloads to the company's system when power is restored. Leave one lamp or light on so you will be able to recognize when power is restored.
Follow safe operating procedures for generators. Never operate one inside your home or in an enclosed space, such as a garage. Do not hook them directly to the electrical system of your home. Electricity could flow backwards onto our power lines and endanger repair crews. The correct, safe technique is to follow the instructions provided with the generator and always use proper-sized extension cords.

Dominion (NYSE: D) is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,000 megawatts of generation 11,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and 6,400 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 947 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves retail energy customers in 15 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.

Save time, energy and postage by enrolling in Dominion's eBill paperless billing program at: https://www.dom.com/find-it-fast/payment-options/paperless-billing.jsp

Visuals: Supporting videos can be downloaded at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBnLg_h9bnA&feature=youtu.be and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-m8G27FxhU&feature=youtu.be

SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power

Dominion Foundation Helps Fund New James River Boat Ramp In Charles City County

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:05:00 -0400

- $120,000 Dominion Foundation grant made the long-needed boat launch site possible

- Ramp at Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park provides access to 36 miles of the James River

- Charles City County, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Chesapeake Conservancy were partners

May 15, 2013

RICHMOND, Va., May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the most beautiful tidal stretches of the James River is more accessible to boaters today, thanks to a new boat ramp in Charles City County made possible by a $120,000 grant from the Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic organization for Dominion Resources Inc.

Dominion, Charles City County and the Chesapeake Conservancy officials cut the ribbon today to open the boat landing at Lawrence Lewis Jr. River Park.

"The James River is Virginia's treasure, bound intrinsically to its history and commerce," said Robert M. Blue, senior vice president-Law, Public Policy and Environment, State and Federal Affairs. "Dominion believes that the best way to help people appreciate and protect the river is to get them to travel its waters, explore its wonders and marvel at its beauty. We are proud to have played a role in creating this new landing that will open the river to even more people."

The opening culminates a 20-year effort by county officials and river enthusiasts to have a boat ramp built at the historic 24-acre park, which is where the Union Army crossed the James River in 1864 to lay siege to Confederate forces in Petersburg during the Civil War.

"This is a dream finally come true," said Floyd H. Miles Sr., chairman of Charles City County Board of Supervisors. "Thanks to the support of Dominion, the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Chesapeake Conservancy, our residents can now enjoy the beauty and the history of the James River without having to tow their boats to another jurisdiction."

In addition to Dominion's funding, the county provided $125,000 and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation put in $50,000. The county built the 50-foot by 28-foot concrete ramp which also has two tending piers, a bulkhead for protection and parking for 12 boat trailers.

The new ramp provides the only boating access on the north side of the James River for a 36-mile stretch that runs from Henrico County to James City County. The ramp will also serve as an important access point to the James River Section of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The Capt. John Smith Trail is a water route that follows the course of the English explorer on his voyage to map the Chesapeake Bay in 1607.

The Chesapeake Conservancy, based in Annapolis, Md., has a goal of developing new access points along the bay and its rivers. The conservancy sought and received the Dominion Foundation grant that provided the final dollars to make the ramp a reality.

"Improved access is vital to helping even more people develop an appreciation for nature and to help build support for the restoration of the bay and its rivers," said Joanna Ogburn, program director for the Chesapeake Conservancy. "This new landing in Charles City County provides access to a long and beautiful stretch of the James, and we encourage canoeists, kayakers and boaters to follow Capt. Smith's lead and get out and explore."

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,000 megawatts of generation. Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems and serves retail energy customers in 15 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.

Follow us on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/DomVAPower.
'Like' us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dominionvirginiapower

Location: Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park, 12400 Wilcox Wharf Road, Charles City, Va.

SOURCE Dominion

Dominion, Charles City County and the Chesapeake Conservancy officials cut the ribbon to open the boat landing at Lawrence Lewis Jr. River Park.

Dominion Foundation Donates $15,000 To Feeding America-SWVA

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

May 14, 2013

ST. PAUL, Va. – The Dominion Foundation has awarded a $15,000 grant to Feeding America-Southwest Virginia to help support the regional food bank’s feeding programs in Virginia’s coalfield counties. The Dominion Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources Inc., the parent firm of Dominion Virginia Power.

Since 2008, when Dominion began construction on its Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in Wise County, the Dominion Foundation has donated $130,000 to Feeding America-Southwest Virginia and its predecessor Southwest Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank. Dominion Virginia Power has also donated a surplus SUV to the food bank, which has offices in Abingdon and Salem.

“We can think of no-better use for our giving dollars than to put them to work helping to feed the hungry … particularly the hungry children of Southwest Virginia,” said Station Director Preston Sloane. Sloane presented this year’s grant award to Edd Roberts, major gifts officer for Feeding America.

“We appreciate Dominion’s continuing support for our programs,” Roberts said, adding that Feeding America is making a special appeal to its supporters this year because of increased costs for food distribution and the uncertainty of federal support through the Farm Bill that is currently tied up in Congress.

Feeding America currently supplies 13 million meals annually to the hungry in Southwest Virginia, Roberts said. Since 2008, Feeding America Southwest Virginia has seen a 57 percent increase in food distributed and a 52 percent increase in households served, he said.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,000 megawatts of generation, 11,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and 6,400 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 947 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves retail energy customers in 15 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.

Dominion Shuts Down Kewaunee Power Station Permanently

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:52:00 -0400

May 7, 2013

CARLTON, Wis., May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion (NYSE: D) today shut down its 556-megawatt Kewaunee Power Station permanently, ending almost 40 years of nuclear-generated electricity at the station located about 35 miles southeast of Green Bay on Lake Michigan.

Dominion announced last fall that it would close the station and decommission it because the company was unable to grow a Midwestern nuclear fleet to take advantages of economies of scale and Kewaunee's power purchase agreements were ending at a time of projected low wholesale electricity prices in the region.

"This decision was based purely on economics. The dedicated employees have operated the station safely and well," said David Heacock, president of Dominion Nuclear and chief nuclear officer of Dominion. "We will keep our focus on safety as we transition the station toward decommissioning."

Kewaunee went into service on June 16, 1974. Operators began reducing power output at the station at 8 a.m. CDT and opened the electrical output circuit breakers shortly after 11 a.m. CDT, which removed the unit from the Midwest ISO transmission system. Over its life, the power station generated about 148 million megawatt-hours of electricity.

"Kewaunee Power Station achieved nearly 40 years of clean, safe and reliable operation, which is a testament to nuclear technology and the dedicated former and current employees," Heacock said. "The company has taken steps to assist Kewaunee employees during the transition process and in the coming months will begin working to place the station's systems safely in storage for decommissioning."

In the weeks ahead, station personnel will begin removing all 121 fuel assemblies from the reactor and storing them in the used fuel pool before commencing activities to place the unit in SAFSTOR, a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission-approved method for long-term monitoring and storage of a closed nuclear unit. Under federal law, the company must decommission the unit and return the site to a green field condition within 60 years.

"This closing does not herald the end of our company's commitment to nuclear power," Heacock said. "It is a safe, reliable and carbon-free technology, but as with all forms of generation, it must compete on economics, including the necessity of being price competitive on a regional level."

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,500 megawatts of generation, 11,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and 6,300 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 947 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves retail energy customers in 15 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.

SOURCE Dominion

Dominion Declares Quarterly Dividend Of 56.25 Cents

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:15:00 -0400

May 3, 2013

RICHMOND, Va., May 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Dominion (NYSE: D) has declared a quarterly dividend of 56.25 cents per share of common stock.

Dividends are payable on June 20, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business June 7, 2013.

This is the 341st consecutive dividend that Dominion or its predecessor company has paid holders of common stock. The company's last quarterly dividend was declared Jan. 25, 2013.

The board of directors of Virginia Electric and Power Company, a subsidiary of Dominion, also declared regular quarterly dividends at the prescribed rates on each of its series of preferred stock. Preferred dividends on the company's fixed-rate preferred stock are payable June 20, 2013, to holders of record at the close of business June 7, 2013.

SOURCE Dominion