Charleston to Vote on Dominion Energy Franchise Deal

The City Council will decide on an agreement that funds undergrounding power lines in the city on October 27, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Utilities

Charleston to Vote on Dominion Energy Franchise Deal

Live Poll

Should your city prioritize undergrounding power lines even if it increases local infrastructure costs?

Charleston City Council is scheduled to vote on a new franchise agreement with Dominion Energy on October 27, 2026. This deal establishes a dedicated funding mechanism for burying power lines throughout the city.

Why it matters

The proposal aims to solve the high costs and logistical complexity of burying power lines by standardizing funding and setting project deadlines. Officials believe these measures will improve efficiency in managing infrastructure projects.

Dominion and the city each plan to contribute $30 million to the undergrounding fund over the next 20 years, an increase from their $5.7 million individual contributions over the past five years. The project currently costs up to $2,500 per linear foot.

The players

Charleston City Council

The legislative body for the city of Charleston that oversees municipal utility agreements and city infrastructure planning.

Dominion Energy

A major energy company that provides electricity and gas services to millions of customers across several U.S. states.

The details

The agreement requires Dominion to contribute a half-percent of its annual Charleston revenue to an undergrounding fund, which the city will match. To streamline operations, the deal limits active work to two projects at a time and requires necessary approvals within six months.

Over the past five years, both Dominion and the city contributed $5.7 million to the undergrounding fund.
A Dominion representative participated in an online Q&A session on October 26, 2026.
The City Council will vote on the final franchise agreement on October 27, 2026.
The agreement projects a total of $60 million in generation for the undergrounding fund over the next 20 years.

Market Landscape

This agreement reflects a growing trend in municipal utility management to formalize long-term investment strategies for grid hardening. It positions the city and Dominion to address infrastructure durability while securing predictable annual revenue streams for the municipality.

The agreement is expected to bring $11 million to $14 million in annual revenue to the city, which could influence municipal budgeting for other local services. Residents may experience a more structured pace of utility construction projects as the city limits active work sites to two at a time.

The takeaway

This agreement provides a clear financial roadmap for long-term utility improvements that were previously costly to coordinate. Property owners in areas slated for undergrounding should watch for project priority updates following the council's decision.