Energy provider/county partnership targets central Virginia broadband services

Dominion Energy Virginia, Firefly Fiber Broadband, a wholly owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, and the counties of Albemarle, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, and Powhatan, VA, have agreed to collaborate toward the provision of broadband services to underserved communities in Central Virginia. More than 25,000 Virginians could benefit from the agreement, the partners estimate.

Each of the energy and broadband providers will play a role. Dominion Energy, for example, is installing fiber in rural areas as part of its energy grid updates. In addition to support the energy grid, the fiber will also be made available for broadband access needs on a wholesale basis. Firefly, for example, will lease fiber from Dominion for middle-mile purposes across the nine counties. Similarly, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative also will deploy fiber in Louisa, Albemarle, Goochland, and Greene counties, that Firefly will lease.

The effort will begin with Dominion Energy Virginia applying to the State Corporation Commission for regulatory approval in early 2022. The engineering studies also will be conducted to determine the deployment plan and funding requirements.

"This partnership marks a major step forward in ensuring that the communities we serve have access to quality, high speed internet that is critical to allowing homes, businesses and educational institutions to function in today's digital world," said Ed Baine, president of Dominion Energy Virginia. "We are excited to work with Firefly Fiber Broadband, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, and each participating county to help support the expansion of this critical service."

"The county administrators and board of supervisors should be applauded for their efforts to secure reliable, high-speed internet to their entire counties,” added Gary Wood, president and CEO of Firefly. “Firefly is eager to spread its wings and light up households and businesses with reliable and affordable fiber broadband through the Regional Internet Service Expansion (RISE) project."

"At Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, our goal is to be part of the solution to facilitate broadband to the households and businesses we serve," concluded John Hewa, president and CEO of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. "Being able to partner on this endeavor with several counties where we serve electric members – along with Firefly Broadband and Dominion Energy Virginia – is a major advancement allowing each of us to seek to further the Commonwealth's goals of making broadband access available to everyone."

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