Energy Use in Virginia

Virginia's overall per capita electricity demand is 11th highest among states, according to U.S. government statistics^*. This includes power consumption in homes and businesses.

Electricity use in Virginia is roughly 40 percent from homes, 30 percent from offices and businesses, and 20 percent from the largest energy users, such as factories. The other 10 percent is primarily from schools and government facilities.

Virginians consumed 110 million megawatts of electricity in 2008.  Electricity use has grown by approximately 3 percent per year over the last 10 years, with about two thirds of the growth attributable to new customers and one third to growth in use per customer.

By law, Virginia utilities provide long-range forecasts regarding electricity needs and how these obligations will be met over the ensuing 15 years to promote reasonable prices, reliable service, energy independence and environmental responsibility. Existing forecasts estimate an annual load growth rate ranging from 1.5 percent to 2.3 percent over the 15-year period.

Residential. Residential electricity consumption in Virginia is growing faster than the population, and it is 14th highest in the country. Home energy demand increased 18% from 1995 to 2005 and a full 50 percent from 1985 to 2005 due to growth in the population and the number of homes.

• In homes, refrigeration and cooling are the largest users of power. They account for 25% of your power bill, on average.

Business. Federal statistics show that Virginia’s commercial sector — including small businesses, retail, offices and warehouses — is becoming more energy efficient over time.

• For businesses, most power goes toward lighting, followed by cooling.

Industrial/Government. Virginia’s utilities serve several large industrial customers, major military bases, one of the largest ports in the United States, and a large share of the computer infrastructure supporting the Internet and centralized computing.

* Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration, the Virginia Energy Plan issued July 1, 2010, and utility integrated resource plans filed with the State Corporation Commission.