Why Corporate Volunteerism Matters for Electric Companies

Dominion Energy volunteers clean a Bumpass Volunteer Fire Department fire truck. (Photo: Dominion Energy)

Like many electric companies, Dominion Energy is a public service company.

That means providing the reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy that powers customers every day. Dominion Energy strives to make a positive impact in the communities we serve.

Corporate volunteerism is one of the ways we keep the public’s best interest at the forefront of what we do.

Dominion Energy celebrated National Volunteer Week in April, but we remain active in our communities all year long.

Here are three reasons why corporate volunteerism matters in the energy industry:

1. Volunteerism shows the community that you care about more than business metrics.

At its core, volunteering is all about helping others. When you help others, you’re demonstrating concern for your community’s wellbeing. That authentic engagement builds trust, which is so important to our industry as we work to meet customers’ evolving needs.

In 2024, Dominion Energy staff and retirees logged more than 110,000 volunteer hours in our service areas across multiple states.

For example, our volunteer teams:

• Planted over 17,000 native saplings with Friends of the Rappahannock.
• Supported the Bumpass Volunteer Fire Department with maintenance and cleanup.
• Built homes with Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity.
• Helped with a backpack drive and shoe donations to support students in need.
• Painted fences and installed posts for therapeutic horse paddocks with the Ohana Preservation Foundation.

More than 6,300 of our volunteers spent time assisting nearly 800 organizations. Some more than once! Are you measuring the impact that your company is having on the customers and communities you serve?

Dominion Energy employees engage in several different volunteer efforts throughout the year to support their customers and communities. (Photo: Dominion Energy)

2. Volunteerism engages employees.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, volunteer programs help boost job satisfaction, improve morale, and retain employees.

As the energy industry experiences rapid change, maintaining an engaged workforce is critical to longevity and success.

The key to a strong corporate volunteer program is to support staff in the causes they care about.

Consider offering paid time off or project grants to encourage employee volunteer efforts.

For example, Dominion Energy staff receive up to eight hours of paid volunteer time annually, as well as an opportunity to apply for an Employees in Action volunteer grant of up to $2,500 to support a project that they care about.

We’ve also had success setting up a volunteer platform with a database of potential projects and scheduling tools to make it easier for employees to get involved.

Such strategies empower staff to make a difference where they work and live. Plus, this approach demonstrates your commitment to service.

3. Volunteerism strengthens community connections.

Volunteering brings people together.

When staff members volunteer in the community, they have a chance to build meaningful relationships.

Leverage volunteerism to partner with nonprofits and charitable groups in your service area that align with your company values. Doing so will put you closer to the people you serve, providing an opportunity to learn more about their needs and how you can help.

For example, Dominion Energy partnered with organizers and talent from a music festival in Norfolk, Va., to lead an energy efficiency renovation at the home of a local senior citizen in need of bill assistance. I joined several Dominion Energy lineworkers and other team members to assist with landscaping, fence work, and other tasks while a team of contractors and energy partners upgraded the homeowner’s aging HVAC system, installed a new heat pump, performed necessary duct work, and replaced lighting and attic insulation, among other repairs. The festival artists who joined us used their influence and media interviews to raise awareness of the energy assistance programs that Dominion Energy and its partners make available to the community.

Collaboration amplifies your impact.

Volunteerism shows care for your community, engages employees, and strengthens connections with your customers, says Byrd. (Photo: Dominion Energy)

Additionally, by coupling volunteer efforts with charitable donations, your company can leave an even greater mark on the community. For example, through our Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, EnergyShare, and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed $46.3 million in 2024 to community causes.

During National Volunteer Week and beyond, it is so important for our industry to commit to helping our customers and communities with our time and talents.

Ultimately, volunteer efforts improve the quality of life for customers and strengthen our communities.

That is what public service is all about.

Tonya Byrd is the senior policy director at Dominion Energy who manages community engagement. She is the 2019 recipient of the company’s Benjamin J. Lambert III Volunteer of the Year—Community Vitality award.

Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va., provides regulated electricity service to 3.6 million homes and businesses in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and regulated natural gas service to 500,000 customers in South Carolina. The company is one of the nation’s leading developers and operators of regulated offshore wind and solar power and the largest producer of carbon-free electricity in New England. The company’s mission is to provide the reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy that powers its customers every day. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.