Social-media posts claim Virginia residents are panicking after electricity bills nearly tripled in January 2026, with one resident saying she now pays $600 a month and blaming “Democrat‑approved” energy rates. (independentsentinel.com) Officials present a different picture: the Virginia State Corporation Commission approved modest changes to Dominion Energy’s rates — $11.24 monthly base increase effective January 1, 2026 and an additional $2.36 in 2027 — along with fuel‑rate adjustments and a new data‑center rate class slated for 2027. (cardinalnews.org) Regulators and utilities say typical residential bills will rise in the low double‑digits, not triple, though data‑center demand and wholesale‑price spikes are raising concerns. (wvva.com)