Thousands of residents across Virginia remained without electricity this weekend as Dominion Energy worked to restore service following a series of severe summer storms.
The outages were largely concentrated in Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Fairfax, and Suffolk counties, with power lines and poles downed by strong winds and fallen trees. Restoration efforts have been slowed by ongoing heat advisories and damage severity.
Power Outage Map Highlights Widespread Disruption
Dominion Energy's real-time outage map revealed the most severely affected areas. As of the latest update on Poweroutage.us, Henrico County recorded over 34,000 outages, Chesterfield more than 14,000, and Hanover over 22,000.
Statewide, the total number of outages exceeded 133,000 at its peak. Dominion Energy's outage tracking tools allow users to report outages, view estimated restoration times, and track crews in real time. However, some users expressed frustration over the interface.
Users Report Frustration with Outage Map
While the Dominion Energy power outage map aims to provide transparency, many customers voiced concerns over its reliability during the emergency. On Reddit's r/rva forum, users reported delays in updates and confusion due to data clustering at wider zoom levels.
Some noted that the map failed to refresh for several hours, while others said estimated restoration times disappeared or were inaccurate.
With regards to these concerns, Dominion's official outage FAQ states that the outage map will always have the most current information, but if the restoration time slightly changes, they would opt not to send a text message as they 'do not want to overwhelm' their customers with too many messages.
Restoration Efforts Underway, but Delays Persist
Dominion Energy crews have been working around the clock to restore electricity. In some areas, such as Suffolk and Chesapeake, almost 6,000 customers remained without power two days after the initial storms. The utility company urged residents to report outages through its mobile app or by calling the emergency hotline.
A statement on Dominion's website encouraged users to stay clear of downed power lines and to track updates through the Dominion Energy app. Officials cited fallen trees, debris-covered roads, and prolonged storm conditions as key challenges in the restoration timeline.
Underground Infrastructure Still Not Widespread
Despite Dominion Energy's recent infrastructure upgrades, many impacted areas are still dependent on overhead power lines. The company has reportedly buried more than 2,500 miles of outage-prone lines in Virginia, particularly across parts of Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield. According to reports, this project has reduced average outage times from 11 hours to just 2 minutes in upgraded areas.
However, Fairfax County and other northern localities continue to rely on older, above-ground networks, making them vulnerable during severe weather events.
Heat Alerts Worsen Public Health Risks
The outages occurred amid a National Weather Service heat advisory, with temperatures across coastal and inland Virginia reaching highs of 100°F to 110°F (37°C to 43°C), as reported by CBS News. Prolonged power loss in these conditions posed serious health risks, especially for elderly residents and those without access to backup generators or air conditioning.
Authorities urged residents to seek cooling centres, stay hydrated, and check on neighbours. Those reliant on medical devices were advised to contact emergency services if they experienced difficulty due to a power failure.
