Dominion plans rebuild of aging power lines crossing Goochland County

Property owners along Broad Street in Oilville may soon see survey crews, drones and utility vehicles as Dominion Energy moves ahead with a rebuild of aging transmission lines that cut across Goochland County. The work would stay inside the existing corridor between the Carson, Midlothian and North Anna substations, but Dominion says the project also requires rebuilding part of the nearby 230 kV line between Midlothian Substation and Oilville so both lines can share the same structures.

Dominion says the 500 kV lines are approaching the end of their service life and must be rebuilt. The company says the existing lines will remain energized during construction, which means the rebuild would happen while power still runs through the corridor that passes through or near Goochland, Louisa, Hanover, Powhatan and Chesterfield counties. For residents near homes, businesses and farms in Oilville, the biggest visible changes are likely to be survey activity, tree clearing and new structures within the right of way.

The company’s postcard to nearby residents said surveyors began work in January 2026 and may use existing access routes on or near private property. It also said drones may be used to survey from above. Dominion’s project materials say right-of-way clearing will begin once permits are secured, with danger-tree removal planned outside the right of way. In places where the corridor has not been cleared before, Dominion says all trees, plants and unapproved structures inside the easement will have to be removed.

Dominion frames the rebuild as part of a broader effort to replace aging infrastructure and strengthen grid reliability across Virginia. The company describes the 500 kV loop as the backbone of its Virginia service area and says the project is intended to support more electricity and meet customer needs. Its timeline puts North Anna-Midlothian construction in summer 2028 through early 2030, leaving a long stretch in which surveys, permits and design decisions could still shape the final footprint on the ground.

Those decisions matter in Goochland, where major transmission projects have already drawn sharp scrutiny. On April 7, the Board of Supervisors formally opposed the proposed Valley Link 765 kV project, citing potential harm to rural character, agricultural land, forested areas and scenic landscapes, and later approved $250,000 to support that fight. Virginia State Corporation Commission guidance says transmission projects above 115 kV in Virginia usually require a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, making local notice and public input a key part of the process before work moves from planning to construction.