Why It Matters
NextEra Energy Inc. reported $3 million in federal lobbying expenditures across 17 registrants in the third quarter, up $421,000 from the same quarter last year. Its in-house disclosure identifies electricity transmission, generation and transmission project siting, federal permitting and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding among its lobbying issues.
The spending comes as NextEra seeks regulatory approval for its proposed combination with Dominion Energy. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Aug. 10 to reject the transaction, citing antitrust concerns and potential electricity rate increases.
By the Numbers
NextEra's third-quarter in-house lobbying report lists $2,220,000 in expenditures, up $3,480 from $2,216,520 in the second quarter and $101,000 from $2,119,000 in the third quarter last year. The 16 outside firms collectively reported $780,000, bringing the combined third-quarter total to $3 million.
The in-house team listed on the filing includes:
- Kathleen O'Connor, senior manager, government relations
- Jay Carrière III, executive director, federal regulatory affairs
- Michael Farr, director, federal government affairs; former policy adviser to Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA)
- Whitney Drew, executive director, federal governmental affairs; former professional staff member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Phil Musser, senior vice president
- Kevin Stockert, director, government affairs; former legislative aide to Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and senior legislative assistant to former Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
- Haley Olchyk, senior manager, government affairs
No new outside firms were identified in the third quarter; all 17 registrants also appeared in the second-quarter records.
Broader Context
Electricity transmission and permitting. H.R. 5600, the SPEED and Reliability Act of 2025, was introduced Sept. 26, 2025, by Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), with Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) as a cosponsor. The bill would amend the Federal Power Act's permitting process for certain transmission facilities deemed necessary in the national interest. The House Energy and Commerce Committee referred it, with no Senate companion identified in the supplied legislative record.
A Congressional Research Service report examines disputes over federal and state transmission-siting authority and allocation of transmission costs. Critics of expanded federal authority argue that states are better positioned to consider proposed routes and landowner concerns, while critics of broader cost allocation warn that consumers could face higher charges without receiving commensurate benefits.
In October, Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mike Lee (R-UT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sponsored the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act. Grid Strategies President Rob Gramlich described its transmission provisions as "very well-crafted."
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) cosponsored the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act in August, a proposal to streamline federal energy permitting. NextEra was listed among its endorsing organizations.
LIHEAP funding. H.R. 2486, the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, introduced March 31, 2025, would authorize $1 billion annually for LIHEAP beginning in fiscal year 2026. The supplied legislative record lists 53 cosponsors and referrals to the House Energy and Commerce and Education and the Workforce committees. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) reported that Congress provided $4.045 billion for LIHEAP for fiscal year 2026 and warned that funding delays could increase household utility-bill arrearages.
NextEra–Dominion merger. Sen. Markey wrote to FERC on Aug. 10, urging the commission to reject NextEra's proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy over antitrust and affordability concerns.
The companies announced their planned combination in May and filed regulatory applications in July. The proposed transaction remains under federal and state regulatory review. NextEra and Dominion say the combination would help meet growing electricity demand while maintaining reliability and affordability. Critics, including Markey, warn that consolidation could weaken competition and expose customers to higher rates.
Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA) reported on Aug. 27 that 80% of more than 950 district survey respondents opposed the merger. The results describe respondents to his survey, not a representative sample of district residents.
The Bottom Line
NextEra's combined third-quarter lobbying expenditures increased to $3 million from $2.579 million a year earlier. Its in-house spending rose modestly from the preceding quarter, and the company retained the same outside lobbying firms.
The disclosures show NextEra's continued engagement on transmission permitting, energy infrastructure and LIHEAP funding as regulators review its proposed Dominion Energy merger. H.R. 5600 remains at the committee stage in the legislative record reviewed.
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