Dominion Resources Inc. got a spark from federal laws enacted in 1992, which pushed forward the deregulation of electric utilities and charged up the company’s lobbying efforts in the Virginia General Assembly. Since then, the company has changed the name of its utility subsidiary — from Virginia Power to Dominion Virginia Power — and its approach toward influencing legislators.

Instead of relying on a lobbyist’s charm, personality and contacts, Dominion’s lobbying force emphasizes education and continued contact with delegates and senators outside of the legislative session.

Legislators have taken note. They’ve been influenced by Dominion’s increasingly sophisticated lobbying efforts. "[Dominion] is an effective lobby. There is no question about it. They give a great deal of attention to detail. They leave no stone unturned," says Del. Kenneth R. Plum, D-Fairfax, who introduced one of the first bills to deregulate the state’s electric supply. "Some folks who lobby see it as a one-time event. They come swooping in and state their position and go off into the sunset. ... [Dominion] follows up with legislators and stays in touch throughout the year."

Lobbyists such as those from Dominion Resources have become an integral part of the General Assembly. With nearly 5,000 bills each legislative session, legislators rely on people like Eva Teig Hardy to give them clear explanations of a law’s intent and economic impact. Although her official title at Dominion is senior vice president of corporate affairs and external communications, she is closely associated with the power company’s lobbying efforts. "Ten years ago, being a regulated company, other than environmental legislation or tax legislation, there were very few issues annually that impacted us, because most of the work that we had to do was in the regulation arena," says Hardy.

Hardy, who joined the company in 1990, has been instrumental in Dominion’s efforts to bring utility deregulation to Virginia. She says her effectiveness is based on educating herself and her team of lobbyists first, and then educating others. Legislators appreciate and respond to Hardy’s approach. "Eva is highly respected and regarded," says Plum. "She has real balance and perspective, certainly having the interest of [Dominion] at heart, but still with a keen sense of the impact of public policy on consumers."

The education efforts, along with four full-time lobbyists, a dozen specialty lobbyists and thousands of dollars, paid off during the 1998-1999 legislative session, when the General Assembly passed the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act. Hardy calls it "one of the best acts in the country." The act deregulates electric power generation and requires that, by 2004, all consumers have the ability to choose their electricity supplier. Deregulation is farther along in some states such as California, where it has been a disaster (see story, Electric Deregulation: cost savings or catastrophe?). Hardy is confident that deregulation won’t bring high prices or dwindling supplies to Virginia.