Dominion Energy Home Energy Check-Up: Free in-home efficiency audit for eligible customers

Responsible: ad hoc news Lifestyle & Consumer Desk. Reviewed prior to publication on June 12, 2026 at 4:30 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

Dominion Energy is putting one of its most consumer-friendly offerings in the spotlight with the Home Energy Check-Up, a residential program that provides eligible customers with a free in-home energy audit and basic efficiency upgrades valued at up to about $250. The check-up is designed to identify easy ways to trim electricity use, cut monthly bills, and improve comfort without requiring a major renovation. For households feeling the impact of higher power prices and heavier air-conditioning loads, the service can serve as a low-risk first step into energy efficiency.

What the Home Energy Check-Up includes

The Home Energy Check-Up is structured as a one-time visit from a participating contractor who performs a walkthrough assessment of the home’s major energy uses. According to Dominion Energy’s program description, the technician looks at insulation levels, heating and cooling equipment, ductwork, lighting, and common plug loads to pinpoint where customers may be wasting energy. The visit typically takes about an hour for an average-size single-family home, although larger or more complex properties can require more time.

During the visit, the contractor may install a package of basic efficiency measures at no additional cost to the customer. For many households, that package can include LED light bulbs, faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, smart power strips, and weatherstripping for drafty doors or windows. These upgrades are designed to deliver immediate, measurable savings with minimal disruption, often without the need for any follow-up work by the homeowner.

As part of the assessment, the technician will also evaluate the home’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system for age, condition, and efficiency. While the program does not replace major equipment as part of the visit, technicians can flag older or underperforming systems and provide guidance on what efficiency ratings to consider when a replacement becomes necessary. In some cases, the results of the check-up may qualify the customer for additional Dominion Energy rebates on higher-efficiency HVAC units or smart thermostats under separate programs.

At the end of the visit, customers receive a written summary that outlines the top opportunities to save energy and estimated annual savings from recommended measures. This report is intended to be easy to understand and prioritize, highlighting which actions are no-cost, low-cost, or capital-intensive. Many of the behavioral recommendations, such as adjusting thermostat settings or scheduling regular HVAC maintenance, can be implemented immediately without buying new equipment.

Eligibility, cost, and how to schedule

Dominion Energy positions the Home Energy Check-Up as a no-cost or low-cost offering for qualifying residential customers in its electric service territory. For many ratepayers, the visit and basic upgrades are provided free of charge, funded through energy efficiency riders that are already embedded in customer bills. In some rate classes or regions, a small copay may apply, but the company emphasizes that the value of products installed during the visit typically exceeds any out-of-pocket fee.

The program is generally available to individually metered, owner-occupied or renter-occupied single-family homes, townhomes, and in some cases condominiums served by Dominion Energy. Landlord permission is required when tenants request a visit for rental units. Certain housing types, such as multifamily buildings with centralized systems, may fall under separate efficiency programs rather than the standard Home Energy Check-Up.

Customers can typically schedule a visit online through Dominion Energy’s residential energy-efficiency portal or by phone via the company’s customer service line. Appointments are usually offered on weekdays during normal business hours, with some contractors providing limited evening or weekend slots depending on local demand. Availability can vary by region and season, with spring and fall often being popular times to schedule audits before peak cooling or heating months.

Before the contractor arrives, Dominion Energy suggests that customers gather recent electric bills and make a list of comfort issues, such as rooms that are consistently too hot or too cold. Having access to the attic, crawl space, and mechanical rooms can help the technician complete a more thorough assessment. Pets may need to be secured, and an adult must be present for the duration of the visit.

How the program fits into Dominion Energy's portfolio

The Home Energy Check-Up is one element of Dominion Energy’s broader demand-side management strategy, which aims to reduce peak loads and overall energy consumption through customer-focused programs. Alongside the check-up, the utility operates targeted initiatives that incentivize high-efficiency HVAC replacements, smart thermostats, and weatherization improvements for income-qualified customers. Collectively, these programs are designed to reduce the need for new generation capacity and to align with state clean energy and emission-reduction goals.

Regulators in several states have encouraged utilities like Dominion Energy to expand cost-effective energy-efficiency offerings as part of their long-term resource planning. Independent evaluations typically look at how much energy is saved per dollar spent on program incentives and administration, and in many cases, efficiency measures rank as some of the least expensive ways to meet customer energy needs. The Home Energy Check-Up, with its emphasis on low-cost upgrades and behavioral changes, generally targets those relatively inexpensive savings opportunities.

From a customer perspective, the program can serve as an on-ramp to deeper efficiency investments. After seeing first-hand how small changes, such as switching to LEDs or sealing obvious air leaks, can reduce usage, some homeowners are more willing to consider larger projects like adding attic insulation or upgrading to a heat pump when the time comes. The personalized recommendations and bill-savings estimates in the report can also help justify those investments when discussing budgets with family members or lenders.

For Dominion Energy, well-designed residential efficiency programs can contribute to system reliability by shaving peak demand, especially during heat waves when air-conditioning loads surge. Lowering peak demand reduces stress on transformers, substations, and generation resources, potentially avoiding or deferring some infrastructure upgrades. In regulatory proceedings, these benefits are often cited as part of the rationale for continuing and expanding customer efficiency offerings, including home energy assessments.

In summary, the Dominion Energy Home Energy Check-Up slots into the utility’s portfolio as a consumer-facing, entry-level efficiency program that blends customer education with tangible on-site upgrades. It complements more targeted, higher-incentive offerings and supports regulatory goals related to affordability, reliability, and emissions. Shares of Dominion Energy (US25746U1097, ticker D) traded at $66.80 on the New York Stock Exchange on June 12, 2026.

This article was created with a.i. assistance and editorially reviewed. Product information is provided without warranty; prices and availability may change at any time. Not investment advice, not a buy or sell recommendation. Trading in securities carries risks up to the total loss of capital.