Hello Cardinal News readers. Welcome back to Cardinal Commerce Notes, our regular feature catching you up on various recent business news items.
If you missed last week’s edition, check it out here to learn more about a new grocery store planned for Botetourt County, new renderings of Amtrak’s Christiansburg train station and a data center expansion in Mecklenburg County.
I’m always on the lookout for news tips. Please email me at matt@cardinalnews.org or connect with me on LinkedIn and message me there.
How to comment on Old Dominion Power’s proposed rate hike
State regulators have scheduled a public hearing about a proposed Old Dominion Power rate increase that would raise an average residential customer’s monthly bill by 23%.
The company has said that the bill of a typical residential customer using 1,198 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month would go from $185.07 to $228.39, a difference of $43.
Old Dominion Power, a subsidiary of Kentucky Utilities, provides electric service to more than 28,000 Virginia customers in Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott and Wise counties.
The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. Nov. 12. Members of the public who wish to speak during it should either sign up by Nov. 5 with the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s online form, referring to case PUR-2026-00051, or call the SCC at 804-371-9141.
The SCC will also accept comments through its website or by mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, VA 23218-2118. Comments should refer to case PUR-2026-00051.
The company filed its application for the rate increase with the SCC in April. It has said the proposal would allow it to earn $19 million more in annual revenue to pay for grid improvements and other investments while earning a return on equity — essentially, its profit margin — of 10.95%.
Orvis relocating but staying in Roanoke
The outdoor retailer Orvis is relocating its Roanoke distribution and fulfillment operations to 100,000 square feet in the former Westport Axle building at 802 Kyle Ave. in Roanoke.
The move will keep 60 jobs from leaving the city and was supported by a $50,000 grant from the City of Roanoke Economic Development Authority, according to a Monday news release from the Roanoke Regional Partnership, an economic development organization.
Orvis established its fulfillment center in the Roanoke Centre for Industry and Technology, off U.S. 460, in 1986. It has served as a distribution hub for fly-fishing gear, sporting apparel and dog products, according to the release.
Orvis also has a retail store at 19 Campbell Ave. S.E.
Orvis sold its warehouse at the Roanoke industrial park to a Coca-Cola affiliate in December as part of a major restructuring in response to tariffs, according to the Roanoke Rambler.
John Hull, president and CEO of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, said in Monday’s news release, “When a company with this kind of legacy faces a transition, it is a credit to Orvis leadership and our local partners that the answer was to double down on Roanoke.”
New pay rules for job postings
Starting July 1, any internal or external job posting in Virginia must include a good-faith range of wages or salary for the position.
Employers also will be prohibited from asking prospective hires about their wage or salary histories.
Those are two provisions of a law passed during this year’s General Assembly. The bills were HB 636, carried by Del. Michelle Maldonado, D-Manassas, and SB 215, carried by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax County.
“This legislation will reduce pay disparities and improve earning potential for workers by prohibiting employers from seeking or using a candidate’s previous salary history to determine future pay,” Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger said in an April statement about signing the legislation.
“Too often, workers are held back from reaching their full earning potential due to previously low wages. This legislation will ensure that employees are offered the pay they deserve while promoting greater transparency in the application process.”
Employers who violate the new law could face a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for the first violation and up to $5,000 for subsequent violations.
State seeks energy plan input
Gov. Abigail Spanberger is seeking Virginians’ input on the 2026 Virginia Energy Plan, a 10-year roadmap for handling energy issues such as cost, demand, reliability and environmental impacts.
More information about the plan and a link to take the survey are available on the Virginia Department of Energy’s website. The survey will be open through July 31.
“Energy costs are too high for too many Virginia families, and with demand on our grid rising faster than it has in generations, we must make energy more affordable and more secure,” Spanberger said in a news release.
“But our energy future should not — must not — just be written in Richmond. I want to hear from Virginians across every corner of the Commonwealth, and I encourage everyone who pays an energy bill in Virginia to make their voice heard.”
In recent years, energy issues that have been front and center in Virginia have included rising electric bills; forecasts of rapidly rising power demand, driven largely by data centers; and the impacts of infrastructure including natural gas pipelines; solar power facilities; and transmission lines.
“Demand is rising rapidly, costs are climbing, and the choices we make over the next several months will shape the energy system Virginians depend on for the next decades,” Virginia Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond said in the release.
By law, the Virginia Energy Plan must identify actions over a 10-year period to achieve a net-zero carbon energy economy by 2045, according to the release. The 2026 plan follows the 2022 plan and is scheduled to be published in October.
Virginia to agricultural producers: Watch out for screwworms
Virginia’s agriculture department is advising livestock producers and animal owners to regularly inspect their animals for New World screwworms.
The New World screwworm is the larval stage of a fly indigenous to Central America. It can harm livestock, pets and — in rare cases — people, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
After decades of the pest being eradicated in the United States, cases have recently been confirmed in Texas and New Mexico.
No cases have been reported in Virginia. It is unlikely the New World screwworm could establish a long-term presence here because it doesn’t survive sustained temperatures below 46 degrees, according to VDACS.
Nonetheless, VDACS asks livestock producers to inspect their animals regularly and consult a veterinarian if an animal has a wound “that looks suspicious or is getting larger,” the department said in a news release.
The department also said in its release that Virginia has “robust” requirements for animals entering the commonwealth.
“As with any pest or disease outbreak, we encourage livestock producers and animal owners to stay informed and engaged with their animals’ health,” Dr. Charlie Broaddus, the VDACS state veterinarian, said in the release.
That’s a wrap for this week. Do you know of a new business expanding or relocating in your town? Excited about a restaurant opening up soon? Maybe you’ve got an update on a story we’ve reported before. Please send me your tips and suggestions: matt@cardinalnews.org or connect with me on LinkedIn.
