Virginia's installed electric utility net generating capacity (utility and nonutility) was approximately 18.8 million kW in 1999; total production of electricity totaled 74.1 billion kWh, almost all of it provided by private utilities. Electric power is supplied to the eastern, northeastern, and central parts of the state chiefly by Virginia Power; to the central and southwestern regions by American Electric Power; to the far southwest by Old Dominion Power; to the northwest by Potomac Edison; and to the Eastern Shore by Delmarva Power and Light. Sales of electric power in 1998 amounted to 89.9 billion kWh: 38% residential, 22% industrial, 29% commercial, and 11% other. In 2001 Virginia had four nuclear reactors in operation, two at the North Anna plant in Louisa County and two at the Surry plant, in the county of the same name.
Virginia has one major oil refinery at Yorktown that uses imported petroleum. The state is supplied with natural gas by three major interstate pipeline companies. Liquefied natural gas plants operate in Chesapeake, Roanoke, and Lynchburg, and a synthetic gas plant is in service at Chesapeake. There is one underground natural gas storage facility in Scott and Washington Counties, and a second was under development during 1997 in Saltville.
Coal-fired steam units accounted for 48% of electric power production in 1999. Oil-fired plants produced less than 5%, nuclear 38%, gas 6%, and other sources about 3%. The state has two nuclear power reactors, both owned by Virginia Power. Virginia's 173 coal mines (127 underground), all in the Appalachian Mountains area, produced 32.8 million tons in 2000. All the coal was bituminous.
Virginia's 3,521 gas wells produced 71.5 billion cu ft (2.02 billion cu m) of natural gas in 2001. The state produced 60 barrels per day of oil in 2002 (last among the 50 states).