This is a tough question to answer exactly, which is why Dominion keeps avoiding it. At the meeting on October 10, 2025, Dominion rep Sergio said the monopoles for the Kraken were expected to be 170 feet tall.  Your easement might limit the possible height of monopole towers to 120 feet. Keep reading:

Terms to Know:

easement - a right to cross or otherwise use someone else's land for a specified purpose. "An easement allows Dominion Energy to use a property owner's land to construct, operate and maintain transmission lines. These agreements are signed by property owners and recorded on the title of the affected real estate." ( https://www.dominionenergy.com/safety/rights-of-way-usage-and-safety )

right of way - type of easement that specifically grants the right to travel over a designated portion of another’s property

transmission line - these are high voltage lines intended to carry power over long distances. The Kraken Loop is a transmission line that, according to Dominion rep Andre May, is a redundant transmission line intended to provide for future power needs outside of Stafford County, including data centers outside the county.

How is the height of a power line determined?

There are federal rules governing how close a power line can be to properties. These are determined by the National Electric Safety Code (NESC), which is not available online. But here's an example of clearance rules in Ohio for 500kV lines over areas where no people live:

If your property is agricultural, there is Virginia Code that is relevant:

§ 56-256.1. Height of electric power distribution lines over agricultural land.

Unless placement at a greater height is required pursuant to § 56-466 or other applicable law, any electric distribution line that is installed, either as a new line or as a replacement for an existing line, on or after July 1, 2018, by or for an electric utility upon or over land upon which agricultural operations, as defined in § 3.2-300, are conducted shall be placed at a height that is not less than the minimum height requirement that applies to the placement of electric distribution lines above road crossings.

The above relates to distribution lines. In addition, the power lines must be far enough away from structures to keep them safe. Since terrain is not flat, the poles may be enormously high -- up to 200 feet, like the ones in this image.

The 1960s VEPCo easements pertaining to at least some of the property affected by the Kraken Loop in Stafford County limits the height of the poles: "Two types of structures may be erected on said right of way, namely, single poles or multiple poles, with or without crossarms, and self-supporting metal towers. The height of individual poles will not exceed a height of 120 feet. Metal towers will not exceed a height of 150 feet, and the measurement of the base of the metal towers will not exceed 50 feet square. In no case will clearances of conductors be less than that specified for the voltages concerned by the National Electrical Safety Code in effect at the time of construction." ( https://toweringconcerns.com/community/main-forum/eminent-domain-seizure-records/ )

If you're a property holder, you need to know what your easement allows so that you can ensure that poles on your property do not exceed the heights specified in the easement. For the monopole type structure proposed by Dominion for the Kraken, that height is 120 feet.

What if I think Dominion is violating the NESC with the height of the poles on my property?

It is your legal right to file a complaint with the SCC if you think Dominion is violating the NESC on your property.

§ 56-46.2. Construction of electrical transmission lines.

The construction of all overhead electrical transmission lines shall adhere to the standards set forth in the National Electrical Safety Code. The Commission shall, upon receipt of a written complaint concerning the lack of compliance with these standards in the construction of a particular transmission line, investigate the situation and, if appropriate, exercise its powers granted under § 12.1-12 to enforce adherence to the standards.

How does this relate to an easement on my property?

Dominion must stay within the borders of the right of way it has purchased from you or a previous landowner for construction.

Dominion may, however, allow for certain types of "encroachments" into its easement. These are the types of encroachment typically denied:

1. Buildings, building extensions, building additions, or any portion of a building. By
   way of example and not limitation, the following items generally will not be
   approved: homes, offices, garages, barns, sheds, roof overhangs, gutters, balconies,
   decks, porches, and covered patios
2. Playground equipment
3. Trampolines
4. Any inflatable items such as bounce houses, slides, or decorations
5. Dumpsters and trash receptacles
6. Debris, trash, scrap or waste materials, fill, spoil material, stumps, large boulders,
   concrete debris, asphalt debris, construction debris, and tire piles
7. Landfills
8. Building materials
9. Swimming pools (either in-ground or above-ground pools)
10. Wells
11. Septic tanks
12. Drain fields (to include engineered systems)
13. Fuel tanks
14. Propane tanks
15. HVAC units
16. Satellite dishes and television antennas
17. Stored trailers, motor homes/recreational vehicles (RV’s), and inoperable vehicles
18. Most watercraft
19. Any type of fire or burning
20. Solar panels
21. Sprinkler systems (excluding drip systems)
22. Fire hydrants
23. Retaining walls
24. Earthworks (changing existing grade)
25. Flag poles
26. Light poles
27. Billboards
28. Storm water ponds, BMP’s, retention ponds, water features, or any man-made pond
29. Burial sites, family plots, and cemeteries
30. Hunting or tree stands
31. Storage container units
32. Flammable or explosive materials
33. Any Encroachment located, or proposed to be located, within fifty (50) feet of any of
    the Company’s Facilities. (Source: https://cdn-dominionenergy-prd-001.azureedge.net/-/media/content/safety/rights-of-way-usage-and-safety/pdfs/global/guidelines-for-electric-transmission-rights-of-way-easements-va-nc.pdf )

There are a dozens of "encroachments" that Dominion has allowed into its right of way easements in Stafford county, and for which it has provided written permission. If you are a landowner, you need to check the paperwork to see what your right of way actually entails. It would be wise for you to contact Dominion to request information on why your property's encroachment was approved by Dominion and if there are documents at Dominion outlining the process.

What can Stafford County do?

E. Every electric utility that is responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of electric transmission lines of 150 kilovolts or more shall furnish reasonable information requested by the local planning commission having authority to prepare a comprehensive plan within the utility's certificated service area relative to any electric transmission line of 150 kilovolts or more that may affect the locality's comprehensive plan. If the locality seeks to include the designation of corridors or routes for electric transmission lines of 150 kilovolts or more in its comprehensive plan, the local planning commission shall give the electric utility a reasonable opportunity for consultation about such corridors or routes. The electric utility shall notify the chief administrative officer of every locality in which the electric utility plans to undertake construction of any electric transmission line of 150 kilovolts or more, prior to the filing of any application for approval of such construction with the State Corporation Commission, of its intention to file any such application and shall give the locality a reasonable opportunity for consultation about such line. ( https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter22/section15.2-2202/ )

Dominion is required by law to consult with our board of supervisors and planning commission. Write to your board of supervisors rep to find out if Dominion has done this.

Questions:

• Dominion prevents growth in these areas by spraying, not cutting, trees. How will they protect property holders' ornamental trees and gardens near the right of way from overspray?
• Dominion's documentation on encroachments says that any structure found to be within 50 feet of the right of way is not to be allowed. Why have there been so many encroachments permitted in Stafford county that are closer than 50 feet to the proposed Kraken loop, some of which are more than 100 feet into the right of way?
• How can we check to see the height of each pole along the Kraken route?
• Dominion rep Andre May told the Stafford School Board that it could work with the school to put poles on the edges of school property; however, since power lines sag, this actually puts the dangerous power lines closer to Stafford students.  What remedies has Dominion found for
• Dominion's website says that shrubs and trees help reduce EMF; however, many properties will lose all of their tree cover, or in the case of schools, already have none. Will Dominion provide money or plants to homeowners whose properties have had protective vegetation removed?

Want to speak directly to Dominion?

Here is the contact information for the North part of the Dominion service area, which covers the north half of Stafford county:

• Justin Cochran - justin.k.cochran@dominionenergy.com
• Kristie Adt - kristie.l.adt@dominionenergy.com

And for the southern half of Stafford County, reps are:

• Tim Hindman Timothy.Hindman@dominionenergy.com
• JP Key james.p.key@dominionenergy.com