Electric utility infrastructure; Dept. of Energy and SCC to conduct an analysis, report.

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation had a discrepancy regarding the deadline for submitting the report. The official bill text specifies December 1, 2026, instead of July 1, 2027.

Electric Utility Infrastructure Analysis

This bill requires the Virginia Department of Energy and State Corporation Commission to analyze existing electric utility infrastructure to identify cost-saving opportunities that improve or preserve system reliability, with a report due by July 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Energy and the State Corporation Commission to study current electric utility systems.
• The analysis must look for ways to save costs while improving or maintaining system reliability without building new infrastructure.
• Includes an examination of technologies like zero-carbon power generation, energy storage, and grid enhancements.
• Reports on potential voluntary regulatory pathways by which large load customers could finance improvements as a condition of accelerated interconnection.
• Sets a deadline of July 1, 2027, for submitting the analysis to the General Assembly.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Department of Energy
• The State Corporation Commission
• Electric utility companies in Virginia

Terms To Know

Greenfield infrastructure projects

New construction or development that does not reuse existing facilities.

Phase I and Phase II Utilities

Electric utility companies categorized by their size and service area in Virginia.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the analysis will be funded beyond voluntary contributions.
• It is unclear if or when the Department of Energy will seek outside consultants for this work.
• The exact details of regulatory pathways for large customers to finance improvements are not defined.

Official Summary Text

State Corporation Commission; electric utility infrastructure; report.
Directs the Department of Energy (the Department) and the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing electric utility infrastructure to identify cost-saving opportunities that improve or preserve electric system reliability as an alternative or supplement to greenfield infrastructure projects. The bill requires the Department and the Commission to complete their analysis and submit a report to the General Assembly no later than July 1, 2027.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL NO. 114

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor

on February 23, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Ware)

A BILL to direct the Department of Energy and the State Corporation Commission to conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing electric utility infrastructure; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
The
Department of Energy (the Department), in consultation with the
State Corporation Commission
(
the
Commission)
and each Phase I and Phase II Utility, as those terms are defined in subdivision A 1 of §
56-5
85.1
,
shall conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing electric utility infrastructure to identify cost-saving opportunities that improve or preserve electric system reliability as an alternative or supplement to greenfield infrastructure projects. Such analysis shall include
capacity up
ra
t
es for zero-carbon electric gene
rating resources and energy storage resources

and transmission upgrades
,
including
grid enhancing technologies and high-performance conductors. The
Department and the
Commission
shall also analyze whether there are or could be any potential voluntary regulatory pathways by which large load customers could directly finance such alternatives as a condition of accelerated interconnection. The
Department and the
Commission
shall
complete
their
analys
e
s and
submit
a
report to the General Assembly no later than
December
1
,
202
6
.
Notwithstanding any
provision of subsection C of §
56-585.5
of the Code of Virginia, any additional generating capacity
achieved
through uprates at any existing
falling
water resources shall be
considered

a renewable energy standard eligible source
for the purposes of §
56-585.5
of the Code of Virginia.

§ 2. To the extent that the Department of Energy determines that it requires outside independent consultants to assist in its evaluation required under this act, the Department shall conduct an open request for proposals for such independent consultin
g
services. Upon the conclusion of such request for proposals, the Department shall publish the results and solicit voluntary funding from private
entities
to finance the independent consultin
g
. If the Department receives sufficient voluntary financial contributions, it shall engage the necessary independent consultin
g
services and conduct all analyses required under this act. The Department shall not conduct any such analyses unless it receives such sufficient voluntary financial contributions.