KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Virginia

SB772 • 2026

State Corporation Commission; reliable electricity provision.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to require the State Corporation Commission to ensure the provision of reliable electricity at low, just, and reasonable rates, referred to as the Electric Power Reliability and Affordability Act of 2026.</p>

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
McDougle
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not mention defining affordability, only requiring low, just, and reasonable rates.

Electric Power Reliability and Affordability Act of 2026

This law requires the State Corporation Commission to ensure that all electricity customers in Virginia receive reliable power at low, just, and reasonable rates.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to focus on providing reliable electricity for everyone who uses it.
  • The SCC must ensure rates are low, just, and reasonable for electric utility customers across Virginia.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Electricity users in Virginia
  • State Corporation Commission

Terms To Know

State Corporation Commission (SCC)
A government agency that regulates public utilities, including electricity companies.
Reliable electricity
Electricity service that is consistent and available when needed.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the SCC will achieve these goals.
  • It's unclear what specific actions electric utilities must take to comply with this law.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB772ASC1

2026-02-12 • Committee

Commerce and Labor Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the word 'low' to 'affordable' in two places within the bill's title and text.

  • Changes the phrase 'reliable electricity at low, just, and reasonable rates' to 'reliable electricity at affordable, just, and reasonable rates'.
  • Updates the bill's official title from 'Electric Power Reliability and Affordability Act of 2026' to include the word 'affordable' instead of 'low'.
  • The amendment does not provide further details on how 'affordable' differs in practice or regulation compared to 'low', leaving some ambiguity.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-12 Commerce and Labor

    Failed to report (defeated) in Commerce and Labor

  2. 2026-02-12 Commerce and Labor

    Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (9-Y 6-N)

  3. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  4. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB772)

  5. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Presented and ordered printed 26105474D

  6. 2026-01-22 Commerce and Labor

    Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

Official Summary Text

State Corporation Commission; reliable electricity provision.
Provides that it shall be the primary duty of the State Corporation Commission, with respect to electric utility regulation, to ensure that all customers of electric power utilities and cooperatives throughout the Commonwealth are provided reliable electricity at rates that the Commission deems to be low, just, and reasonable.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB 772

COMMERCE AND LABOR

1. Line 3, introduced, Title, after
at

strike

low

insert

affordable

COMMERCE AND LABOR

2. Line 13, introduced, after
be

strike

low

insert

affordable