VirginiaHB4342026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Electric utilities; electric grid utilization metrics; State Corporation Commission.

Sponsored By: Destiny LeVere Bolling (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Phase I and Phase II Utilities; electric grid utilization metrics. Requires Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to petition the State Corporation Commission for approval of grid utilization metrics by October 15, 2026, which petition may be consolidated with the integrated resource plan filing for Dominion Energy in 2026. Under the bill, the petition shall include certain assessments comparing current electric grid system performance with optimal utilization of existing electric grid assets. The bill also requires the Commission to include in an existing annual report its findings on each applicable utility's assessment of relevant grid utilization metrics, which shall include an analysis of the potential for each applicable utility to increase electric grid utilization through the deployment of non-wires alternatives. This bill is identical to SB 621.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Annual review of grid use and options

In future resource plans, each utility must show how its system performs against every approved grid use metric and may propose updates. Each year, the Commission’s report to state leaders includes findings on utilities’ performance and timelines under these metrics. The report also studies ways to boost grid use without new wires, like energy storage, customer-owned capacity, distributed generation, virtual power plants, and flexible transmission gear. It reviews devices such as static synchronous compensators and synchronous condensers, and power-quality monitors at sites with 25 MW or more demand. The Commission can require data from utilities to complete this review.

Utilities must file grid use metrics

By October 15, 2026, each Phase I and Phase II electric utility must ask the State Corporation Commission to approve grid use metrics. A utility can combine this request with its 2026 integrated resource plan. Metrics must cover: peak load vs capacity; current vs potential load; percent of power lost; constrained circuits; and performance at system peaks. The Commission decides which metrics to use, how to apply them at feeders and substations, and how to report them in future plans. It can require seasonal checkups, set timelines to raise grid use, and say how metrics guide future cost recovery requests.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Destiny LeVere Bolling

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 293 • No: 29

House vote 3/2/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 93 • No: 4

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Passed Senate with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute

Yes: 9 • No: 6

House vote 2/2/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote 1/27/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 1/22/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0611)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 611 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB434)

    3/12/2026House
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB434ER)

    3/5/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/5/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/5/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/5/2026House
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (93-Y 4-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    2/26/2026Senate
  12. Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to

    2/26/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    2/26/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    2/26/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/25/2026Senate
  16. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/25/2026Senate
  17. Rules suspended

    2/25/2026Senate
  18. Committee substitute printed 26108393D-S1

    2/24/2026Senate
  19. Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N)

    2/23/2026Senate
  20. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

    2/3/2026Senate
  21. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/3/2026Senate
  22. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/2/2026House
  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB434)

    2/1/2026House
  24. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    1/30/2026House
  25. committee substitute agreed to

    1/30/2026House

Bill Text

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