# Virginia HB809: Electric utilities; shared solar programs, Phase I Utility.

Virginia HB809, Electric utilities; shared solar programs, Phase I Utility., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0673)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB809-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB809
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Electric utilities; shared solar programs, Phase I Utility.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0673)
- Sponsor: Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (293 yes, 25 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 7

## Summary

Electric utilities; shared solar programs; Phase I Utility. Amends certain provisions related to the shared solar program established by the State Corporation Commission for Appalachian Power Company. The bill permits excess bill credits to be distributed to shared solar subscribers more than once annually. The bill also requires the utility in administering its shared solar program to require net crediting functionality for customer utility bills, as described in the bill. The bill also directs Appalachian Power to (i) release an additional 50 megawatts as part two of the shared solar program on July 1, 2026; (ii) release a further additional 50 megawatts as part three of the shared solar program by January 1, 2028; and (iii) petition the Commission to initiate a shared solar expansion proceeding to determine the capacity for part four of the shared solar program by May 1, 2029. See final enactments for bill effective date. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 255.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Guaranteed solar savings for low-income subscribers: benefit, medium. Customers qualifying as low-income under Virginia Code § 56-594.3 must receive net savings of at least 10% of their subscription fee. This savings guarantee lasts for the full life of the shared solar subscription.
- Shared solar subscribers get bill credits: benefit, medium. The law creates shared solar bill credits for subscribing retail customers of Virginia’s Phase I investor-owned utilities. Your solar facility must connect within the service area of the utility serving your account. Credits must arrive within two billing cycles after generation and continue for at…
- Solar subscribers gain access and privacy protections: benefit, low. Program rules must prohibit credit checks to decide whether residential customers can subscribe. Rules must reasonably allow subscription transfers and let subscribers keep subscriptions after moving within the same utility’s service area. Subscriber organizations cannot access your billing or ener…
- Selected solar projects qualify for incentives: benefit, low. Qualifying shared solar projects on rooftops, brownfields, or landfills are entitled to incentives. Projects combining farming and solar generation on the same property also qualify. The Virginia Department of Energy can establish additional qualifying project categories. The provided provisions do…
- Shared solar capacity grows in stages: benefit, low. The program’s first stage is limited to 50 megawatts or 6% of the utility’s peak load, whichever is less. Utilities must release another 50 megawatts on July 1, 2026, and another 50 megawatts by January 1, 2028. By May 1, 2029, each utility must petition for a proceeding to determine fourth-stage c…
- Solar subscribers face bills and fee caps: mixed, medium. The State Corporation Commission sets annual residential, commercial, and industrial credit rates by dividing each customer class’s revenues by kilowatt-hour sales. Subscribers must pay a minimum bill covering utility infrastructure, services, and program administration. The Commission can change t…
- Shared solar projects face participation limits: mixed, low. Shared solar facilities need at least three subscribers and cannot exceed 5,000 kilowatts of rated alternating-current capacity. At least 40% of capacity must serve customers with subscriptions of 25 kilowatts or less. Each facility must occupy one parcel and connect to an investor-owned utility’s…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 22 | 18 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor | pass | 8 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 6 | 0 |   |

## Actions (33)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0673) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor - Chapter 673 (effective - see bill) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB809) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB809ER) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-03: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-26: Passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Reported from Commerce and Labor (8-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 1-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-03: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB809) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-29: Committee substitute printed 26106053D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-29: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-27: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB809) (House)
- 2026-01-22: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103023D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221660.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221659.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187080.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187079.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103552.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103551.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098999.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098998.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098686.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098685.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085999.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085998.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221660.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221659.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187080.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187079.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103552.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103551.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098999.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098998.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098686.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098685.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085999.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085998.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB809-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).