VirginiaHB8282026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Electric utilities; disconnection reports, State Corporation Commission database, annual summary.

Sponsored By: Charniele L. Herring (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Electric utilities; disconnection reports; State Corporation Commission database; annual summary. Requires each investor-owned utility and electric cooperative operating in the Commonwealth to provide a monthly report on residential account disconnections to the State Corporation Commission. The monthly report is required to include specific information outlined in the bill, including the number of residential accounts involuntarily disconnected due to nonpayment, the amount of time in which such accounts were reconnected to service, the amounts of arrearages attributable to such disconnected accounts and other residential accounts, and information related to how many of the disconnected accounts participate in a payment assistance program or have a serious medical condition certification form on file with the electric utility. The bill requires the Commission to publish the information from such monthly reports in a comprehensive and easily accessible online database. The bill also requires the Commission to submit an annual executive summary to the Governor and the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation on trends in electric utility disconnections based on the reports submitted by electric utilities, the first of which is due by September 1, 2027. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 516.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Annual statewide report on shutoffs

By September 1, 2027, and each year after, the Commission sends a trend summary to the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation and the Governor. It reviews seasonal, yearly, and long-term changes; differences between utilities; where shutoffs happen; reconnection times; and average and total arrearages for disconnected and not-disconnected accounts. It also totals accounts in payment assistance and those with serious medical certifications, and includes any utility explanations. Utilities must submit their narratives by August 1 each year.

Monthly power shutoff reports by utilities

Beginning July 1, 2027, investor-owned utilities and electric cooperatives must send the State Corporation Commission a monthly residential shutoff report. Reports use last-day-of-month data and are due within 60 days. They must show: total residential accounts; number and percent disconnected for nonpayment; shutoffs by 5-digit ZIP code (unless the Commission exempts ZIP data to protect privacy); reconnection times (under 24 hours, 24 to under 48, 48 to under 72, and 72 or more hours); average and total arrearages for disconnected accounts; counts by arrearage bands (under $100, $100 to under $500, $500 to under $1,000, and $1,000 or more); how many disconnected accounts are in assistance programs (utility help, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or Percentage of Income Payment Program); how many have a serious medical certification on file; total accounts with arrearages that were not disconnected; and average and total arrearages for those accounts. The Commission can set standard forms and submission rules to keep reporting uniform.

Public database of power shutoffs

The State Corporation Commission publishes the reported shutoff and arrearage data in an easy-to-use online database. Data appear separately for each electric utility and, when not exempted, by ZIP code. Public posting starts after reporting begins on July 1, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Charniele L. Herring

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 416 • No: 1

House vote 3/2/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • 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: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/4/2026

Passed House Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 2/4/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 1

House vote 1/29/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s)

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 1/27/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0676)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 676 (Effective 7/1/2027)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB828)

    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 (HB828ER)

    3/6/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/6/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/6/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/6/2026House
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB828)

    3/2/2026House
  11. Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House
  12. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

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

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

    2/26/2026Senate
  15. Read third time

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

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

    2/25/2026Senate
  18. Rules suspended

    2/25/2026Senate
  19. Committee substitute printed 26108400D-S1

    2/24/2026Senate
  20. Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

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

    2/5/2026Senate
  22. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/5/2026Senate
  23. Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/4/2026House
  24. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

    2/4/2026House
  25. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 1-N 0-A)

    2/4/2026House

Bill Text

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