# Virginia HB976: Electric utilities; SCC to ensure energy policy at lowest reasonable cost.

Virginia HB976, Electric utilities; SCC to ensure energy policy at lowest reasonable cost., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic); status failed, last action 2024-11-18 (Left in Labor and Commerce) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB976-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB976
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Electric utilities; SCC to ensure energy policy at lowest reasonable cost.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-09
- Last action: 2024-11-18, Left in Labor and Commerce
- Sponsor: Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Labor and Commerce
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Electric utilities; State Corporation Commission; energy policy of the Commonwealth. Requires the State Corporation Commission to ensure that the Commonwealth implements the energy policy of the Commonwealth, as defined by relevant law, at the lowest reasonable cost, taking into account all cost-effective demand-side management options and the security and reliability benefits of the regional transmission entity that each incumbent electric utility has joined. The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that plans, petitions, or proposals from utilities that do not ensure such implementation at the lowest reasonable cost are not in the public interest.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-08 | House | Continued to 2025 in Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-06 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (7)

- 2024-11-18: Left in Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2024-02-08: Continued to 2025 in Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-02-06: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-30: Impact statement from SCC (HB976) (House)
- 2024-01-18: Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2024-01-09: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2024-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103181D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-03-21: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB976)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB976)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB976-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).