# Virginia SB230: Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs, duty to implement the Energy Policy, etc.

Virginia SB230, Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs, duty to implement the Energy Policy, etc., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Ghazala F. Hashmi (Democratic); status failed, last action 2024-11-18 (Left in Commerce and Labor) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB230-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB230
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs, duty to implement the Energy Policy, etc.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2024-01-09
- Last action: 2024-11-18, Left in Commerce and Labor
- Sponsor: Ghazala F. Hashmi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (15 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs; duty to implement the Energy Policy of the Commonwealth; RPS program requirements; competitive procurement. Provides that "in the public interest" for the purpose of assessing energy efficiency programs means that the State Corporation Commission determines that the program is cost-effective and directs the Commission to initiate a proceeding no later than December 31, 2025, to establish a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs. The bill provides (i) that "total electric energy" for purposes of the RPS Program requirements does not include energy sold to certain customers purchasing 100 percent renewable energy and (ii) that in any RPS program compliance year, any electric energy that was generated in the previous calendar year from certain nuclear generating plants, or any zero-carbon electric generating facilities, including small modular nuclear reactors and green hydrogen facilities, will reduce the utility's RPS Program requirements by an equivalent amount. The bill provides that the Commission and its staff have the affirmative duty to ensure the Commonwealth implements the Energy Policy of the Commonwealth 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 to which each incumbent electric utility has joined. The bill requires that for certain required petitions by Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy Virginia for approvals to construct, acquire, or purchase the generating capacity using energy derived from sunlight or onshore wind, at least 35 percent of such generating capacity is from the purchases of energy from solar or onshore wind facilities owned by persons other than such utilities. Current law requires 35 percent of such generating capacity to be from the purchases of energy from solar or onshore wind facilities owned by persons other than such utilities.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ghazala F. Hashmi (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-05 | Senate | Continued to 2025 in Commerce and Labor | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2024-11-18: Left in Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2024-02-05: Continued to 2025 in Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2024-02-05: Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered (Senate)
- 2024-02-05: Impact statement from SCC (SB230) (Senate)
- 2024-01-09: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2024-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104990D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-01-09: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB230)

## 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/SB230)

## 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-SB230-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).