# Virginia SB249: Electric utilities; definitions, integrated resource plans, report. Virginia SB249, Electric utilities; definitions, integrated resource plans, report., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Scott A. Surovell (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0608)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB249-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB249 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Electric utilities; definitions, integrated resource plans, report. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-12 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0608) - Sponsor: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 12 (286 yes, 150 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary Electric utilities; integrated resource plans. Makes various changes related to the content and process for an integrated resource plan (IRP) developed by an electric utility that provides a forecast of its load obligations and a plan to meet those obligations. The bill (i) extends the planning timeframe from 15 to 20 years; (ii) requires Appalachian Power to file an IRP by removing an exception from the definition of "electric utility"; (iii) changes the frequency with which a utility is required to file an IRP from biennially to triennially; (iv) requires utilities to consider the use of grid-enhancing technologies as alternatives to new transmission infrastructure, and when new transmission lines are envisioned, to provide the reasons grid-enhancing technologies are not sufficient to defer or eliminate the need for new transmission infrastructure; and (v) requires utilities to consider the use of surplus interconnection service, as defined in the bill, to add new electric generation projects and energy storage resources to the grid.The bill requires that the current stakeholder review process for integrated resource plans be facilitated by a third-party facilitator selected by the State Corporation Commission and compensated by the utility. The bill requires, as part of the stakeholder review process, the utility to provide stakeholders with reasonable access to the same modeling software, modeling assumptions, modeling inputs, and data used by the utility to evaluate supply and demand resources in its integrated resource plan to enable stakeholders to create modeling scenarios for the utility's consideration during the development of its integrated resource plan.The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to (a) establish guidelines that ensure that utilities develop comprehensive integrated resource plans and provide meaningful public engagement and maximum transparency during the planning process; (b) conduct a proceeding by July 1, 2027, and at least once every five years thereafter, to identify and review each of its existing orders relevant to integrated resource plans to determine if such orders remain necessary and effective and are not overly burdensome; and (c) convene a work group to make recommendations on the required guidelines.As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to HB 429. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Utilities must disclose plant retirement studies: mixed, low. Virginia utilities must study retirement of their own Virginia facilities that release carbon dioxide from burning fuel. Results must appear in their long-term resource plans, including retirement reasons and anticipated retirement years. When filing, utilities must share results with planning dist… - Ratepayers gain access to utility planning: mixed, low. Each Virginia electric utility must hold yearly public reviews that include residential and industrial ratepayers and other interest groups. The State Corporation Commission chooses an independent facilitator from utility-submitted candidates, and the utility pays for the facilitator. Utilities mus… - Virginia utilities face stronger planning rules: mixed, low. Virginia electric utilities must plan 20 years ahead, comparing electricity demand, supply choices, costs, and reliability. Plans must name one preferred resource mix, identify least-cost options, and account for carbon costs, renewable-energy rules, and required retirements. They must cover genera… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 20 | 18 | | | 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 63 | 34 | | | 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-12 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 | | | 2026-03-11 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 66 | 32 | 1 | | 2026-03-05 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 19 | 2 | | | 2026-03-03 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 8 | 1 | | | 2026-02-13 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-02-12 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-11 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-11 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-09 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute | pass | 9 | 5 | | ## Actions (51) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0608) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 608 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-04-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB249) (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB249ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB249) (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (20-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-14: Conference Report released - 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB249) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: House Conferees: LeVere Bolling, Shin, O'Quinn (House) - 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2026-03-12: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: House requested conference committee (House) - 2026-03-12: House insisted on substitute (House) - 2026-03-12: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Senate acceded to request (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: Surovell, Bagby, Stanley (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Passed House with substitute (66-Y 32-N 1-A) (House) - 2026-03-11: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2026-03-11: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-03-11: Read third time (House) - 2026-03-10: Passed by for the day (House) - 2026-03-09: Read second time (House) - 2026-03-05: Committee substitute printed 26109184D-H1 (House) - 2026-03-05: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (19-Y 2-N) (House) - 2026-03-03: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-03-03: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 1-N) (House) - 2026-02-26: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 (House) - 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House) - 2026-02-18: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-18: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB249) (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Committee substitute printed 26107458D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB249) (Senate) - 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate) - 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104616D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218861.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218860.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214410.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214409.PDF) - Conference Report, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211985.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211982.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211981.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196965.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196964.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194555.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194554.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191209.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136018.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136017.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135739.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135738.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086983.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086982.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/1218861.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218860.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214410.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214409.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211985.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211982.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211981.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196965.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196964.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194555.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194554.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191209.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136018.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136017.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135739.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135738.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086983.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086982.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-SB249-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).