# Virginia SB250: Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices, local regulation.

Virginia SB250, Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices, local regulation., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Scott A. Surovell (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (93-Y 3-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB250-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB250
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices, local regulation.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-04-22, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (93-Y 3-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 12 (354 yes, 36 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 13

## Summary

Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices; local regulation; installation by tenants; consumer protection. Prevents a locality from prohibiting the use of a small portable solar generation device, as defined in the bill, on a residential structure, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill includes provisions related to the installation of small portable solar generation devices by tenants and prevents landlords from prohibiting such installation in certain circumstances. Under the bill, small portable solar generation devices are excluded from the provisions of net metering programs applicable to eligible agricultural customer-generators, eligible customer-generators, or small agricultural generating facilities. The bill also permits any electric utility customer to own and operate a small portable solar generation device, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill prohibits an investor-owned utility, municipal utility, or electric cooperative from imposing interconnection requirements, charging any fee related to the device, or requiring that the customer obtain the utility's approval before installing or using the device. Under the bill, no electric utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative shall be liable for damage or injury caused by a small portable solar generation device. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission to develop and publish a notification form for a customer of an electric utility or cooperative to install a small portable solar generation device and directs the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to convene a work group to evaluate and develop recommendations regarding the safety standards and requirements applicable to small portable solar generation devices. Certain provisions of the bill become effective on January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 395.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Solar customers can sell extra power: benefit, low. Eligible customers generating more electricity than they use over 12 months can request a purchase agreement in writing. The supplier must buy that excess at the Commission-approved rate, unless both sides agree to a higher rate. Customers have a one-time option, when the agreement starts, to sell…
- Consumer protections cover portable solar purchases: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, small portable solar devices count as goods under Virginia’s consumer protection law. Covered purchases receive the law’s protections for goods. The law also requires a written cure offer to include an extra payment. That payment is the greater of 10% of the offer’s value…
- Easier access to portable home solar: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, qualifying portable solar devices need no utility approval, connection agreement, device-related fee, or utility reimbursement. The limit is 1,200 watts per customer, or per residential unit in multifamily housing. Devices must plug into an outlet behind the meter, meet e…
- Farms can combine meters and keep rules: benefit, low. Eligible agricultural customer-generators can combine electricity use and generation from multiple meters in one account. The meters must serve the same customer at the same or adjacent sites, all served by one utility. The combined load uses the appropriate utility rate. Eligible agricultural gene…
- Qualifying locality gets renewable power credits: benefit, low. A locality qualifies if it is a nonjurisdictional Phase II Utility customer in Planning District Eight with over 1 million residents. It can install or contract for locality-owned solar or wind facilities on its own sites within the locality. Each facility is limited to 5 megawatts. Electricity cre…
- Portable solar lacks credits and utility liability: cost, low. Small portable solar devices do not qualify for net-metering credits under the customer-generator or agricultural customer-generator definitions. Beginning January 1, 2027, investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and electric cooperatives are not liable for device-caused harm. This includes…
- Some solar customers pay extra charges: cost, low. Residential customer-generators with systems larger than 10 kilowatts must pay a monthly standby charge under a Commission-approved method. The charge can recover only infrastructure costs properly tied to serving those generators. It cannot start before the date in the Commission’s approval order.…
- Cooperative solar credits have capacity limits: mixed, medium. The law establishes cooperative net metering starting on the later of July 1, 2019, or the regulations’ effective date. Eligible renewable systems must be on customer premises, connect alongside the utility system, and mainly offset the customer’s use. Residential systems placed in service after Ju…
- Farm power sales bring connection costs: mixed, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, qualifying agricultural businesses and specified licensed manufacturers can sell all qualifying renewable facility output to their utility. This route excludes customers already qualifying as eligible agricultural customer-generators. Facilities must be on customer premis…
- Cooperatives control third-party solar contract access: mixed, low. After Commission rulemaking concludes, third-party agreements financing renewable generation in cooperative areas are generally limited to federal income-tax-exempt customers. Statutory exceptions apply, and cooperative boards can allow these agreements for residential customers, nonresidential cus…
- Solar connection rules include customer costs: mixed, low. Cooperative net-metering customers must notify their supplier and get approval before installing a generating system. Required inspections and documents must be completed before connection, and systems must meet electrical and testing standards. Compliance reviews have 30-day deadlines for resident…
- Tenant solar rights have rental limits: mixed, low. Covered landlords cannot ban qualifying portable solar devices on the exterior of a tenant’s premises. This covers landlords owning more than four rental units or holding more than a 10% interest in more than four units. Tenants must give at least seven days’ notice, compliance documents, and the p…
- State reviews solar payments and charges: mixed, low. In net-metering proceedings, the Commission must weigh program costs, benefits, and effects on other electricity customers. It must set a fair netting period and a compensation method based on avoided utility costs for new rates. It must also work to prevent unreasonable costs from shifting to othe…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 93 | 3 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 27 | 12 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 29 | 11 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 96 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 20 | 1 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 8 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 30 | 7 | 1 |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Committee substitute rejected (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 | 11 | 1 | 2 |

## Actions (51)

- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (93-Y 3-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (27-Y 12-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0998) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (SB250ER2) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 998 (Effective - see bill) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250) (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 (SB250ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250) (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: House substitute agreed to by Senate (29-Y 11-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Passed House with substitute (96-Y 0-N 0-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 26108925D-H1 (House)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (20-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-03-03: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-03-03: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2026-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250) (Senate)
- 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)
- 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed Senate (30-Y 7-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Floor Offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Floor substitute printed 26107821D-S2 (Surovell) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Reading of substitute waived (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Engrossed by Senate - floor 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 26107516D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (11-Y 1-N 2-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250) (Senate)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104605D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225039.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225038.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220838.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220837.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219641.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213360.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213359.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196972.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196971.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192027.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192026.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191228.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191227.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143425.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143424.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136026.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136025.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135765.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135764.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086991.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086990.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/1225039.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225038.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220838.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220837.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219641.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213360.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213359.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196972.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196971.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192027.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192026.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191228.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191227.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143425.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143424.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136026.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136025.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135765.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135764.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086991.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086990.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-SB250-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).