# Virginia SB327: Electric utilities; pilot program for electric energy conservation, solar energy generation.

Virginia SB327, Electric utilities; pilot program for electric energy conservation, solar energy generation., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0728)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB327-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB327
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Electric utilities; pilot program for electric energy conservation, solar energy generation.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0728)
- Sponsor: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (172 yes, 79 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Electric utilities; pilot program for electric energy conservation, generation, and storage. Requires American Electric Power and Dominion Energy Virginia to each petition the State Corporation Commission by December 31, 2026, to conduct a pilot program for electric energy conservation, solar energy generation, and energy storage resources for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals. The bill directs the Commission to convene a technical conference to evaluate the creation of an energy efficiency program meeting certain requirements by November 1, 2026. Under the bill, if the Commission determines that such a program is feasible for implementation by American Electric Power and Dominion Energy Virginia, the Commission shall require such utilities to petition for approval by May 1, 2027, to implement such programs. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2034. This bill is identical to HB 1062.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Study of Pay-As-You-Save utility program: benefit, low. The State Corporation Commission holds a technical meeting by November 1, 2026 to study a Pay As You Save–style program with customer protections. If it finds the program feasible and in the public interest, it requires Phase I and Phase II utilities to seek approval to offer it by May 1, 2027. Thi…
- Pilot programs end July 1, 2034: cost, low. The law ends these pilot program authorities on July 1, 2034 unless the law is changed earlier. On that date, utilities no longer have to run or fund the pilots.
- Energy upgrades for low-income, seniors, disabled: mixed, medium. Each Phase I and Phase II electric utility runs a pilot for energy savings, solar, and home batteries. The pilot serves low-income, seniors, and people with disabilities in each utility’s Virginia service area. Utilities must ask the State Corporation Commission for approval by December 31, 2026. T…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 20 | 20 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 67 | 29 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 15 | 6 |   |
| 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 | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute | pass | 9 | 6 |   |

## Actions (36)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0728) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 728 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB327) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB327ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-03: House substitute agreed to by Senate (20-Y 20-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB327) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Passed House with substitute (67-Y 29-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-27: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-27: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-27: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-26: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-25: Committee substitute printed 26108440D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-24: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-24: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 6-N) (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)
- 2026-02-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB327) (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 26107028D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB327) (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105259D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222367.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222366.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196001.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196000.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179334.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179333.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178878.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178877.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136050.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136049.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135518.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135517.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089645.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089644.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/1222367.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222366.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196001.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196000.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179334.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179333.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178878.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178877.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136050.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136049.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135518.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135517.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089645.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089644.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB327-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).