# Virginia SB371: Electric utilities; electric demand flexibility programs, high energy demand customers, report.

Virginia SB371, Electric utilities; electric demand flexibility programs, high energy demand customers, report., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0378)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB371-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB371
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Electric utilities; electric demand flexibility programs, high energy demand customers, report.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0378)
- Sponsor: Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 9 (226 yes, 37 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Electric utilities; high energy demand customers; demand flexibility programs; reports. Directs Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to file a petition with the State Corporation Commission by January 15, 2027, for approval of voluntary demand flexibility programs that apply to high energy demand customers, as defined in the bill. The bill requires the Commission to consider all forms of demand flexibility and other specific factors in approving each such program. The bill directs each cooperative that serves one or more high energy demand customers to establish a voluntary demand flexibility program for such customers by January 1, 2029. Under the bill, Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power are required to file status reports on their demand flexibility programs with the Commission three years after initial program approval and every three years thereafter. Additionally, in 2028 and annually thereafter, the Commission is required to submit information summarizing the status and performance of such programs as part of an existing report. This bill is identical to HB 284.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Cooperatives must set up programs by 2029: mixed, low. Electric cooperatives that serve very large users must create a voluntary demand flexibility program by January 1, 2029. These users have 25 megawatts or more of demand and a 75%+ average annual load factor. Each cooperative must form a technical work group, invite stakeholders, and study all forms…
- New demand flexibility options for large users: mixed, low. Phase I and Phase II utilities must set up voluntary demand flexibility programs for very large power users. These are customers with 25 megawatts or more of demand and a 75%+ average annual load factor. Utilities must file program petitions by January 15, 2027. The State Corporation Commission mus…
- Program rules: no carbon, fair incentives: mixed, low. Carbon-emitting generators cannot take part in these demand flexibility programs. Any incentives for large users must not unfairly shift program or admin costs to other customers. Incentives can include faster, open, and transparent interconnection steps. Incentives only apply when peak or load cut…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 22 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 9 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 26 | 13 |   |
| 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 | 6 |   |

## Actions (39)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0378) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 378 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB371) (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 (SB371ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB371) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: House substitute agreed to by Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-10: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-03-10: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-03-10: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-09: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-05: Committee substitute printed 26108390D-H1 (House)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-03-03: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-03-03: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: 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)
- 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 13-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB371) (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 26107319D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Incorporates SB551 (Srinivasan) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB371) (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102637D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217722.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217721.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211954.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211953.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197052.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197051.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192038.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192037.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191280.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191279.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136010.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136009.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135450.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135449.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089815.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089814.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/1217722.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217721.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211954.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211953.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197052.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197051.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192038.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192037.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191280.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191279.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136010.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136009.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135450.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135449.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089815.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089814.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-SB371-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).