VirginiaSB4232026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Electric utilities; duty to furnish adequate service, high-demand customers.

Sponsored By: Russet Perry (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Electric utilities; delay in provision of service permitted. Provides that a distributor of electric energy may delay the provision of service if such delay is necessary to maintain electric grid reliability, to avoid exceeding available generation or transmission capacity constraints, or to ensure compliance with load interconnection policies or rules issued by the State Corporation Commission or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1151.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

New rules for home phone service

Beginning July 1, 2027, a telephone company does not have to extend lines if at least one wireline or terrestrial wireless provider already serves you at prevailing market rates. The company may use wireline or terrestrial wireless to serve customers, but when restoring service to an existing wireline customer it must offer a wireline option. You, a business, or a phone company can ask the State Corporation Commission to decide if the available service is a reasonably adequate alternative to local exchange service. In competitive areas, the Commission oversees by watching and acting on individual customer complaints. Using these technologies does not give the Commission extra authority over them.

Power hookups can be delayed for reliability

Beginning July 1, 2027, your power distributor may delay starting service when needed to protect grid reliability. Delays are allowed to avoid exceeding generation or transmission limits or to meet State Corporation Commission or FERC interconnection rules.

Unregulated power deals for very large users

Beginning July 1, 2027, an electric utility can meet its duty by letting an affiliate sell power directly to a customer in a cooperative’s service territory when the customer’s demand is reasonably expected to exceed 90 megawatts. This option is only for very large power users.

Faster rulings on utility rate experiments

Beginning July 1, 2027, the Commission must issue a final order on an investor-owned utility’s voluntary rate or rate-design test by the earlier of six months after filing or three months after any evidentiary hearing. These firm deadlines can speed up approval or rejection of experimental rates.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Russet Perry

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 210 • No: 36

House vote 2/27/2026

Passed House

Yes: 66 • No: 30

House vote 2/24/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce

Yes: 16 • No: 6

Senate vote 2/16/2026

Reading of substitute waived

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/16/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/16/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/16/2026

Senator Perry Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/16/2026

Commerce and Labor Substitute rejected

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0746)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 746 (Effective 7/1/2027)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026Senate
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB423)

    3/9/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB423ER)

    3/4/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/4/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    3/4/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/4/2026House
  10. Passed House (66-Y 30-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026House
  11. Read third time

    2/27/2026House
  12. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB423)

    2/26/2026Senate
  13. Read second time

    2/26/2026House
  14. Reported from Labor and Commerce (16-Y 6-N)

    2/24/2026House
  15. Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

    2/19/2026House
  16. Read first time

    2/19/2026House
  17. Placed on Calendar

    2/19/2026House
  18. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/16/2026Senate
  19. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/16/2026Senate
  20. Senator Perry Substitute agreed to

    2/16/2026Senate
  21. Reading of substitute waived

    2/16/2026Senate
  22. Commerce and Labor Substitute rejected

    2/16/2026Senate
  23. Rules suspended

    2/16/2026Senate
  24. Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/16/2026Senate
  25. Read second time

    2/16/2026Senate

Bill Text

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