# Virginia SB515: Electric Utility Regulation, Commission on; scope and name changes to Energy Commission of Virginia. Virginia SB515, Electric Utility Regulation, Commission on; scope and name changes to Energy Commission of Virginia., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0949)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB515-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB515 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Electric Utility Regulation, Commission on; scope and name changes to Energy Commission of Virginia. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0949) - Sponsor: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 12 (303 yes, 125 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 9 ## Summary Commission on Electric Utility Regulation; name change. Renames the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation as the Energy Commission of Virginia. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Clearer bills and fair energy marketing: benefit, medium. The Commission sets rules to stop unauthorized supplier switches and charges. Suppliers must give clear prices, key contract terms, fuel mix and emissions info when feasible, cancellation rights, and a toll‑free help number. Bills must use a standard format that separates regulated from unregulated… - Lower fuel charges for Phase II customers: benefit, medium. The law blocks Phase II utilities from charging customers for 50% of any deferred fuel balance that was still on the books on December 31, 2014. The State Corporation Commission lowers the fuel factor to reflect this cut. It also adjusts for forecasted over‑recoveries in the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016… - Energy Commission oversight and planning updates: benefit, low. The law renames and continues the Energy Commission of Virginia to watch how utility rules are carried out. The Commission exists until July 1, 2029 and gets a yearly status report by September 1. The State Energy Plan must be updated every four years, with an interim update in the third year of ea… - Utility plans with public input: benefit, low. Utilities must file or update their integrated resource plans by October 15 on a set schedule. Plans must review supply, market buys, energy efficiency, demand response, storage, grid‑enhancing technologies, and long‑term help for low‑income customers. Utilities must study retirements of in‑state C… - More utility solar, wind, and storage: mixed, medium. The law sets goals for 5,000 MW of new utility‑owned solar and wind by July 1, 2028 and 2,700 MW of storage by July 1, 2030. Building or buying up to 5,000 MW of solar or wind in Virginia or offshore is declared in the public interest, and rooftop solar of at least 50 kW can count toward 50 MW of t… - Rate reviews paused, oversight continues: mixed, medium. The law creates a Transitional Rate Period. Regular biennial rate reviews pause for Phase I test years starting January 1, 2014 and for Phase II test years starting January 1, 2015, and utilities could not file biennial reviews in 2016–2019. Most tariff changes are limited during this time, with na… - Energy education to help lower bills: mixed, low. The Commission runs an energy education program for customers. It covers conservation, efficiency, demand response, renewables, and programs for homes, businesses, industry, and government. The Commission consults with consumer groups and others, reports on the program’s scope, length, and funding,… - Pilot to put some power lines underground: mixed, low. The law creates a pilot for up to two transmission projects (over 69 kV and up to 230 kV) to be built partly or fully underground. One pre‑designated project (about 5.3 miles, with about 3.1 miles underground) qualifies after need is affirmed, and one more project must be picked from applications f… - Rules to join regional grid operators: mixed, low. Each utility that owns or controls transmission in Virginia must join or create a regional transmission entity and transfer management of its lines to it, subject to Commission approval. Any transfer request must include a cost‑benefit study that reviews consumer impacts, including congestion costs… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 22 | 17 | | | 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 73 | 24 | | | 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 | 73 | 25 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | Reported from Rules with substitute | pass | 18 | 0 | | | 2026-03-02 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 5 | 0 | | | 2026-02-11 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-02-10 | Senate | Rules Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-09 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-09 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-06 | Senate | Reported from Rules with substitute | pass | 11 | 0 | 4 | ## Actions (49) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0949) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 949 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-04-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB515) (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 (SB515ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (73-Y 24-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-13: Conference Report released - 2026-03-12: House Conferees: Sullivan, Herring, Kilgore (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: Deeds, Surovell, Obenshain (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Passed House with substitute (73-Y 25-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) - 2026-03-11: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House) - 2026-03-10: Read second time (House) - 2026-03-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB515) (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Committee substitute printed 26108941D-H1 (House) - 2026-03-06: Reported from Rules with substitute (18-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-03-02: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-03-01: Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee (House) - 2026-02-17: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-17: Referred to Committee on Rules (House) - 2026-02-17: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-11: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Rules Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB515) (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Committee substitute printed 26107436D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Reported from Rules with substitute (11-Y 0-N 4-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-22: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB515) (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Rules (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104323D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224685.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224684.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214457.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214456.PDF) - Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211186.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-03-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197624.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197623.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187513.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187512.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133600.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133599.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090638.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090637.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/1224685.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224684.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214457.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214456.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211186.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197624.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197623.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187513.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187512.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133600.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133599.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090638.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090637.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-SB515-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).