VirginiaSB5162026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Electric utilities; disconnection reports, State Corporation Commission database, annual summary.

Sponsored By: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Electric utilities; disconnection reports; State Corporation Commission database; annual summary. Requires each investor-owned utility and electric cooperative operating in the Commonwealth to provide a monthly report on residential account disconnections to the State Corporation Commission. The monthly report is required to include specific information outlined in the bill, including the number of residential accounts involuntarily disconnected due to nonpayment, the amount of time in which such accounts were reconnected to service, the amounts of arrearages attributable to such disconnected accounts and other residential accounts, and information related to how many of the disconnected accounts participate in a payment assistance program or have a serious medical condition certification form on file with the electric utility. The bill requires the Commission to publish the information from such monthly reports in a comprehensive and easily accessible online database. The bill also requires the Commission to submit an annual executive summary to the Governor and the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation on trends in electric utility disconnections based on the reports submitted by electric utilities, the first of which is due by September 1, 2027. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to HB 828.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Utilities must report power shutoffs

Beginning July 1, 2027, investor‑owned utilities and electric co‑ops in Virginia must file monthly reports on residential shutoffs. Reports use the last day of the month and are due within 60 days. Each report must show total residential accounts, the number and percent shut off for nonpayment, and 5‑digit ZIP code counts unless the Commission grants a privacy exemption. It must list reconnection times in these groups: under 24 hours, 24 to under 48, 48 to under 72, and 72 hours or more. It must include average and total arrears for shut‑off accounts, and counts by arrears: under $100; $100 to under $500; $500 to under $1,000; and $1,000 or more. It must count shut‑off accounts in assistance programs (utility aid, LIHEAP, or PIPP) and those with a serious medical certification on file. It must also show how many accounts owe money but are not shut off, and their average and total arrears. The State Corporation Commission posts all data online in a public database, by utility, and can set the form and manner for uniform reporting. By September 1, 2027, and every year after, the Commission sends a trends summary to the Governor and the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation, including utility narratives submitted by August 1 each year.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • R. Creigh Deeds

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 384 • No: 40

Senate vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 0

House vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Senate acceded to request Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

House substitute rejected by Senate

Yes: 0 • No: 40

House vote 2/27/2026

Passed House with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote 2/24/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/9/2026

Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0677)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 677 (Effective 7/1/2027)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB516)

    4/6/2026Senate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026Senate
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB516ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Conference report agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026House
  11. Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026Senate
  12. Conference Report released

    3/12/2026
  13. House Conferees: Herring, Ward, Webert

    3/11/2026House
  14. Conferees appointed by House

    3/11/2026House
  15. Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026Senate
  16. Senate Conferees: Deeds, Surovell, Obenshain

    3/6/2026Senate
  17. Conferees appointed by Senate

    3/6/2026Senate
  18. House requested conference committee

    3/4/2026House
  19. House insisted on substitute

    3/4/2026House
  20. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026Senate
  21. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB516)

    3/2/2026Senate
  22. Passed House with substitute Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026House
  23. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/27/2026House
  24. committee substitute agreed to

    2/27/2026House
  25. Read third time

    2/27/2026House

Bill Text

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