# Virginia SB598: Electric utilities; renewable portfolio standard program, zero-carbon electricity, etc.

Virginia SB598, Electric utilities; renewable portfolio standard program, zero-carbon electricity, etc., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0512)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB598-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB598
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Electric utilities; renewable portfolio standard program, zero-carbon electricity, etc.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0512)
- Sponsor: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (267 yes, 20 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 11

## Summary

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard; zero-carbon electricity; accelerated clean energy buyers. Revises the conditions under which accelerated clean energy buyers, defined in existing law as accelerated renewable energy buyers, may contract with Appalachian Power or Dominion Energy Virginia to obtain renewable energy certificates (RECs). The bill exempts an accelerated clean energy buyer obtaining capacity, energy, or RECs from qualifying resources or facilities from the assignment of non-bypassable costs associated with compliance with the renewable portfolio standard program based on the amount and type of renewable energy certificates obtained in proportion to such accelerated clean energy buyer's total electric energy consumption. This bill incorporates SB 470. This bill is identical to HB 369.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Large clean energy buyers pay less: benefit, medium. Certified commercial and industrial buyers with prior-year aggregate load above 25 megawatts can contract for qualifying certificates, solar or wind bundles, and storage. Starting July 1, 2026, they can also buy zero-carbon electricity from eligible PJM-region resources. Contracts must satisfy loca…
- Shortfall payments fund community energy jobs: benefit, low. The Virginia Department of Energy must divide revenue from utility renewable shortfall payments. Job training in historically economically disadvantaged communities receives 50 percent. Renewable-energy programs in those communities receive 30 percent, and energy-saving measures at public facilitie…
- Small renewable projects support low-income customers: benefit, low. Phase II utilities must meet 1 percent of each annual renewable target through Virginia solar, wind, or anaerobic-digestion resources. Each resource is limited to 1 megawatt, with a 3-megawatt cap across single or contiguous sites under related ownership. At least 25 percent of this set-aside must…
- Some existing customers avoid renewable charges: benefit, low. Qualifying Phase II customers subscribed to the specified tariff as of March 1, 2020, avoid some new solar, wind, and storage costs. They need a renewable facilities agreement and a commitment to buy at least 2,000 renewable attributes yearly. Their exemption is proportional to qualifying agreement…
- Customers pay renewable energy compliance costs: cost, medium. Starting no later than January 1, 2021, Virginia customers pay renewable compliance charges, even when using another electricity supplier. Legal exemptions apply, and charges are updated and corrected each year. Utilities must seek approval to recover new zero-carbon power and storage costs through…
- Utility renewable shortfalls carry rising payments: cost, low. Utilities must pay for renewable shortfalls when they miss annual targets or needed certificates cost more than $45 per megawatt-hour. The base payment is $45 per megawatt-hour of shortfall. Shortfalls involving Virginia solar, wind, or anaerobic-digester projects of 1 megawatt or less carry a $75…
- Utilities face fossil plant retirement deadlines: mixed, high. Covered utilities must retire oil-fired units above 500 megawatts and coal-fired units by December 31, 2024. Exceptions cover coal units jointly owned with cooperatives and qualifying Phase II coalfield units that also burn biomass. Other in-state units emitting carbon from burning fuel must retire…
- Utilities get stricter renewable sourcing rules: mixed, high. Annual renewable targets use prior-year electricity sales and reach 100 percent in 2045 for Phase I utilities and 2050 for Phase II. Specified nuclear electricity, qualifying new zero-carbon electricity, and certified large-buyer purchases are excluded from the calculation. During 2021–2024, certif…
- Utilities must seek more renewable power: mixed, high. Phase I utilities must seek approval for 600 megawatts of Virginia solar or onshore wind. That includes 200 megawatts by December 31, 2023, another 200 by December 31, 2027, and another 200 by December 31, 2030. Phase II utilities must seek approval for 16,100 megawatts by December 31, 2035. Their…
- Utilities expand storage within project limits: mixed, medium. By December 31, 2035, Phase I utilities must seek approval for 400 megawatts of storage; Phase II must seek 2,700. Additional capacity also needs Commission approval. For facilities entering service after July 1, 2020, at least 35 percent must be bought from others or use third-party capacity sales…
- Utilities must compete and favor domestic equipment: mixed, low. Both utility classes must seek bids for new solar and wind resources at least once each year. Bid requests must explain the need and be public at least 45 days before closing. Utilities must consider price, developer qualifications, grid effects, Virginia economic benefits, and environmental factor…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Senator McDougle Amendment rejected | fail | 19 | 20 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 35 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute | pass | 14 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (40)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0512) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 512 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB598) (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 (SB598ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB598) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-06: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-03-06: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-03-06: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-05: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-03: Committee substitute printed 26109089D-H1 (House)
- 2026-03-03: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-03-03: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-03-03: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-24: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB598) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Floor offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Senator McDougle Amendment rejected (19-Y 20-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26107536D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Incorporates SB470 (Marsden) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB598) (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102381D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218251.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218250.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209909.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209908.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191063.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191704.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191703.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191062.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1151084.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147125.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147124.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145342.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145341.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090995.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090994.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/1218251.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218250.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209909.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209908.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191063.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191704.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191703.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191062.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1151084.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147125.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147124.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145342.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145341.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090995.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090994.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-SB598-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).