WatchGov

Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia SB 249

Electric utilities; definitions, integrated resource plans, report.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

Electric utilities; integrated resource plans. Makes various changes related to the content and process for an integrated resource plan (IRP) developed by an electric utility that provides a forecast of its load obligations and a plan to meet those obligations. The bill (i) extends the planning timeframe from 15 to 20 years; (ii) requires Appalachian Power to file an IRP by removing an exception from the definition of "electric utility"; (iii) changes the frequency with which a utility is required to file an IRP from biennially to triennially; (iv) requires utilities to consider the use of grid-enhancing technologies as alternatives to new transmission infrastructure, and when new transmission lines are envisioned, to provide the reasons grid-enhancing technologies are not sufficient to defer or eliminate the need for new transmission infrastructure; and (v) requires utilities to consider the use of surplus interconnection service, as defined in the bill, to add new electric generation projects and energy storage resources to the grid.The bill requires that the current stakeholder review process for integrated resource plans be facilitated by a third-party facilitator selected by the State Corporation Commission and compensated by the utility. The bill requires, as part of the stakeholder review process, the utility to provide stakeholders with reasonable access to the same modeling software, modeling assumptions, modeling inputs, and data used by the utility to evaluate supply and demand resources in its integrated resource plan to enable stakeholders to create modeling scenarios for the utility's consideration during the development of its integrated resource plan.The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to (a) establish guidelines that ensure that utilities develop comprehensive integrated resource plans and provide meaningful public engagement and maximum transparency during the planning process; (b) conduct a proceeding by July 1, 2027, and at least once every five years thereafter, to identify and review each of its existing orders relevant to integrated resource plans to determine if such orders remain necessary and effective and are not overly burdensome; and (c) convene a work group to make recommendations on the required guidelines.As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to HB 429.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 8:13 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 14, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 14, 2026
Senate		Adopt Conference Committee Report RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 12, 2026
Senate		Accede Conference Committee RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 12, 2026
Senate		Concur House Substitute RfailSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 11, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 5, 2026
House		Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 3, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 13, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 11, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 9, 2026
Senate		Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see

Actions