SB 253 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Electric utilities; pilot programs for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.

Summary
Electric utilities; pilot programs for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. Amends annual funding commitments for the purposes of the annual pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals conducted by Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power Company. Under the bill, Appalachian Power Company is required to continue its pilot program at no less than $1 million and no greater than $1.5 million annually. Dominion Energy Virginia is required to continue its pilot program at no less than $156 million and no greater than $204 million for the time period beginning July 1, 2026, and ending July 1, 2038. The bill extends the sunset date of such pilot programs from July 1, 2028, to July 1, 2038.The bill also provides that Dominion Energy Virginia may recover costs associated with certain electrical facilities that have been approved by the State Corporation Commission as of December 1, 2033, provided that certain requirements are met and notwithstanding any limitations on such cost recovery in current law. The bill directs Dominion Energy Virginia to propose to the Commission, in any proceeding to determine rates for generation and distribution services commencing after January 1, 2027, and before July 1, 2033, that certain costs related to capacity procurement requirements and distribution infrastructure investments are allocated to the utility's customer class approved to serve customers with a contracted or measured electric demand of 25 megawatts or greater and an anticipated or measured average annual electric load factor of 75 percent or greater. The bill provides that certain customers in manufacturing, industrial, or consumer goods warehousing and distribution activities other than data storage may elect to remain on their existing rate schedule. The bill requires Dominion Energy Virginia, in connection with its first proceeding to determine rates for generation and distribution services commencing after July 1, 2026, to include in its petition to the Commission a proposal to revise its tariff for supplementary, maintenance, or standby service for customers with power plants, effective as of January 1, 2028. The bill provides that the Commission shall only approve such proposal if it determines that such tariff will not adversely affect other retail customers or the utility in a manner contrary to the public interest, and any revised tariff terms shall include protections against stranded cost risks to the utility customer base. Additionally, the bill authorizes Dominion Energy Virginia to file a petition for the securitization of certain deferred fuel costs.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Vetoed
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Vetoed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Commerce and Labor Substitute Labor and Commerce Substitute · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was transferred from the Senate to the House, changing the committee oversight from Commerce and Labor to Labor and Commerce. The most significant substantive change is the revision of key dates in the cost recovery and rate protection sections, shifting the timeline forward by five years (e.g., cost recovery approval deadlines moved from 2038 to 2033, and rate election protections extended to 2033).
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on electric utilities, energy assistance pilots, and cost recovery for large industrial customers, but the specific operational timelines for these provisions have been extended.
TIMELINE

The deadline for Phase II Utilities to file cost recovery petitions was moved from 2038 to 2033, and the deadline for the State Corporation Commission to issue a final order on these petitions was moved from 2026 to 2033.

The expiration date for the one-time rate schedule election for large industrial customers was extended from December 31, 2033, to December 31, 2038.

REQUIREMENT

The reporting deadline for pilot program status was changed from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2026, to align with the updated timeline.

TECHNICAL

The bill title and committee attribution were updated to reflect House Substitute status and the House Committee on Labor and Commerce.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

340
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 39
Feb 13, 2026
D Democratic20
19 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
15 Yea 4
78% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
48
Key actions
14
Committee
10
Amendments
4
Apr 13, 2026
Vetoed
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB253ER)
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference report agreed to by House (73-Y 23-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Conference Report released
legislature
Mar 6, 2026
Committee
House requested conference committee
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute (66-Y 32-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (18-Y 3-N)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Amended
Senator McDougle Amendment rejected (19-Y 20-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Floor offered Senator McDougle Amendment
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments (14-Y 0-N 1-A)
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A)
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Louise Lucas
Louise Lucas
DDemocratic
VA
18