SB 487 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Electric cooperatives; authorized to establish and implement a virtual power plant program.

Summary
Electric utilities; virtual power plant program; electric cooperatives. Authorizes electric cooperatives to establish and implement a virtual power plant program. The bill defines a virtual power plant as an aggregation of distributed energy resources, enrolled either directly with an electric cooperative or indirectly through an aggregator, that are operated in coordination to provide one or more grid services. Under the bill, an electric cooperative may offer incentives to residential customers to purchase battery storage devices and is required to evaluate various methods to optimize demand. This bill is identical to HB 562.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Delegate Reid Substitute Enrolled · 2 edits · Mar 9, 2026
MINOR
The bill has progressed from a House substitute version to its final Enrolled form, meaning it is now ready to be signed into law. The substantive policy text regarding the virtual power plant program for electric cooperatives remains unchanged, with the only modifications being the removal of draft headers and the addition of official enactment language.
Scope change
No change in scope or applicability; the bill's subject matter is identical in both versions.
TECHNICAL

Removed draft metadata including the bill status ('HOUSE SUBSTITUTE'), bill number, and the list of sponsors and dates.

Added official 'ENROLLED' status, chapter title, and the standard 'Approved' signature line indicating the bill has passed both chambers.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 27, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 11, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
9
Committee
4
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 893 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB487ER)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce (21-Y 1-N)
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor (14-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jeremy McPike
Jeremy McPike
DDemocratic
VA
29