Bill > SB223

This bill establishes the Distributed Energy Resources Task Force as an advisory commission within the Department of Energy, tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy to improve energy affordability and integrate distributed energy resources (DERs) into the Commonwealth's markets, as well as to help Virginia comply with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order No. 2222, which aims to facilitate participation of DERs in wholesale electricity markets. The Task Force will have 12 members, including the Lieutenant Governor as chair, legislative representatives, secretaries of commerce and natural resources, and officials from the State Corporation Commission and relevant departments, with the Governor also able to appoint an additional member representing various stakeholder groups to ensure balanced representation. The Task Force's duties include reviewing existing laws and best practices, making recommendations to the State Corporation Commission on modernizing interconnection standards and aligning regulations with FERC Order No. 2222, and exploring policies for microgrids and virtual power plants, all while engaging stakeholders and coordinating with other relevant groups. The Task Force is required to submit several reports, including a draft summary of its planning process, an interim report, and a final report with legislative and regulatory recommendations by November 1, 2026, and a deployment report by June 30, 2027, to various state and federal entities, with the entire Task Force set to expire on July 1, 2027.

Budget and Finance

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB223