Bill
Bill > SB619
summary
Introduced
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
In Committee
02/20/2026
02/20/2026
Crossed Over
02/13/2026
02/13/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Electric utilities; certificate of operation for high-load facilities. Prohibits any person from operating a high-load facility, defined in the bill as a facility whose electricity demand exceeds 90 megawatts that was not operating before January 1, 2027, without first having obtained a certificate of operation from the State Corporation Commission. The bill includes factors for the Commission to consider in reviewing a petition to operate a high-load facility. The bill establishes a presumption that a high-load facility shall be considered to have met certain requirements if the high-load facility has secured sufficient contracts for energy storage resources or zero-carbon electric generating resources or that the high-load facility has a plan to implement sufficient demand reduction measures. The bill also requires the Commission to consider certain factors in a review of a petition for a certificate to operate a high-load facility, including whether there is sufficient energy, capacity, and grid infrastructure to support the operation of the high-load facility and whether the operation of the high-load facility would create an unreasonable cross-subsidy across customers served by the incumbent electric utility.
AI Summary
This bill requires any new "high-load facility," defined as a facility with an electricity demand exceeding 90 megawatts that begins operation after January 1, 2027, to obtain a certificate of operation from the State Corporation Commission (SCC) before it can operate. The SCC will issue this certificate after reviewing the facility's potential impact on customer rates, the reliability of electric service, the incumbent electric utility's ability to meet energy and environmental laws, and whether it aligns with the Commonwealth's clean energy policy, among other factors. The bill establishes a presumption that a high-load facility meets certain requirements if it has secured contracts for energy storage or zero-carbon electricity generation, or if it has a plan to reduce its demand. The SCC will consider various factors during its review, including the facility's environmental and public health impacts, grid infrastructure adequacy, cumulative impacts of multiple facilities, economic development contributions, and whether it creates unfair cost shifts among customers. This new requirement will take precedence over other conflicting laws.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Business and Industry
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB619) (on 02/23/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB619 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB619) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1175173.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB619/text/SB619E |
| Commerce and Labor Amendment | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB619/text/SB619AS1 |
| Commerce and Labor Amendment | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB619/text/SB619ASC1 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB619) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131784.PDF |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB619) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103200.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB619/text/SB619 |
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