Bill > SB621

This bill requires electric utilities designated as "Phase I and Phase II Utilities" to submit a petition to the State Corporation Commission (SCC), the state agency that regulates utilities, by October 15, 2026, proposing specific metrics for how efficiently their electric grid is being used. These metrics should compare the current performance of their electricity distribution and transmission systems against the ideal use of existing infrastructure, and may include specific measurements like the ratio of peak load to total capacity, the percentage of electricity lost during distribution, and an analysis of overloaded circuits. The SCC will then review these proposals, decide which metrics to approve, how they should be applied at the local level (feeder and substation), and how they should be reported in future plans. The SCC's final decision will also include a timeline for utilities to improve their grid utilization according to the approved metrics and how these metrics will influence future decisions on approving utility requests to recover costs for infrastructure investments. Additionally, the SCC will include in its annual report to the legislature and the Governor its findings on how each utility is performing against these metrics and analyze opportunities for utilities to improve grid utilization through various technologies and strategies, such as energy storage, customer-owned power sources, and virtual power plants.

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https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB621