Bill > HB1467

This bill requires "Phase I Utilities," which are specific types of electric utilities in Virginia, to petition the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) for approval to run a pilot program by July 1, 2027, to test ways to manage electricity demand using new technologies, including "virtual power plants." A virtual power plant is essentially a network of smaller energy resources, like battery storage or smart thermostats, that can be coordinated to act like a single power plant. The pilot program will assess how these virtual power plants can help the electric grid, especially during times of high demand, by providing services like "peak-shaving," which means reducing electricity use during the busiest periods. The program will involve aggregating up to 150 megawatts of "distributed energy resources" – which are electricity-producing or storing devices located at or near customer sites – across different parts of Virginia, and will also explore incentives for customers, particularly those in "historically economically disadvantaged communities," to adopt technologies like battery storage. The bill also outlines a process for developing a program tariff, which is a set of rules for how customers can participate and be compensated for providing grid services, and sets a deadline of February 1, 2030, for the initial phase of the pilot programs to conclude, after which the Commission will review the results and consider establishing a permanent program.

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https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1467