dcrodriguez/Code-of-Virginia huggingface dataset:
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 22.1 (THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE EDUCATION FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 2002)
§ 56-575.5. Service contracts.
In addition to any authority otherwise conferred by law, any public entity may contract with a private entity for the delivery of services to be provided as part of a qualifying project in exchange for such service payments and other consideration as such public entity may deem appropriate.

2002, c. 571; 2005, c. 865.

Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 22.1 (THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE EDUCATION FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 2002)
§ 56-575.6. Affected local jurisdictions.
A. Any private entity requesting approval from, or submitting a proposal to, a responsible public entity under § 56-575.4 shall notify each affected local jurisdiction by furnishing a copy of its request or proposal to each affected local jurisdiction.

B. Each affected local jurisdiction that is not a responsible public entity for the respective qualifying project shall, within sixty days after receiving such notice, submit any comments it may have in writing on the proposed qualifying project to the responsible public entity and indicate whether the facility is compatible with the local comprehensive plan, local infrastructure development plans, the capital improvements budget, or other government spending plan. Such comments shall be given consideration by the responsible public entity prior to entering a comprehensive agreement pursuant to § 56-575.9 with a private entity.

2002, c. 571.

Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 22.1 (THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE EDUCATION FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 2002)
§ 56-575.7. Dedication of public property.
Any public entity may dedicate any property interest, including land, improvements, and tangible personal property, that it has for public use in a qualifying project if it finds that so doing will serve the public purpose of this chapter by minimizing the cost of a qualifying project to the public entity or reducing the delivery time of a qualifying project. In connection with such dedication, a public entity may convey any property interest that it has, subject to the conditions imposed by general law governing such conveyances, to the private entity subject to the provisions of this chapter, for such consideration as such public entity may determine. The aforementioned consideration may include, without limitation, the agreement of the private entity to develop or operate the qualifying project. The property interests that the public entity may convey to the private entity in connection with a dedication under this section may include licenses, franchises, easements, or any other right or interest the public entity deems appropriate.

2002, c. 571; 2005, c. 865.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 22.1 (THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE EDUCATION FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 2002)
§ 56-575.9:1. Interim agreement.
Prior to or in connection with the negotiation of the comprehensive agreement, the responsible public entity may enter into an interim agreement with the private entity proposing the development or operation of the qualifying project. Such interim agreement may (i) permit the private entity to commence activities for which it may be compensated relating to the proposed qualifying project, including, but not limited to, project planning and development, design and engineering, environmental analysis and mitigation, survey, and ascertaining the availability of financing for the proposed facility or facilities; (ii) establish the process and timing of the negotiation of the comprehensive agreement; and (iii) contain any other provisions related to any aspect of the development or operation of a qualifying project that the parties may deem appropriate.

2005, c. 865.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-577.1. Electric utilities; retail competition; pilot program.
A. The Commission shall conduct a pilot program under which two or more nonresidential customers that, as of February 25, 2019, had filed applications seeking to aggregate their load pursuant to subdivision A 4 of § 56-577 within the service territory of a Phase II Utility, as that term is defined in subsection A of § 56-585.1, shall be permitted to purchase electric energy from any supplier of electric energy licensed to sell electric energy within the Commonwealth, subject to the following terms, conditions, and restrictions:

1. A pilot program shall be conducted within the certified service territory of the Phase II Utility in which such nonresidential customers are located.

2. The aggregated load participating in the pilot program shall not exceed 200 megawatts.

3. All customers participating in the pilot program shall be subject in all respects to the provisions of subdivision A 3 of § 56-577, with participation in this pilot program being deemed to satisfy subdivision A 4 of § 56-577 and with the load set forth in each application being treated as a single, individual customer for purposes of said subdivision, and shall submit an annual report to the Commission by March 31 each year to demonstrate that, for the preceding calendar year, such load continued to meet the demand limitations of subdivision A 3 of § 56-577.

B. The Commission shall review the pilot program established pursuant to subsection A in 2022.

2020, c. 796.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-578. Nondiscriminatory access to transmission and distribution system.
A. All distributors shall have the obligation to connect any retail customer, including those using distributed generation, located within its service territory to those facilities of the distributor that are used for delivery of retail electric energy, subject to Commission rules and regulations and approved tariff provisions relating to connection of service.

B. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every distributor shall provide distribution service within its service territory on a basis which is just, reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory to suppliers of electric energy, including distributed generation, as the Commission may determine. The distribution services provided to each supplier of electric energy shall be comparable in quality to those provided by the distribution utility to itself or to any affiliate.

C. The Commission shall establish interconnection standards to ensure transmission and distribution safety and reliability, which standards shall not be inconsistent with nationally recognized standards acceptable to the Commission. In adopting standards pursuant to this subsection, the Commission shall seek to prevent barriers to new technology and shall not make compliance unduly burdensome and expensive. The Commission shall determine questions about the ability of specific equipment to meet interconnection standards.

D. The Commission shall consider developing expedited permitting processes for small generation facilities of fifty megawatts or less. The Commission shall also consider developing a standardized permitting process and interconnection arrangements for those power systems less than 500 kilowatts which have demonstrated approval from a nationally recognized testing laboratory acceptable to the Commission.

E. Upon the separation and deregulation of the generation function and services of incumbent electric utilities, the Commission shall retain jurisdiction over utilities' electric transmission function and services, to the extent not preempted by federal law. Nothing in this section shall impair the Commission's authority under §§ 56-46.1, 56-46.2, and 56-265.2 with respect to the construction of electric transmission facilities.

1999, c. 411; 2007, cc. 888, 933.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-581.1. Repealed.
Repealed by Acts 2007, cc. 888 and 933, cl. 2.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-583. Repealed.
Repealed by Acts 2007, cc. 888 and 933, cl. 2.

Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-584. Stranded costs.
Just and reasonable net stranded costs, to the extent that they exceed zero value in total for the incumbent electric utility, shall be recoverable by each incumbent electric utility provided each incumbent electric utility shall only recover its just and reasonable net stranded costs through either capped rates as provided in § 56-582. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the establishment by the Commission of wires charges for any distribution cooperative shall be conditioned upon such cooperative entering into binding commitments by which it will pay to any power supply cooperative of which such distribution cooperative is or was a member, as compensation for such power supply cooperative's stranded costs, all or part of the proceeds of such wires charges, as determined by the Commission.

1999, c. 411; 2007, cc. 888, 933.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-585. Default service.
A. The Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, (i) determine the components of default service and (ii) establish one or more programs making such services available to retail customers requiring them during the availability throughout the Commonwealth of customer choice for all retail customers as established pursuant to § 56-577. For purposes of this chapter, "default service" means service made available under this section to retail customers who (i) do not affirmatively select a supplier, (ii) are unable to obtain service from an alternative supplier, or (iii) have contracted with an alternative supplier who fails to perform. Availability of default service shall expire upon the expiration or termination of capped rates.

B. A distributor shall have the obligation and right to be the supplier of default services in its certificated service territory, and shall do so, in a safe and reliable manner, at rates determined pursuant to subsection C; however, the Commission may not require a distributor, or affiliate thereof, to provide any such services outside the territory in which such distributor provides service.

C. Until the expiration or termination of capped rates, the rates for default service shall equal the capped rates established pursuant to subdivision A 2 of § 56-582.

D. A distribution electric cooperative, or one or more affiliates thereof, shall have the obligation and right to be the supplier of default services in its certificated service territory. A distribution electric cooperative's rates for such default services shall be the capped rate for the duration of the capped rate period. Subsections B and C shall not apply to a distribution electric cooperative or its rates. Such default services, for the purposes of this subsection, shall include the supply of electric energy.

1999, c. 411; 2000, c. 991; 2001, c. 748; 2003, c. 885; 2004, c. 827; 2007, cc. 888, 933.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-585.1:10. Program for electric infrastructure serving business parks.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership shall conduct a program with each Phase I and Phase II Utility, as those terms are defined in subsection A of § 56-585, in each such utility's service territory or transmission zone for the purpose of promoting economic development in areas of the Commonwealth. The program shall allow any such utility to complete the construction phase of a transmission line and any associated substation and other associated facilities to provide electric transmission and distribution infrastructure to a business park, as defined in § 56-576, located within the utility's transmission zone where investments by a locality or an industrial development authority or a similar political subdivision of the Commonwealth created pursuant to § 15.2-4903 or other act of the General Assembly in the siting, environmental review, pre-engineering design, and transmission right-of-way acquisition have been made prior to the public announcement of a prospective occupant of the business park. Each program shall be subject to the following terms, conditions, and restrictions:

1. The costs incurred by a Phase I or Phase II Utility after January 1, 2019, to construct, operate, and maintain the business park electric infrastructure in order to provide service to a business park participating in the program outlined by this section shall be recovered by the utility pursuant to a rate adjustment clause approved by the Commission in subdivision A 4 of § 56-585.1.

2. Each individual qualifying project shall be less than 10 miles in length.

3. The role of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership in conducting the program outlined by this section is to certify that up to two petitions per year for each Phase I and Phase II utility address the eligibility criteria for participation in the program set forth in § 56-576 and in this section.

4. For construction of business park electric infrastructure, a utility shall either (i) obtain a certificate from the Commission pursuant to subdivision A 1 of § 56-265.2, unless such infrastructure is an ordinary extension or improvement in the usual course of business or (ii) obtain approval pursuant to the requirements of § 15.2-2232 and any applicable zoning ordinances by the locality or localities in which the business park electric infrastructure will be located. If the utility seeks a certificate pursuant to subdivision A 1 of § 56-265.2, the Commission shall issue its decision on the expedited certificate application no later than six months from the date of filing. The need for any business park electric infrastructure shall be satisfied if the business park to be served is approved for the program by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

2019, c. 535; 2022, c. 216; 2023, cc. 704, 705.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-585.1:13. Recovery of costs associated with investment in transportation electrification.
Beginning July 1, 2021, any approved costs of any investor-owned electric utility associated with investment in transportation electrification, other than those costs approved prior to July 1, 2021, shall be recovered only through the utility's rates for generation and distribution, shall not be recovered through a rate adjustment clause pursuant to subdivision A 6 of § 56-585.1, and shall not be eligible for a customer credit reinvestment offset pursuant to subdivision A 8 d of § 56-585.1. To the extent that the provisions of this section are inconsistent with the provisions of § 56-585.1, the provisions of this section shall control.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 268.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-585.1:2. Pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization.
Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 56-249.6 and 56-585.1:

Each Phase I and II Utility shall conduct a pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for low income, elderly, and disabled individuals in their respective service territories in the Commonwealth. Each pilot program shall be funded by the utility and shall commence September 1, 2015. Each Phase I Utility shall continue such pilot program at no less than the existing levels of funding as of July 1, 2018, for each year that the utility provides such service. Each Phase II Utility shall continue such pilot program at no less than $13 million for each year the utility is providing such service. The funding for the pilot programs established pursuant hereto for energy assistance and weatherization for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals in the service territory in the Commonwealth of each respective utility shall continue until the earlier of amendment or repeal of this section or July 1, 2028. Each such utility shall report on the status of its pilot program, including the number of individuals served thereby, to the Governor, the State Corporation Commission, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor by July 1, 2016, and each year thereafter.

2015, c. 6; 2018, c. 296.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-585.1:6. Pilot Programs to deploy electric power storage batteries.
A. The Commission shall establish pilot programs under which each Phase I Utility and each Phase II Utility, as such terms are defined in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1, shall submit a proposal to deploy electric power storage batteries. A proposal shall provide for the deployment of batteries pursuant to a pilot program that accomplishes at least one of the following: (i) improve reliability of electrical transmission or distribution systems; (ii) improve integration of different types of renewable resources; (iii) deferred investment in generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity; (iv) reduced need for additional generation of electricity during times of peak demand; or (v) connection to the facilities of a customer receiving generation, transmission, and distribution service from the utility. A Phase I Utility may install batteries with up to 10 megawatts of capacity. A Phase II Utility may install batteries with up to 30 megawatts of capacity. Each pilot program shall have a duration of five years. The pilot program shall provide for the recovery of all reasonable and prudent costs incurred under the pilot program through the electric utility's base rates on a nondiscriminatory basis. Any pilot program proposed by a Phase I Utility or Phase II Utility that satisfies the requirements of this subsection is in the public interest.

B. The Commission shall, by December 1, 2018, adopt such rules or establish such guidelines as may be necessary for the general administration of pilot programs to deploy electric power storage batteries established by subsection A.

2018, c. 296.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-585.1:7. Pilot program for electric generation by public schools.
A. The Commission shall require a Phase II Utility as defined in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1 to submit a proposal to the Commission to conduct a pilot program, not to exceed 10 megawatts in the aggregate, in its certificated service territory to allow any school in a public school division in the Commonwealth that generates electricity from a wind-powered or solar-powered renewable energy generation facility located at the school in amounts that exceed the amount of electricity consumed by the school in a billing period, at the option of the school board, to either (i) credit such excess electricity to the metered accounts of one or more other schools in the same public school division, as directed by the school board, in a manner that reduces the amount of electricity for which the other school or schools are billed and provides the other school or schools with a credit against the amount billed to the other school or schools, which credit shall be at the same rate that the school or schools would otherwise be charged for such amount of electricity, without the assessment by the supplier of any service charges or fees in connection with or arising out of such crediting or (ii) receive payment for such excess electricity from the electric utility at the contractually negotiated rate. The duration of any pilot program approved by the Commission pursuant to this section shall be six years.

B. The Commission shall, by December 1, 2018, adopt such rules or establish such guidelines as may be necessary for its general administration of the pilot program established under this section.

C. Any electric utility participating in the pilot program established under this section shall report to the General Assembly by December 1 of each year the pilot program is in effect, commencing in 2020, regarding the status of the pilot program's enrollment and any other information that may be appropriate.

2018, c. 415.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-585.2. Repealed.
Repealed by Acts 2020, cc. 1193 and 1194, cl. 3.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-586. Emergency service provider.
On and after January 1, 2001, if any supplier fails to fulfill an obligation, resulting in the failure of retail electric energy to be delivered into the control area serving the supplier's retail customer, the entity fulfilling the control area function, or, if applicable, the regional transmission entity or other entity as designated by the Commission, shall be responsible for charging the defaulting supplier for the full cost of replacement energy, including the cost of energy, the cost incurred by others as a result of the default, and the assessment of penalties as may be approved either by the Commission, to the extent not precluded by federal law, or by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Commission, as part of the rules established under § 56-587, shall determine the circumstances under which failures to deliver electricity will result in the revocation of the supplier's license.

1999, c. 411.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-588. Licensing of aggregators.
A. As a condition of doing business in the Commonwealth, each person seeking to act as an aggregator within this Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2002, shall obtain a license from the Commission to do so. The license shall authorize that person to act as an aggregator until the license expires or is otherwise terminated, suspended or revoked. Licensing pursuant to this section, however, shall not relieve any person seeking to act as a supplier of electric energy from their obligation to obtain a license as a supplier pursuant to § 56-587.

B. As a condition of obtaining, retaining and renewing any license issued pursuant to this section, a person shall satisfy such reasonable and nondiscriminatory requirements as may be specified by the Commission, which may include requirements that such person (i) provide background information; (ii) demonstrate, in a manner satisfactory to the Commission, financial responsibility; (iii) post a bond as deemed adequate by the Commission to ensure that financial responsibility; (iv) pay an annual license fee to be determined by the Commission; and (v) pay all taxes and fees lawfully imposed by the Commonwealth or by any municipality or other political subdivision of the Commonwealth. In addition, as a condition of obtaining, retaining and renewing any license pursuant to this section, a person shall satisfy such reasonable and nondiscriminatory requirements as may be specified by the Commission, including, but not limited to, requirements that such person demonstrate technical capabilities as the Commission may deem appropriate. Any license issued by the Commission pursuant to this section may be conditioned upon the licensee, if acting as a supplier, furnishing to the Commission prior to the provision of electricity to consumers proof of adequate access to generation and generation reserves.

C. In establishing aggregator licensing schemes and requirements applicable to the same, the Commission may differentiate between (i) those aggregators representing retail customers only, (ii) those aggregators representing suppliers only, and (iii) those aggregators representing both retail customers and suppliers.

D. 1. The Commission shall establish a reasonable period within which any retail customer may cancel, without penalty or cost, any contract entered into with an aggregator licensed pursuant to this section.

2. The Commission may adopt other rules and regulations governing the requirements for obtaining, retaining, and renewing a license to aggregate electric energy to retail customers, and may, as appropriate, refuse to issue a license to, or suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew the license of, any person that does not meet those requirements.

1999, c. 411; 2000, c. 991.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-589. Municipal and state aggregation.
A. Subject to the provisions of subdivision A 3 of § 56-577, counties, cities, and towns (hereafter municipalities) and other political subdivisions of the Commonwealth may, at their election and upon authorization by majority votes of their governing bodies, aggregate electrical energy and demand requirements for the purpose of negotiating the purchase of electrical energy requirements from any licensed supplier within this Commonwealth, as follows:

1. Any municipality or other political subdivision of the Commonwealth may aggregate the electric energy load of residential, commercial, and industrial retail customers within its boundaries on an opt-in or opt-out basis.

2. Any municipality or other political subdivision of the Commonwealth may aggregate the electric energy load of its governmental buildings, facilities, and any other governmental operations requiring the consumption of electric energy. Aggregation pursuant to this subdivision shall not require licensure pursuant to § 56-588.

3. Two or more municipalities or other political subdivisions within the Commonwealth may aggregate the electric energy load of their governmental buildings, facilities, and any other governmental operations requiring the consumption of electric energy. Aggregation pursuant to this subdivision shall not require licensure pursuant to § 56-588 when such municipalities or other political subdivisions are acting jointly to negotiate or arrange for themselves agreements for their energy needs directly with licensed suppliers or aggregators.

Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the Commission's development and implementation of pilot programs for opt-in, opt-out, or any other type of municipal aggregation, as provided in § 56-577.

B. The Commonwealth, at its election, may aggregate the electric energy load of its governmental buildings, facilities, and any other government operations requiring the consumption of electric energy for the purpose of negotiating the purchase of electricity from any licensed supplier within the Commonwealth. Aggregation pursuant to this subsection shall not require licensure pursuant to § 56-588.

C. Nothing in this section shall preclude municipalities from aggregating the electric energy load of their governmental buildings, facilities and any other governmental operations requiring the consumption of electric energy for the purpose of negotiating rates and terms, and conditions of service from the electric utility certificated by the Commission to serve the territory in which such buildings, facilities and operations are located, provided, however, that no such electric energy load shall be aggregated for this purpose unless all such buildings, facilities and operations to be aggregated are served by the same electric utility.

1999, c. 411; 2000, c. 991; 2003, c. 795; 2004, c. 827; 2007, cc. 888, 933.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-589.1. Energy generation by public school buildings and facilities.
A. A school board of a school division located in a locality that is a non-jurisdictional customer of a utility pursuant to § 56-234 and that owns or operates a public school building or facility that has been modernized consistent with Article 3 (§ 22.1-141.1 et seq.) of Chapter 9 of Title 22.1 and generates energy derived from sunlight and the solar generating facility is interconnected pursuant to § 56-594 may enter into a contract to generate such energy on terms and conditions negotiated between the customer and the utility.

B. The solar-powered renewable energy generation facilities associated with a public school building or facility owned or operated by a school board shall be located on the same real property upon which the public school buildings and facilities are located. The solar facilities shall be located on the rooftops of the public school buildings and facilities, however up to 20 percent of the capacity may come from ground mounted solar facilities.

C. Neither jurisdictional customers nor non-jurisdictional customers that do not participate in a school modernization project consistent with Article 3 (§ 22.1-141.1 et seq.) of Chapter 9 of Title 22.1 shall bear any costs associated with such school modernization project by a participating non-jurisdictional customer.

2019, cc. 818, 819.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-591. Application of antitrust laws.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to exempt or immunize from punishment or prosecution, conduct violative of federal antitrust laws, or the antitrust laws of this Commonwealth.

1999, c. 411.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-592.1. Consumer education program; scope and funding.
A. The Commission shall establish and implement the consumer education program developed pursuant to subsection A of § 56-592. In establishing such a program, the Commission shall take into account the findings and recommendations of the subgroup on Information/Consumer Education that was established in conjunction with the Commission's proceeding in Case PUE-2007-00049, that implemented the third enactment of Chapters 888 and 933 of the Acts of Assembly of 2007.

B. The program shall be designed to (i) enable consumers to make rational and informed choices about the matters described in subsection A of § 56-592, including but not limited to demand side management, energy conservation, and energy efficiency, (ii) help consumers reduce transaction costs in making decisions regarding such matters, and (iii) foster compliance with the consumer protection provisions of this chapter.

C. The Commission shall regularly consult with representatives of consumer organizations, community-based groups, state agencies, incumbent utilities, and other interested parties throughout the program's implementation and operation.

D. Pursuant to the provisions of § 30-205, the Commission shall provide periodic updates to the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation concerning the program's implementation and operation.

E. The Commission shall fund the establishment and operation of such consumer education program through the special regulatory revenue tax currently authorized by § 58.1-2660 and the special regulatory tax authorized by Chapter 29 (§ 58.1-2900 et seq.) of Title 58.1.

2000, c. 991; 2003, c. 885; 2008, c. 883.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-594.1. Interconnection by farms.
A. As used in this section, "eligible farm" means an entity that owns or operates facilities within the Commonwealth for the generation of electric energy, which entity is described in subdivision (b)(10) of § 56-265.1.

B. Eligible farms shall be permitted to connect to the electrical grid in order to feed into the grid electricity generated by the eligible farm from its facilities that generate electricity from a waste-to-energy technology.

C. The Commission shall adopt regulations to implement this section pursuant to § 56-578.

2009, c. 746.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-595. Repealed.
Repealed by Acts 2003, c. 885.

Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-596. Consideration of economic development; report.
A. In all relevant proceedings pursuant to this Act, the Commission shall take into consideration, among other things, the goal of economic development in the Commonwealth.

B. By September 1 of each year, the Commission shall report to the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation and the Governor on the status of the implementation of this chapter and its recommendations regarding the implementation of the provisions of this chapter. This report shall include the Commission's recommendations for any actions by the General Assembly, the Commission, electric utilities, or any other entity that the Commission considers to be in the public interest.

2001, c. 748; 2003, c. 885; 2008, c. 883.

Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-596.1. New generating facilities utilizing energy derived from sunlight and from wind; report.
It is the objective of the General Assembly that the construction and development of new utility-owned and utility-operated generating facilities utilizing energy derived from sunlight and from wind with an aggregate capacity of 5,000 megawatts, including rooftop solar installations with a capacity of not less than 50 kilowatts, and with an aggregate capacity of 50 megawatts, be placed in service on or before July 1, 2028. It is also the objective of the General Assembly that 2,700 megawatts of aggregate energy storage capacity be placed into service on or before July 1, 2030. The Commission shall submit a report and make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly annually on or before December 1 of each year through December 1, 2028, assessing (i) the aggregate annual new construction and development of new utility-owned and utility-operated generating facilities utilizing energy derived from sunlight, (ii) the integration of utility-owned renewable electric generation resources with the utility's electric distribution grid, (iii) the aggregate additional utility-owned and utility-operated generating facilities utilizing energy derived from sunlight placed in operation since July 1, 2018, (iv) the need for additional generation of electricity utilizing energy derived from sunlight in order to meet the objective of the General Assembly on or before July 1, 2028, and (v) the aggregate annual new construction or purchase of energy storage facilities. The Commission shall submit copies of such annual reports to the Chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor, and the Chairman of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation.

2018, c. 296; 2020, c. 1190.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-596.2:2. (Expires January 1, 2031) Energy efficiency savings targets for certain customers.
A. The Commission shall establish for Phase II Utilities annual energy efficiency savings targets for customers who are low-income, elderly, disabled, or veterans of military service to be achieved through utility energy efficiency programs (low-income energy efficiency savings programs) designed to benefit such customers, provided that each year's target shall be measured by the total combined kilowatt-hour savings achieved by electric utility energy efficiency and demand response programs and measures installed for such customers in that program year, as well as savings still being achieved by measures and programs implemented for such customers in prior years, and that such annual targets shall be at least one percent of the average annual energy retail sales by that utility to those customers, to the extent that the potential exists and is reasonably achievable as determined by the Commission. In establishing such targets, the Commission shall seek to optimize energy efficiency and the health and safety benefits of utility energy efficiency programs.

B. In advance of the effective date of such annual energy efficiency targets, the first of which shall be for 2025, the Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, initiate proceedings to establish such targets and the appropriate retail sales against which the energy efficiency targets will be measured. In setting such targets, the Commission shall consider the impact and savings of energy efficiency programs authorized by subdivision C 2 of § 10.1-1330. The Commission shall also consider federal loan guarantees, grant funds, and rebates made available pursuant to the federal Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169) or other similar federal legislation that facilitates energy efficiency projects.

C. For the time period 2028 through 2030, the Commission shall review and, at its discretion, revise such minimum annual targets to ensure continued consistency with the provisions of this section. All savings from low-income energy efficiency programs shall be applied to the energy efficiency savings set forth in subsection B of § 56-596.2.

D. In providing such low-income energy efficiency programs, Phase II Utilities shall make best efforts to coordinate such energy efficiency programs with any health and safety upgrades provided through energy efficiency programs authorized by subdivision C 2 of § 10.1-1330, when reasonably feasible to do so and at the utility's sole discretion.

E. For the purposes of this act, "Phase II Utility" has the same meaning as provided in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1.

2023, c. 728.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-596.3. Electric generation, transmission, and distribution; report.
The Commission shall submit a report and make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly annually on or before December 1 of each year assessing (i) the reliability of electrical transmission or distribution systems; (ii) the integration of utility or customer owned renewable electric generation resources with the utility's electric distribution grid; (iii) the level of investment in generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity; (iv) the need for additional generation of electricity during times of peak demand; and (v) distribution system hardening projects and enhanced physical security measures. The Commission shall submit copies of such annual reports to the Chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor and the Chairman of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation.

2018, c. 296.

Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-596.4. Electric utilities; local reliability data.
A. For the purposes of this section, "Phase II Utility" has the same meaning as provided in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1.

B. Upon request of a locality located within the service territory of a Phase II Utility, a Phase II Utility shall provide local reliability data within 30 days of such request. The data provided to the locality shall be limited in scope to the particular locality that made the request. Such data provided by the utility shall include standard reliability metrics used in accordance with industry-recognized electric reliability standards (IEEE 1366), including data from the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI), the Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI), and the Customer Average Interruption Frequency Index (CAIFI). The Commission shall include in the report required pursuant to § 56-596.3 such industry standard reliability metrics for each Phase II Utility and a description of any infrastructure investments made by each Phase II Utility to improve electric service reliability over the relevant reporting period.

2022, c. 653.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-596.5. Rate increases in certain months prohibited; Phase I Utility.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the rates for electric generation and distribution services by a Phase I Utility, as defined in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1, shall not be increased during the months of November through February.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the months of November through February, no new rate adjustment clause shall be applied to a Phase I Utility's residential customers' bills and no existing rate adjustment clause applicable to such customers' bills shall be increased. The Commission's final order regarding any petition for a rate adjustment clause that results in an increase to residential customer rates, including any petition filed pursuant to subdivision A 4, 5, or 6 of § 56-585.1 or § 56-585.1:15, 56-585.5, or 56-585.6, issued between September 1 and December 31 shall direct that the applicable rate adjustment clause be applied to customers' bills beginning on March 1 of the following year.

2025, cc. 497, 597.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 23 (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION ACT)
§ 56-596.6. Distribution cost sharing program.
A. As used in this section:

"Hosting capacity" means the amount of aggregate generation that can be accommodated on the electric distribution system without any infrastructure upgrades.

"Program" means the distribution cost sharing program established pursuant to this section.

"Qualifying upgrade" means a system upgrade that increases the hosting capacity of the utility's distribution system.

"Sharing project" means any distributed energy resource with an alternating current (AC) nameplate capacity rating greater than or equal to 250 kilowatts and less than or equal to three megawatts within the Phase I or Phase II Utility's service territory seeking to interconnect to the utility's distribution system and participate in net energy metering pursuant to § 56-594 that utilizes distribution system upgrades that were necessary to interconnect a triggering project.

"Triggering project" means a project application in the interconnection queue at a given substation or feeder that requires a qualifying upgrade to successfully interconnect the project to the electric distribution system.

B. The Commission shall establish by regulation a distribution cost sharing program for Phase I and Phase II Utilities, as those terms are defined in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1, to construct distribution system upgrades required to interconnect triggering projects. Under the program, when a Phase I or Phase II Utility determines that a qualifying upgrade is required to interconnect a triggering project, such utility shall determine the costs of the qualifying upgrade and the net increase in hosting capacity that would result from the construction of the qualifying upgrade. The costs of the qualifying upgrade shall be subject to approval by the Commission that the costs are reasonable and prudent. The program shall require each Phase I and Phase II Utility to allocate the costs of qualifying upgrades among any sharing projects based on the AC nameplate capacity rating of each sharing project, except that a project shall be exempted from the program if the owner or developer of such project elects to pay in full the approved cost of any associated qualifying upgrade. The Commission shall determine limits on cost recovery for ratepayers and the appropriate time period for cost recovery under the program. The program shall also require that the costs attributed to jurisdictional triggering projects are recovered from jurisdictional sharing projects and costs attributed to nonjurisdictional triggering projects are recovered from nonjurisdictional sharing projects. The Commission may establish a system to refund projects for any interconnection upgrade costs collected during time periods in which such projects are not operational and may provide such refunds upon the petition of the owner of a participating project.

2025, cc. 615, 658.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 24 (Electric Utility Integrated Resource Planning)
§ 56-597. (Effective January 1, 2026) Definitions.
As used in this chapter:

"Advanced conductors" means high-temperature low-sag hardware technology that can conduct electricity across transmission lines and that demonstrates enhanced performance over traditional conductor products. "Advanced conductors" includes aluminum conductor composite core, aluminum conductor steel supported, aluminum conductor composite reinforced, thermal-resistant aluminum alloy conductor, and any similar technologies.

"Affiliate" means a person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with an electric utility.

"Electric utility" means any investor-owned public utility that provides electric energy for use by retail customers, except investor-owned utilities subject to the provisions of § 56-585.8.

"Grid-enhancing technologies" means a set of technologies that maximize the transmission of electricity across the electric distribution grid in a manner that ensures grid reliability and safeguards the cybersecurity and physical security of the electric distribution grid, including storage as a transmission asset, dynamic line rating, power flow control, and topology optimization.

"Integrated resource plan" or "IRP" means a document developed by an electric utility that provides a forecast of its load obligations and a plan to meet those obligations by supply side and demand side resources over the ensuing 15 years to promote reasonable prices, reliable service, energy independence, and environmental responsibility.

"Retail customer" means any person that purchases retail electric energy for its own consumption at one or more metering points or non-metered points of delivery located in the Commonwealth.

2008, cc. 476, 603; 2023, cc. 749, 776; 2024, c. 532; 2025, c. 551.
Code of Virginia — Title 56 (Public Service Companies), Chapter 24 (Electric Utility Integrated Resource Planning)
§ 56-598.  Contents of integrated resource plans.
An IRP should:

1. Integrate, over the planning period, the electric utility's forecast of demand for electric generation supply with recommended plans to meet that forecasted demand and assure adequate and sufficient reliability of service, including:

a. Generating electricity from generation facilities that it currently operates or intends to construct or purchase;

b. Purchasing electricity from affiliates and third parties;

c. Reducing load growth and peak demand growth through cost-effective demand reduction programs; and

d. Utilizing energy storage facilities to help meet forecasted demand and assure adequate and sufficient reliability of service;

2. Identify a portfolio of electric generation supply resources, including purchased and self-generated electric power, that:

a. Consistent with § 56-585.1, is most likely to provide the electric generation supply needed to meet the forecasted demand, net of any reductions from demand side programs, so that the utility will continue to provide reliable service at reasonable prices over the long term; and

b. Will consider low cost energy/capacity available from short-term or spot market transactions, consistent with a reasonable assessment of risk with respect to both price and generation supply availability over the term of the plan;

3. Reflect a diversity of electric generation supply and cost-effective demand reduction contracts and services so as to reduce the risks associated with an over-reliance on any particular fuel or type of generation demand and supply resources and be consistent with the Commonwealth's energy policies as set forth in § 45.2-1706.1; and

4. Include such additional information as the Commission requests pertaining to how the electric utility intends to meets its obligation to provide electric generation service for use by its retail customers over the planning period.

2008, cc. 476, 603; 2020, c. 1190; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 327.