The bill introduces a series of amendments to enhance energy affordability, clean power, and economic competitiveness in the Commonwealth. It mandates the creation of a real-time online dashboard by the Department of Energy Resources to provide residential customers with visual representations of their energy bills and a summary of bill components. The bill also establishes a new division focused on clean energy procurement and introduces a statewide energy storage incentive program. Additionally, it outlines requirements for long-term contracts for environmental attributes or energy services, emphasizing a competitive bidding process for clean energy solicitations. The legislation aims to improve transparency in energy billing, support clean energy initiatives, and ensure that ratepayers benefit from compliance payments and energy programs.

Further amendments include provisions for the verification and reevaluation of eligibility for low-income and moderate-income discount rates for utility services, requiring reassessment every two years. The bill also establishes guidelines for thermal energy networks and mandates that non-utility third parties contribute a portion of their profits to energy affordability initiatives for low- and moderate-income families. It emphasizes the importance of labor peace agreements for projects involving public land and requires electric distribution companies to create inclusive utility investment programs. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance energy infrastructure, promote fair labor practices, and regulate the energy market more effectively while ensuring economic and environmental accountability.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 25A-2, 164-1