Energy upgrade programs; implementation plans; capital investment requirements; cost recovery. Requires American Electric Power and Dominion Energy Virginia to implement an energy upgrade program by January 1, 2027. The bill requires that such a program allow a program operator, as defined in the bill, to implement an energy upgrade project at a customer's location and recover the costs of such project by imposing a special rate charge that is payable directly through the customer's utility bill. The bill contains provisions related to setting the special rate charge, successor customers, identifying eligible customers, and marketing, designing, and implementing such program. The bill includes capital investment requirements for each utility. The bill also outlines the duties of program operators and requires each utility to hire a program operator by January 1, 2027, and to file an implementation plan once the State Corporation Commission's program rules become effective. The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to convene a stakeholder process for interested parties to evaluate issues related to energy projects within 180 days of the effective date of the bill. The bill states a number of factors for the Commission to consider and include in its rules to implement such program. In promulgating the rules, the Commission is required to determine how best to include access to such program for customers who need emergency upgrades. Additionally, the Commission is required to consider in promulgating rules how best to serve residents of environmental justice communities through the implementation of such program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 56-249.8