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Legislation We are Watching
Status of Virginia Legislation – HB892 and HB590?
By state law, Virginia Gov. Spanberger must act on the HB892 bill and HB590 by April 13, 2026.
As reported previously on March 14th the Conference report with substitute bill HB892 was agreed to by the House and the Senate. The Bill has been passed by both chambers.
This bill would require Dominion to include in its integrated resource plan information related to forecasting its compliance with Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) requirements, excluding those associated with accelerated renewable energy buys or customers purchasing energy from a licensed supplier.
The bill would also require the Virginia Commission to initiate a proceeding, by March 1, 2027 to investigate the electric load forecasting practices of Dominion, APCo, and electric cooperatives.
Under the bill the Virginia Commission SCC must:
(1) review and evaluate the accuracy, consistency, and transparency of the load forecasting materials and filings submitted to PJM; and
(2) determine whether the utilities and coops are incorporating risk minimization terms into the load forecast, including financial commitments, minimum demand obligations, and other terms that may also be provisions of large load customer tariffs or contracts.
HB590 would direct the Virginia Commission by July 1, 2027 to establish the Smart Solar Permitting Platform (SSPP) for residential solar energy systems (RSES), which include solar photovoltaic equipment and construction projects such as batteries, panel upgrades, and breaker derates.
The bill requires the SSPP to:
- automate RSES plan review and approval and process permit applications;
- instantly issue permits or permit revisions upon plan approval;
- perform robust code compliance checks to determine alignment with applicable laws and building codes;
- produce construction documents that can be used for inspection of the RSES; and
- be able to process applications for streamline-eligible RSES based on SCC-determined characteristics, including weighing no more than four pounds per square foot to be installed on a permitted roof.
The bill would also require that, by July 1, 2027 localities allow for RSES construction applications either via SSPP or an alternative platform with equivalent functionality.
