Bill Text: VA SB1605 | 2019 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Electric utilities; stakeholder process for energy efficiency programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-14 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0398) [SB1605 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-SB1605-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the fifteenth enactment of Chapter 296 of the Acts of Assembly of 2018 is amended and reenacted as follows:
15. That each Phase I Utility and Phase II Utility, as such
terms are defined in subdivision A 1 of §56-585.1 of the Code of Virginia,
shall develop a proposed program of energy conservation measures. Any program
shall provide for the submission of a petition or petitions for approval to
design, implement, and operate energy efficiency programs pursuant to
subdivision A 5 c of §56-585.1 of the Code of Virginia. At least five percent
of such energy efficiency programs shall benefit low-income, elderly, and
disabled individuals. The projected costs for the utility to design, implement,
and operate such energy efficiency programs, including a margin to be recovered
on operating expenses, shall be no less than an aggregate amount of $140
million for a Phase I Utility and $870 million for a Phase II Utility for the
period beginning July 1, 2018, and ending July 1, 2028, including any existing
approved energy efficiency programs. In developing such portfolio of energy
efficiency programs, each utility shall utilize a stakeholder process, to be
facilitated by an independent monitor compensated under the funding provided
pursuant to subdivision E of §56-592.1 of the Code of Virginia, to provide
input and feedback on the development of such energy efficiency programs. Such
stakeholder process shall include representatives from each utility, the State Corporation
Commission, the office of Consumer Counsel of the Attorney General, the
Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, energy efficiency program
implementers, energy efficiency providers, residential and small business
customers, and any other interested stakeholder who the independent monitor
deems appropriate for inclusion in such process. The
independent monitor shall convene meetings of the
participants in the stakeholder process not less frequently than once in each calendar
quarter commencing July 1, 2019, through July 1, 2028.
The utility independent
monitor shall report on the status of the energy efficiency program, including stakeholder process, including the goals and
metrics identified by the stakeholder group to improve the design, implementation,
and operation of energy efficiency programs, and the progress
toward such improvements, in addition to the petitions
filed by each Phase I
Utility and Phase II Utility with the State Corporation Commission
and the determination thereon, to the Governor, the State Corporation
Commission, and the Chairmen of the House and Senate Commerce and Labor
Committees on July 1, 2019, and annually thereafter through July 1, 2028.