Panel reports substitute of HB114 to study upgrades and let large customers fund system improvements

Delegate Ware presented a substitute to HB114 that directs the Virginia Energy Department, working with the State Corporation Commission (SCC), to study investments in existing power plants, transmission and distribution systems to identify cost‑saving upgrades and reduce the need for new greenfield projects (Delegate Ware). The substitute also allows large customers to directly fund upgrades to accelerate interconnection, with the benefit of sharing costs and reducing rate pressure for other customers.

Supporters including Google, the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Virginia Poverty Law Center told the committee the measure could lower costs for ratepayers by making better use of existing infrastructure and by enabling targeted investments. Dominion Energy said it generally supports moving the concept forward but preferred that utilities conduct certain analyses because they manage the assets day‑to‑day.

The substitute was described as not transferring system planning or control to the state and preserving utilities’ roles while creating additional oversight and study tools. The committee reported the substitute by an 8‑0 vote.