Vetoed by Governor Glenn Youngkin

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes upgrades at a qualifying household that substantially reduce or eliminate their reliance on fuel delivered to the household and stored onsite and utilized for household heating, cooking, or water heating in Virginia.

Highlights:

• Authorizes upgrades at a qualifying household that substantially reduce or eliminate their reliance on fuel delivered to the household and stored onsite and utilized for household heating, cooking, or water heating in Virginia (Sec. 1).

• Defines "Qualifying household" as any single-family or multifamily dwelling occupied by a low-income resident that is a customer of a Phase I or Phase II Utility who (Sec 1):

• Relies on fuel delivered to the household and stored onsite and utilized for household heating, cooking, or water heating;

• Has measured or rated appliance efficiency ratings of less than 83 percent; and 

• Is eligible for or has received a building envelope upgrade through federal, state, or utility funded energy efficiency or weatherization programs.

• Specifies that it is the policy of the state to reduce, wherever feasible and cost-effective, heating-related costs of living for low-income residents (Sec. 1).

• Requires Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company to make best, reasonable efforts to provide prescriptive efficiency measures, as defined in the bill, and related efficiency improvements to at least 30 percent of the qualifying households identified by the utility by December 31, 2030, provided that the State Corporation Commission determines that such upgrades are in the public interest (Sec. 1).

• Requires Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company to report, no later than January 1, 2027, and in any recurring filing that the Commission deems appropriate, activities, plans, and progress regarding the provisions of the bill (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes upgrades at a qualifying household that substantially reduce or eliminate their reliance on fuel delivered to the household and stored onsite and utilized for household heating, cooking, or water heating in Virginia.

Highlights:

• Authorizes upgrades at a qualifying household that substantially reduce or eliminate their reliance on fuel delivered to the household and stored onsite and utilized for household heating, cooking, or water heating in Virginia (Sec. 1).

• Defines "Qualifying household" as any single-family or multifamily dwelling occupied by a low-income resident that is a customer of a Phase I or Phase II Utility who (Sec 1):

• Relies on fuel delivered to the household and stored onsite and utilized for household heating, cooking, or water heating;

• Has measured or rated appliance efficiency ratings of less than 83 percent; and 

• Is eligible for or has received a building envelope upgrade through federal, state, or utility funded energy efficiency or weatherization programs.

• Specifies that it is the policy of the state to reduce, wherever feasible and cost-effective, heating-related costs of living for low-income residents (Sec. 1).

• Requires Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company to make best, reasonable efforts to provide prescriptive efficiency measures, as defined in the bill, and related efficiency improvements to at least 30 percent of the qualifying households identified by the utility by December 31, 2030, provided that the State Corporation Commission determines that such upgrades are in the public interest (Sec. 1).

• Requires Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company to report, no later than January 1, 2027, and in any recurring filing that the Commission deems appropriate, activities, plans, and progress regarding the provisions of the bill (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text