Destiny LeVere Bolling House Bill 434 Boosts Electric Grid Efficiency for Ratepayers

RICHMOND — The Virginia General Assembly gave final approval to House Bill 434 on March 2, 2026, directing major electric utilities to develop and implement metrics for maximizing the use of existing grid infrastructure. The measure, which passed the House of Delegates 93-4 after concurring with a Senate substitute, now heads to the governor for consideration. This legislation aims to ensure more efficient deployment of the state’s electric grid resources, potentially shielding consumers from higher costs associated with new infrastructure builds.

Introduced by Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling of Henrico County’s 80th District, HB434 targets Phase I and Phase II utilities—Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power. These companies must submit petitions to the State Corporation Commission no later than October 15, 2026, seeking approval for specific electric grid utilization metrics. The petitions can be consolidated with the utilities’ 2026 integrated resource plans, streamlining the regulatory process.

The required metrics provide a clear framework for assessing grid performance. They include the ratio of distribution system peak load to total capacity, the ratio of current electric load delivered to total potential deliverable load, the percentage of kilowatt-hours lost during distribution, an analysis of constrained circuits, and evaluations of system performance at peak times. These standards will apply at the feeder and substation levels, with seasonal assessments to capture variations in demand.

Once approved by the SCC, the utilities must incorporate performance against these metrics into future integrated resource plans. They may also propose updates or new metrics for ongoing review. This structured approach promotes accountability, ensuring that grid investments align with actual utilization rather than unchecked expansion.

The bill further mandates the SCC to analyze opportunities for increasing grid utilization through non-wires alternatives. These innovative solutions encompass energy storage resources, customer-owned or financed capacity, utility-owned distributed generation, virtual power plants leveraging existing pilots and tariffs, flexible transmission technologies, synchronous condensers, and advanced power quality monitoring for large customers. By prioritizing such options, the legislation encourages practical, cost-effective ways to meet growing energy needs without overburdening ratepayers.

The measure’s journey through the legislature highlighted broad support for prudent grid management. In the House, the Labor and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee 3 recommended a substitute unanimously on January 22, 2026 (9-0). The full committee followed suit on January 27 (22-0), leading to engrossment and passage on February 2 by a block vote of 99-0. The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee advanced its substitute on February 23 (9-6), and the chamber passed it on February 26 (21-19) after dispensing with some procedural rules.

A fiscal impact statement from the State Corporation Commission, issued February 1, confirmed no anticipated costs, revenues, expenditures, or changes in staffing for the state. This neutrality underscores the bill’s focus on operational efficiencies within existing frameworks, avoiding new taxpayer burdens.

Proponents see HB434 as a step toward reliable, affordable energy amid rising demands from economic growth and electrification trends. By mandating annual SCC reports to the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation and the governor—detailing utility performance and non-wires potential—the bill establishes ongoing oversight to drive improvements. Utilities must meet SCC-set timelines for boosting utilization, with metrics influencing future cost recovery for capital projects.

As Virginia navigates energy challenges, this legislation represents a balanced regulatory tool. It holds large utilities accountable for optimizing legacy infrastructure, fostering innovations that enhance service reliability for households, businesses, and industries statewide. With the SCC required to issue final orders by July 1, 2027, implementation will soon test the bill’s effectiveness in delivering tangible benefits to Virginia consumers.

Email the House of Delegates at:
Jessica Anderson: DelJAnderson@house.virginia.gov,
Bonita Anthony: DelBAnthony@house.virginia.gov,
Alex Askew: DelAAskew@house.virginia.gov,
Terry Austin: DelTAustin@house.virginia.gov,
Jason Ballard: DelJBallard@house.virginia.gov,
Robert Bloxom, Jr.: DelRBloxom@house.virginia.gov,
Gretchen Bulova: DelGBulova@house.virginia.gov,
Katrina Callsen: DelKCallsen@house.virginia.gov,
Karen Carnegie: DelKCarnegie@house.virginia.gov,
Betsy Carr: DelBCarr@house.virginia.gov,
Stacey Carroll: DelSCarroll@house.virginia.gov,
Mike Cherry: DelMCherry@house.virginia.gov,
Nadarius Clark: DelNClark@house.virginia.gov,
Laura Cohen: DelLJCohen@house.virginia.gov,
Joshua Cole: DelJCole@house.virginia.gov,
Nicole Cole: DelNCole@house.virginia.gov,
Kelly Convirs-Fowler: DelKConvirs-Fowler@house.virginia.gov,
Mitchell Cornett: DelMCornett@house.virginia.gov,
Rae Cousins: DelRCousins@house.virginia.gov,
Will Davis: DelWDavis@house.virginia.gov,
Karrie Delaney: DelKDelaney@house.virginia.gov,
Lindsey Dougherty: DelLDougherty@house.virginia.gov,
Mark Downey: DelMDowney@house.virginia.gov,
Michael Feggans: DelMFeggans@house.virginia.gov,
Hyland Fowler, Jr.: DelBFowler@house.virginia.gov,
Lily Franklin: DelLFranklin@house.virginia.gov,
Margaret Franklin: DelMFranklin@house.virginia.gov,
Debra Gardner: DelDGardner@house.virginia.gov,
Thomas Garrett, Jr.: DelTGarrett@house.virginia.gov,
Jackie Glass: DelJGlass@house.virginia.gov,
Timothy Griffin: DelTGriffin@house.virginia.gov,
Elizabeth Guzman: DelEGuzman@house.virginia.gov,
Karen Hamilton: DelKHamilton@house.virginia.gov,
Cliff Hayes, Jr.: DelCHayes@house.virginia.gov,
Dan Helmer: DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov,
Rozia Henson, Jr.: DelRHenson@house.virginia.gov,
Phil Hernandez: DelPHernandez@house.virginia.gov,
Charniele Herring: DelCHerring@house.virginia.gov,
Keith Hodges: DelKHodges@house.virginia.gov,
Patrick Hope: DelPHope@house.virginia.gov,
Hillary Kent: DelHKent@house.virginia.gov,
Karen Keys-Gamarra: DelKKeys-Gamarra@house.virginia.gov,
Terry Kilgore: DelTKilgore@house.virginia.gov,
Paul Krizek: DelPKrizek@house.virginia.gov,
Amy Laufer: DelALaufer@house.virginia.gov,
Destiny LeVere Bolling: DelDLeVereBolling@house.virginia.gov,
Jay Leftwich, Jr.: DelJLeftwich@house.virginia.gov,
Alfonso Lopez: DelALopez@house.virginia.gov,
Fernando Martinez: DelMMartinez@house.virginia.gov,
John McAuliff: DelJMcAuliff@house.virginia.gov,
Adele McClure: DelAMcClure@house.virginia.gov,
Garrett McGuire: DelGMcGuire@house.virginia.gov,
Ellen McLaughlin: DelEMcLaughlin@house.virginia.gov,
Joseph McNamara: DelJMcNamara@house.virginia.gov,
Kirk McPike: DelKMcPike@house.virginia.gov,
Delores McQuinn: DelDMcQuinn@house.virginia.gov,
Leslie Mehta: DelLMehta@house.virginia.gov,
Will Morefield: DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov,
May Nivar: DelMNivar@house.virginia.gov,
Israel O’Quinn: DeliOquinn@house.virginia.gov,
Delores Oates: DelDOates@house.virginia.gov,
Justin Pence: DelJPence@house.virginia.gov,
Eric Phillips: DelEPhillips@house.virginia.gov,
Kimberly Pope Adams: DelKPopeAdams@house.virginia.gov,
Cia Price: DelMPrice@house.virginia.gov,
Sam Rasoul: DelSRasoul@house.virginia.gov,
Atoosa Reaser: DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov,
David Reid: DelDReid@house.virginia.gov,
Andrew Rice: DelARice@house.virginia.gov,
Chris Runion: DelCRunion@house.virginia.gov,
Charles Schmidt, Jr.: DelCSchmidt@house.virginia.gov,
Don Scott: DelDScott@house.virginia.gov,
Phillip Scott: DelPScott@house.virginia.gov,
Holly Seibold: DelHSeibold@house.virginia.gov,
Briana Sewell: DelBSewell@house.virginia.gov,
Irene Shin: DelIShin@house.virginia.gov,
Marcus Simon: DelMSimon@house.virginia.gov,
Shelly Simonds: DelSSimonds@house.virginia.gov,
JJ Singh: DelJSingh@house.virginia.gov,
Rip Sullivan, Jr.: DelRSullivan@house.virginia.gov,
Anne Tata: DelAFTata@house.virginia.gov,
Josh Thomas: DelJThomas@house.virginia.gov,
Virgil Thornton, Sr.: DelVThornton@house.virginia.gov,
Luke Torian: DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov,
Kathy Tran: DelKTran@house.virginia.gov,
Howard Wachsmann, Jr.: DelOWachsmann@house.virginia.gov,
Wendell Walker: DelWWalker@house.virginia.gov,
Jeion Ward: DelJWard@house.virginia.gov,
Lee Ware: DelLWare@house.virginia.gov,
Vivian Watts: DelVWatts@house.virginia.gov,
Michael Webert: DelMWebert@house.virginia.gov,
Madison Whittle: DelMWhittle@house.virginia.gov,
Bill Wiley: DelBWiley@house.virginia.gov,
Rodney Willett: DelRWillett@house.virginia.gov,
Wren Williams: DelWWilliams@house.virginia.gov,
Tony Wilt: DelTWilt@house.virginia.gov,
Thomas Wright, Jr.: DelTWright@house.virginia.gov,
Scott Wyatt: DelSWyatt@house.virginia.gov,
Eric Zehr: DelEZehr@house.virginia.gov,

Email the Virginia Senate At:
Lashrecse Aird - senatoraird@senate.virginia.gov,
Lamont Bagby - senatorbagby@senate.virginia.gov,
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker - senatorbennett-parker@senate.virginia.gov,
Jennifer Boysko - senatorboysko@senate.virginia.gov,
Jennifer Carroll Foy - senatorcarrollfoy@senate.virginia.gov,
Luther Cifers - senatorcifers@senate.virginia.gov,
Christie Craig - senatorcraig@senate.virginia.gov,
Creigh Deeds - senatordeeds@senate.virginia.gov,
Bill DeSteph - senatordesteph@senate.virginia.gov,
Danny Diggs - senatordiggs@senate.virginia.gov,
Tara Durant - senatordurant@senate.virginia.gov,
Barbara Favola - senatorfavola@senate.virginia.gov,
Timmy French - senatorfrench@senate.virginia.gov,
Travis Hackworth - senatorhackworth@senate.virginia.gov,
Christopher Head - senatorhead@senate.virginia.gov,
Michael Jones - senatorjones@senate.virginia.gov,
Emily Jordan - senatorjordan@senate.virginia.gov,
Mamie Locke - senatorlocke@senate.virginia.gov,
Louise Lucas - senatorlucas@senate.virginia.gov,
David Marsden - senatormarsden@senate.virginia.gov,
Ryan McDougle - senatormcdougle@senate.virginia.gov,
Jeremy McPike - senatormcpike@senate.virginia.gov,
Tammy Mulchi - senatormulchi@senate.virginia.gov,
Mark Obenshain - senatorobenshain@senate.virginia.gov,
Mark Peake - senatorpeake@senate.virginia.gov,
Stella Pekarsky - senatorpekarsky@senate.virginia.gov,
Russet Perry - senatorperry@senate.virginia.gov,
Todd Pillion - senatorpillion@senate.virginia.gov,
Bryce Reeves - senatorreeves@senate.virginia.gov,
Danica Roem - senatorroem@senate.virginia.gov,
Aaron Rouse - senatorrouse@senate.virginia.gov,
Saddam Salim - senatorsalim@senate.virginia.gov,
Kannan Srinivasan - senatorsrinivasan@senate.virginia.gov,
William Stanley - senatorstanley@senate.virginia.gov,
Richard Stuart - senatorstuart@senate.virginia.gov,
Glen Sturtevant - senatorsturtevant@senate.virginia.gov,
David Suetterlein - senatorsuetterlein@senate.virginia.gov,
Scott Surovell - senatorsurovell@senate.virginia.gov,
Schuyler VanValkenburg - senatorvanvalkenburg@senate.virginia.gov,
Angelia Williams Graves - senatorwilliamsgraves@senate.virginia.gov,

Email the Henrico County Board/Council:
Dan J. Schmitt, brookland@henrico.gov,
Roscoe D. Cooper III, fairfield@henrico.gov,
Misty D. Roundtree, threechopt@henrico.gov,
Jody K. Rogish, tuckahoe@henrico.gov,
Tyrone E. Nelson, varina@henrico.gov,

Email the Henrico County School Board:
Kristi B. Kinsella, kbkinsella@henrico.k12.va.us,
Ryan Young, reyoung@henrico.k12.va.us,
Madison Irving, mtirving@henrico.k12.va.us,
Marcie F. Shea, mfshea@henrico.k12.va.us,
Alicia S. Atkins, asatkins@henrico.k12.va.us,

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Email the Richmond School Board:
Matthew Percival, mpercival@rvaschools.net,
Kathryn Ricard, kricard@rvaschools.net,
Ali Faruk, afaruk@rvaschools.net,
Wesley Hedgepeth, whedgepeth@rvaschools.net,
Stephanie Rizzi, srizzi@rvaschools.net,
Anne Holton, aholton@rvaschools.net,
Cheryl Burke, cburke2@rvaschools.net,
Emmett Jafari, ejafari@rvaschools.net,
Shavonda Fernandez, sdixon@rvaschools.net,