2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25100628D

HOUSE BILL NO. 2084

Offered January 13, 2025

Prefiled January 7, 2025

A BILL to direct the State Corporation Commission to conduct a regulatory proceeding to ensure reasonable classifications of customers by public utilities.

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Patrons—Shin, Maldonado, Webert, Bennett-Parker and Tran

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Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. No later than July 1, 2026, the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) shall conduct a regulatory proceeding to ensure that public utilities subject to the provisions of § 56-235.2 of the Code of Virginia are using rates, tolls, charges, or schedules that contain reasonable classifications of utility customers. For a Phase I or Phase II Utility, as those terms are defined in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1 of the Code of Virginia, such reasonable classifications of customers shall include a separate classification for data centers, as defined in § 58.1-3506 of the Code of Virginia. In conducting such proceeding, the Commission shall establish requirements for public notice and opportunity for hearing to encourage public participation. In developing criteria for reasonable classifications of utility customers, the Commission shall seek public input and consult with the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Energy, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority, the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation, and any other persons that the Commission deems appropriate. The criteria and notice and hearing requirements for such proceeding shall be adopted in accordance with the Commission's rules of practice and procedure and be effective no later than January 1, 2026.