2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26104774D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1379

Offered January 21, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 23 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-596.7, relating to electric utilities; interconnection service standards; high-demand customers.

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Patron—Carnegie

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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. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 23 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-596.7 as follows:

§ 56-596.7. Interconnection service standards for high-demand customers.

A. As used in this section:

"High-demand customer" means an electric service customer requiring interconnection service with a total peak electric demand of 60 megawatts or greater.

"Interconnection service" means the same as that term is defined in 16 U.S.C. § 2621(d)(15).

"On-site backup generation facilities" means on-site zero-carbon electricity generation resources owned by a high-demand customer.

"Zero-carbon electricity" means the same as that term is defined in § 56-585.5.

B. The Commission shall establish standards for interconnection service by an electric utility to high-demand customers in the Commonwealth that are designed to support economic growth in the Commonwealth while maintaining the reliability of the electric grid and minimizing the potential for stranded infrastructure costs. No electric utility shall be considered to have violated its duty to furnish adequate service pursuant to § 56-234 solely because such electric utility requires a high-demand customer to comply with such standards as a condition of interconnection. Such standards shall include:

1. A requirement that prior to any new interconnection, a high-demand customer shall install on-site backup generation facilities that, in the aggregate, can serve at least 50 percent of such customer's on-site peak demand;

2. A requirement that by January 1, 2032, each high-demand customer receiving interconnection service prior to the development of such standards shall develop on-site backup generation that, in the aggregate, can serve at least 20 percent of such customer's on-site peak demand;

3. A load threshold at which the interconnecting electric utility may direct high-demand customers with on-site backup generation facilities to deploy such facilities or curtail load before or during an emergency alert;

4. A method for a high-demand customer to apply for an exemption to such requirements on the basis that the required installation of on-site backup generation facilities is technically infeasible; and

5. A procedure to allow the Commission to access any information collected by the interconnecting electric utility to ensure compliance with such standards. Any information collected pursuant to this section is confidential and not subject to disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).