HB429
Electric utilities; integrated resource plans, report
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 14, 2026
Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
Chief Patron:
Destiny LeVere Bolling (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Electric utilities; integrated resource plans.
Makes various changes related to the content and process for an integrated resource plan (IRP) developed by an electric utility that provides a forecast of its load obligations and a plan to meet those obligations. The bill (i) extends the planning timeframe from 15 to 20 years; (ii) requires Appalachian ... (More) Power to file an IRP by removing an exception from the definition of 'electric utility'; (iii) changes the frequency that a utility is required to file an IRP from biennially to triennially; (iv) requires utilities to consider the use of grid-enhancing technologies as alternatives to new transmission infrastructure, and when new transmission lines are envisioned, to provide the reasons grid-enhancing technologies are not sufficient to defer or eliminate the need for new transmission infrastructure; and (v) requires utilities to consider the use of surplus interconnection service, as defined in the bill, to add new electric generation projects and energy storage resources to the grid.The bill requires that the current stakeholder review process for integrated resource plans be facilitated by a third-party facilitator selected by the State Corporation Commission and compensated by the utility. The bill requires, as part of the stakeholder review process, the utility to provide stakeholders with reasonable access to the same modeling software, modeling assumptions, modeling inputs, and data used by the utility to evaluate supply and demand resources in its integrated resource plan to enable stakeholders to create modeling scenarios for the utility's consideration during the development of its integrated resource plan.
The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to (a) establish guidelines that ensure that utilities develop comprehensive integrated resource plans and provide meaningful public engagement and maximum transparency during the planning process; (b) conduct a proceeding by July 1, 2027, and at least once every five years thereafter, to identify and review each of its existing orders relevant to integrated resource plans to determine if such orders remain necessary and effective and are not overly burdensome; and (c) convene a work group to make recommendations on the required guidelines.
The bill also requires the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation to convene a work group to develop recommendations related to planning for grid stability and reliability and energy affordability between certain cooperatives and generation and transmission services providers, system owners, and wholesale power providers; and to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the State Corporation Commission and the General Assembly by October 1, 2026.
(Less)
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Bill History
- 01/12/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103036D
- 01/12/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- 01/19/2026 - House: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3
- 01/30/2026 - House: Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda
- 02/02/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB429)
- 02/03/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 02/03/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N)
- 02/04/2026 - House: Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda
- 02/05/2026 - House: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (17-Y 5-N)
- 02/06/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26107083D-H1
- 02/09/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/10/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/10/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/10/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/11/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (84-Y 13-N 0-A)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- 02/16/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB429)
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26108331D-S1
- 03/05/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB429)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/11/2026 - House: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 99-N 0-A)
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate requested conference committee
- 03/12/2026 - House: House acceded to request
- 03/12/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/12/2026 - House: House Conferees: LeVere Bolling, Shin, O'Quinn
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: Surovell, Rouse, Obenshain
- 03/14/2026 - House: Conference substitute printed 26110077D-H2
- 03/14/2026 - Conference Report released
- 03/14/2026 - House: Conference report agreed to by House (72-Y 24-N 0-A)
- 03/14/2026 - Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
