SB250
Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices, local regulation.
Status:
In House
Latest Action:
Feb. 18, 2026
House: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices; local regulation; installation by tenants; consumer protection.
Prevents a locality from prohibiting the use of a small portable solar generation device, as defined in the bill, on a residential structure, provided that certain requirements are met. Under the bill, a small portable solar generation device must include a device or feature that prevents the device from affecting ... (More) the electrical system of a building during a power outage. The bill includes provisions related to the installation of small portable solar generation devices by tenants and prevents landlords from prohibiting such installation in certain circumstances. Under the bill, small portable solar generation devices are excluded from the provisions of net metering programs applicable to eligible agricultural customer-generators, eligible customer-generators, or small agricultural generating facilities. The bill also permits any electric utility customer to own and operate a small portable solar generation device, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill prohibits an investor-owned utility, municipal utility, or electric cooperative from imposing interconnection requirements, charging any fee related to the device, or requiring that the customer obtain the utility's approval before installing or using the device. Under the bill, no electric utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative shall be liable for damage or injury caused by a small portable solar generation device. The bill also provides that small portable solar generation devices are considered goods for the purposes of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Finally, the bill requires the State Corporation Commission to develop and publish a notification form by September 1, 2026 for electric service customers who install a small portable solar generation device. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/12/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104605D
- 01/12/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- 01/19/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250)
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (11-Y 1-N 2-A)
- 02/10/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26107516D-S1
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Floor substitute printed 26107821D-S2 (Surovell)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Reading of substitute waived (Voice Vote)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute (Voice Vote)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (30-Y 7-N 1-A)
- 02/18/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/18/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/18/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
