HB 575

            
2020 SESSION

20101923D

HOUSE BILL NO. 575


Offered January 8, 2020


Prefiled January 6, 2020

A BILL to amend and reenact � 56-596.2 of the Code of 
 Virginia, relating to electric utilities; energy efficiency programs; 
 stakeholder process.
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Patron-- Keam

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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 � 56-596.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and 
 reenacted as follows:
 
 
� 56-596.2. Energy efficiency programs.
 
 
Each Phase I Utility and Phase II Utility, as such terms are 
 defined in subdivision A 1 of � 56-585.1, shall develop a proposed program of 
 energy conservation measures. Any program shall provide for the submission of a 
 petition or petitions for approval to design, implement, and operate energy 
 efficiency programs pursuant to subdivision A 5 c of � 56-585.1. At least five 
 percent of such energy efficiency programs shall benefit low-income, elderly, 
 and disabled individuals. The projected costs for the utility to design, 
 implement, and operate such energy efficiency programs and 
 portfolios of programs, including a margin to be recovered 
 on operating expenses, shall be no less than an aggregate amount of $140 
 million for a Phase I Utility and $870 million for a Phase II Utility for the 
 period beginning July 1, 2018, and ending July 1, 2028, including any existing 
 approved energy efficiency programs. In developing such portfolio of energy 
 efficiency programs and portfolios of programs, 
 each utility shall utilize a stakeholder process, to be facilitated by an 
 independent monitor compensated under the funding provided pursuant to 
 subdivision E of � 56-592.1, to provide input and feedback on (i) the development of such 
 energy efficiency programs and portfolios of programs; (ii) 
 compliance with any required incremental 
 annual energy efficiency savings; (iii) 
 recommended policy reforms by which the General Assembly or Commission can 
 ensure maximum and cost-effective deployment of energy efficiency technology 
 across the Commonwealth; and (iv) 
 best practices for evaluation, measurement, and verification for the purposes 
 of assessing compliance with any required 
 incremental annual energy efficiency savings. Such 
 stakeholder process shall include the participation of 
 representatives from each utility, the State Corporation Director of the Division of Public Utility 
 Regulation within the Commission and the relevant 
 deputies and staff members of the Division who 
 participate in approval and oversight of utility energy efficiency programs, 
 the office of Consumer Counsel of the Attorney General, the Department of 
 Mines, Minerals and Energy, energy efficiency program implementers, energy 
 efficiency providers, residential and small business customers, and any other 
 interested stakeholder who whom the independent monitor 
 deems appropriate for inclusion in such process. The independent monitor shall 
 convene meetings of the participants in the stakeholder process not less 
 frequently than twice in each calendar year during the period beginning July 1, 
 2019, and ending July 1, 2028. The independent monitor shall report on the 
 status of the energy efficiency stakeholder process, including (i) (a) 
 the objectives established by the stakeholder group during this process related 
 to programs to be proposed, (ii) (b) recommendations related to 
 programs to be proposed that result from the stakeholder process, and (iii) (c) 
 the status of those recommendations, in addition to the petitions filed and the 
 determination thereon, to the Governor, the State Corporation Commission, and 
 the Chairmen of the House and Senate Commerce and Labor Committees on July 1, 
 2019, and annually thereafter through July 1, 2028.