Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 155: Electric utilities; certificate of operation for high-load facilities.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 155 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 6, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Electric utilities; certificate of operation for high-load facilities. Primary sponsor: Josh Thomas (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (February 18, 2026): Left in Labor and Commerce.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Electric utilities; certificate of operation for high-load facilities. Prohibits any person from operating a high-load facility, defined in the bill as a facility whose electricity demand exceeds 25 megawatts that was not operating before July 1, 2026, without first having obtained a certificate of operation from the State Corporation Commission. The bill includes factors for the Commission to consider in reviewing a petition to operate a high-load facility. The bill establishes a presumption that a high-load facility shall be considered to have met certain requirements if the high-load facility has secured sufficient contracts for energy storage resources or zero-carbon electric generating resources or that the high-load facility has a plan to implement sufficient demand reduction measures. The bill also requires the Commission to consider certain factors in a review of a petition for a certificate to operate a high-load facility, including whether there is sufficient energy, capacity, and grid infrastructure to support the operation of the high-load facility and whether the operation of the high-load facility would create an unreasonable cross-subsidy across customers served by the incumbent electric utility.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Thomas | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 21 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Labor and Commerce
- Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (9-Y 0-N)
- House subcommittee offered
- Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB155)
- Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3
- Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102983D