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HB429Introduced in the House of Delegates

Electric utilities; definitions, integrated resource plans, report.

Passed

Introduced by Destiny LeVere Bolling, District 80

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

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 Power to file an IRP by removing an exception from the definition of "electric utility"; (iii) changes the frequency with which 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. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 249.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0607)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

6 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · March 14, 2026

21

Yes

18

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3No
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103036D

  2. Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

  3. Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB429)

  5. House subcommittee offered

  6. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N)

  7. Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (17-Y 5-N)

  8. Committee substitute printed 26107083D-H1

  9. Read first time

  10. Read second time

  11. committee substitute agreed to

  12. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  13. Read third time and passed House (84-Y 13-N 0-A)

  14. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  15. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB429)

  17. Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)

  18. Committee substitute printed 26108331D-S1

  19. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB429)

  20. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)

  21. Rules suspended

  22. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  23. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  24. Read third time

  25. Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to

  26. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  27. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  28. Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 99-N 0-A)

  29. Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  30. Senate requested conference committee

  31. House acceded to request

  32. Conferees appointed by House

  33. House Conferees: LeVere Bolling, Shin, O'Quinn

  34. Conferees appointed by Senate

  35. Senate Conferees: Surovell, Rouse, Obenshain

  36. Conference Report released

  37. Conference report agreed to by House (72-Y 24-N 0-A)

  38. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  39. Enrolled

  40. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB429ER)

  41. Signed by President

  42. Signed by Speaker

  43. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  44. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  45. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB429)

  46. Approved by Governor-Chapter 607 (effective 7/1/2026)

  47. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0607)

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