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Bill

SB 223

Distributed Energy Resources Task Force; created, membership, reports, sunset.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ghazala Hashmi and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia establishes a task force to study and recommend policies for integrating distributed energy resources like rooftop solar and battery storage into state energy systems.

Governor's recommendation received by Senate
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Bill Summary · SB 223

Legislative bill overview

SB 223 establishes a Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Task Force in Virginia to study and develop recommendations regarding distributed energy systems like rooftop solar, battery storage, and microgrids. The bill specifies task force membership, responsibilities for producing reports, and includes a sunset provision to end the task force after a set period.

Why is this important

As Virginia transitions its energy grid and pursues renewable energy goals, distributed energy resources are becoming increasingly significant for grid resilience, consumer choice, and meeting climate commitments. The task force would provide policy guidance on how to integrate these technologies into Virginia's regulatory framework and utility system, affecting both energy costs and infrastructure planning.

Potential points of contention

  • Utility industry concerns: Traditional electric utilities may worry that expanded DER adoption reduces their revenue and grid control, potentially affecting service reliability or rate structures for non-participants
  • Regulatory scope and authority: Ambiguity about whether task force recommendations would be binding or merely advisory, and how they interact with existing utility regulation by the State Corporation Commission
  • Cost allocation and equity: Questions about who bears infrastructure costs for grid modernization and whether distributed resources create fairness issues between consumers who can afford them and those who cannot

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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