Bill
SB 761
SB 761 requires Virginia utilities to disclose political spending funded through customer rates and may restrict using ratepayer money for lobbying and campaign activities.
SB 761 would require electric and gas utilities in Virginia to report their spending on political influence activities (lobbying, campaign contributions, etc.) and potentially restrict how utility rates—which are set by regulators and ultimately paid by customers—can be used to fund such activities. The bill aims to increase transparency around utility involvement in political processes and prevent ratepayers from indirectly subsidizing corporate political spending.
Utilities operate as regulated monopolies with guaranteed revenue streams based on approved rate structures. If utilities use customer payments to fund lobbying and political campaigns, ratepayers effectively become unwilling financiers of political causes they may not support. This raises questions about corporate accountability, regulatory capture, and whether monopoly utilities should be shaping policy that affects their own oversight. The fiscal impact statement suggests implementation costs for the State Corporation Commission, indicating real administrative implications.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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