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HB 1002

Utilities, certain; notice procedures for nonpayment.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rae Cousins and 6 co-sponsors

HB 1002 requires Virginia electric utilities to extend notice periods and offer payment plans before disconnecting service for nonpayment, with enhanced protections for vulnerable customers.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0250)
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Bill Summary · HB 1002

Legislative bill overview

HB 1002 modifies Virginia's electric utility disconnection procedures for customers with unpaid bills. The bill establishes new requirements around notice periods, payment plans, and protections for vulnerable populations before utilities can shut off service.

Why is this important

Utility disconnections can create serious hardship, particularly during winter months when lack of electricity threatens health and safety. These procedures directly affect how quickly low-income households, elderly residents, and families with children lose essential services when facing financial difficulty.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost burden on utilities: New procedural requirements and extended notice/payment plan obligations may increase administrative costs that utilities could pass to ratepayers
  • Incentives for non-payment: Extended disconnection timelines could reduce customer payment compliance if the consequences feel distant or negotiable
  • Defining vulnerable populations: Disagreement likely exists over which groups (elderly, disabled, families with children, low-income) qualify for additional protections and what that costs
  • Balance between consumer protection and utility viability: Utilities argue disconnection authority is necessary to maintain system solvency; consumer advocates argue current practices are punitive

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

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