SB 629 — Shared solar programs; electric utility regulation, etc.
Last action — Enacted, Chapter 1264 (effective 7/1/20)
-
✓Introduced
-
✓In Committee
-
✓Passed Senate
-
✓Passed House of Delegates
-
✓To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2020. Enacted.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
-
Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
-
4 sponsors
1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.
-
Mixed recorded votes
11 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Shared solar programs. Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish by regulation a shared solar program that allows customers of Dominion Virginia to purchase electric power through a subscription in a shared solar facility, which is defined in the bill as a facility that, among other criteria, generates electricity by means of a solar photovoltaic device with a nameplate capacity rating that does not exceed 5,000 kilowatts. Under the program, a subscriber receives a bill credit for the proportional output of a share solar facility attributable to that subscriber. Subscribers are required to pay a minimum bill, established by the Commission, that includes the costs of infrastructure and related services. The bill provides that the Commission shall approve a shared solar program of 150 megawatts with a minimum requirement of 30 percent of low-income customers and that the Commission will approve an additional 50 megawatts upon determining that at least 45 megawatts of the shared solar capacity have been subscribed to by low-income customers. This bill is identical to HB 1634.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
6 added · 11 removedPlain-language change summary
The latest version of SB 629 adds clarification on the rules around shared solar subscriptions, specifying that the charges for these subscriptions should not exceed one percent of the bill credit value. It reaffirms that net crediting, which allows subscribers to benefit from their solar energy use, is optional for subscriber organizations. This change is important because it aims to protect consumers by ensuring they won't pay more for their solar subscriptions than they actually earn back in bill credits.
Code of Virginia Administrative Code Bills & Resolutions Summaries OTHER SESSIONS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Session Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Special Session II Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Special Session II Session Session Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Session Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Special Session II Session Session Special Session I Session Session Special Session I Special Session II Session Session Session Special Session I Session Session Session Special Session I Session Session Session Session Special Session I Special Session II VIRGINIA LAW PORTALCode of VirginiaVirginia Administrative Code Constitution of VirginiaChartersAuthoritiesCompacts Uncodified ActsRIS Users (account required) SEARCHABLE DATABASESBills & Resolutionssession legislationBill Summariessession summaries Reports to the General AssemblyHouse and Senate documents Legislative LiaisonsState agency contactsACROSS SESSIONS Subject Index:
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version CHAPTERVIRGINIA 1264ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 56-594.3, relating to electric utility regulation;
[S 629] Approved April 22, 2020 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
View plain text versions (6)
- Enrolled Reenrolled bill text (SB629ER2) html April 22, 2020
- Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1264) View text Current html April 22, 2020
- Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB629ER) View text html March 18, 2020
- Impact statement from SCC (SB629S2) View text html March 07, 2020
- Impact statement from SCC (SB629H1) View text html February 27, 2020
- Committee Substitute Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB629S1 html February 03, 2020
Action History
-
Enacted, Chapter 1264 (effective 7/1/20)
-
Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
-
Signed by President as reenrolled
-
Reenrolled bill text (SB629ER2)
-
Reenrolled
-
Governor's recommendation adopted
-
VOTE: (57-Y 35-N)
-
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (57-Y 35-N)
-
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 1-N)
-
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
-
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020
-
Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 20, 2020
-
Impact statement from SCC (SB629ER)
-
Signed by Speaker
-
Signed by President
-
Enrolled
-
Impact statement from SCC (SB629S2)
-
VOTE: Adoption (75-Y 16-N 1-A)
-
Conference report agreed to by House (75-Y 16-N 1-A)
-
Passed by temporarily
-
Conference report agreed to by Senate (34-Y 5-N)
-
Conference substitute printed 20109815D-S2
-
Amended by conference committee
-
Conferees appointed by House
-
Conferees appointed by Senate
-
Senate acceded to request (37-Y 0-N)
-
House requested conference committee
-
House insisted on substitute
-
House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N)
-
VOTE: Block Vote Passage (97-Y 0-N)
-
Passed House with substitute BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)
-
Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB629H1
-
Committee substitute agreed to 20109355D-H1
-
Read third time
-
Impact statement from SCC (SB629H1)
-
Read second time
-
Committee substitute printed 20109355D-H1
-
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
-
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
-
Read first time
-
Placed on Calendar
-
Impact statement from SCC (SB629S1)
-
Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
-
Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
-
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB629S1
-
Committee substitute agreed to 20107477D-S1
-
Reading of substitute waived
-
Read second time
-
Passed by for the day
-
Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
-
Committee substitute printed 20107477D-S1
-
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
-
Assigned C&L sub: Energy
-
Impact statement from SCC (SB629)
-
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
-
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20101887D
Sponsors
- Scott A. Surovell · Primary
- Jennifer B. Boysko · Cosponsor
- Jennifer L. McClellan · Cosponsor
- Joseph D. Morrissey · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 144 not signed on · 68 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Scott A. Surovell Voted No
Co-sponsors (3)
- Jennifer B. Boysko Voted No
- Jennifer L. McClellan
- Joseph D. Morrissey
Not signed on (144)
144 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 144 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 56 | 35 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | 56 | 35 | 0 | 8 |
| % of votes cast | 57% | 35% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 98% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 74 | 16 | 0 | 9 |
| Total | 74 | 16 | 0 | 9 |
| % of votes cast | 75% | 16% | 0% | 9% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 34 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 34 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 85% | 13% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 37 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 37 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 93% | 0% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 96 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 96 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 97% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (22)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Lindsey, Joseph C. | — | Yea |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | — | Yea |
| Ayala, Hala S. | — | Yea |
| Bourne, Jeffrey M. | — | Yea |
| Byron, Kathy J. | — | Yea |
| Christopher T. Head | — | Yea |
| Gooditis, Wendy W. | — | Yea |
| Guzman, Elizabeth R. | — | Yea |
| Heretick, Steve E. | — | Yea |
| Israel D. O'Quinn | — | Yea |
| Jeion A. Ward | — | Yea |
| Keam, Mark L. | — | Yea |
| Kory, Kaye | — | Yea |
| Lamont Bagby | — | Yea |
| Marshall, Daniel W., III | — | Yea |
| Michael J. Webert | — | Yea |
| Mullin, Michael P. | — | Yea |
| R. Lee Ware | — | Yea |
| Ransone, Margaret B. | — | Yea |
| Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. | — | Yea |
| Terry G. Kilgore | — | Yea |
| Tony O. Wilt | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 98% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 98% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (15)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Spruill, Lionell, Sr. | — | Yea |
| Barker, George L. | — | Yea |
| Bell, John J. | — | Yea |
| David W. Marsden | — | Yea |
| Ebbin, Adam P. | — | Yea |
| Edwards, John S. | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Mark D. Obenshain | — | Yea |
| Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" | — | Yea |
| Newman, Stephen D. | — | Yea |
| Norment, Thomas K., Jr. | — | Yea |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Saslaw, Richard L. | — | Yea |
| Scott A. Surovell | — | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 629 do?
- Shared solar programs. Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish by regulation a shared solar program that allows customers of Dominion Virginia to purchase electric power through a subscription in a shared solar facility, which is defined in the bill as a facility that, among other criteria, generates electricity by means of a solar photovoltaic device with a nameplate capacity rating that does not exceed 5,000 kilowatts. Under the program, a subscriber receives a bill credit for the proportional output of a share solar facility attributable to that subscriber. Subscribers are required to pay a minimum bill, established by the Commission, that includes the costs of infrastructure and related services. The bill provides that the Commission shall approve a shared solar program of 150 megawatts with a minimum requirement of 30 percent of low-income customers and that the Commission will approve an additional 50 megawatts upon determining that at least 45 megawatts of the shared solar capacity have been subscribed to by low-income customers. This bill is identical to HB 1634.
- Who sponsors SB 629?
- SB 629 is sponsored by Scott A. Surovell, Jennifer B. Boysko, Jennifer L. McClellan, and Joseph D. Morrissey.
- What is the current status of SB 629?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2020. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 629?
- Track SB 629 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on SB 629
Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.
Stay ahead of SB 629
Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →