Pins matching date:2026-02-10

Virginia SB 253 (Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth) would shift energy infrastructure costs from residential ratepayers to data centers served by Dominion Energy. The SCC estimated residential rates would drop ~3.4% (~$5.52/month) while data center rates would rise ~15.8%. The bill passed the Senate nearly unanimously and the House 66-32 on March 3, 2026. Gov. Abigail Spanberger returned the bill with amendments in mid-April that lawmakers and Dominion say weaken it, including retroactively limiting Dominion's earnings in the current rate cycle. Lawmakers reconvened April 22, 2026 to consider the amendments. If rejected, Spanberger would have to sign or veto as originally passed. VERIFIED 2026-05-26: SB 253 (Lucas cost-shift) was signed by Gov. Spanberger in mid-May 2026 (effective July 1) after the General Assembly rejected most of her amendments; it creates a GS-5 rate class shifting grid-infrastructure costs onto data centers, though one accepted amendment (dropping the PJM cost-shift requirement) weakened it.