The House of Delegates passed its own version of a major utility regulatory overhaul Tuesday, a day after nearly unanimously approving a key amendment intended to prevent Virginia utilities from charging customers twice for billions of dollars in new spending to upgrade the electric grid and build new renewable energy generation.
The amendment by Del. David Toscano, D-Charlottesville, the House minority leader, came a week after Gov. Ralph Northam, also a Democrat, endorsed the Dominion Energy-backed bill to move Virginia toward a “reinvestment model” that lets Dominion and Appalachian Power keep excess profits in exchange for the grid upgrades and spending on renewables, among other provisions.
In the House on Tuesday, where Republicans hold a 51-49 advantage, the bill passed 63-35, with two abstentions. Twenty-seven Democrats, including Toscano, and eight Republicans voted against the legislation, carried by Dels. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, and Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico. A Senate version passed last week.
