Changes How Utilities Recover Data Center Costs
Virginia · HB503 · Introduced Jan 12, 2026
Why it matters
Electric bills could change depending on how much of the cost of serving data centers utilities can recover from customers. The full text was cut off, so the exact effect is unclear.
What it does
- Changes how the State Corporation Commission reviews electric utility rates and profit returns
- Sets a limit on how far above peer utilities a company's allowed profit return can go
- Allows the commission to consider costs of serving data center customers when setting rates
Status
Latest action (2026-07-21): Continued from last session
About this bill
Would change how Virginia electric utilities recover costs tied to serving data center customers. The State Corporation Commission would set the rates.
Electric utilities; cost recovery, costs substantially related to serving data center customers.
Perspectives
💬 The case for
Consumer groups would likely say the bill protects households from paying for large data center power costs. Limits on profit returns would keep rates fair.
💬 The case against
Some utility companies would likely say the limits could make it harder to recover costs. They may argue investment in new power needs would slow.
Sponsored by
Sponsor details for this state bill are at the source link.
News
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