Public Comments for: HB242 - Public utilities; budget plan payment increases.
Residents and businesses should not have to pay the price for data centers' appetites for resources. The SWVA DCTA supports this bill, which will protect the customers that are most vulnerable to a price hike that may result from data center electricity consumption.
RE: HB 242 The City of Portsmouth is generally in favor of this bill, but would like to see the language added to include a qualification in the reduction limitations as follows: B. No public utility shall, for any residential customer who is enrolled in a budget plan or similar billing option, increase or reduce the amount of such customer's monthly payment more than once within any 12-month period, or without notifying the customer in writing at least 30 days before such increase or reduction takes effect.
The SWVA DCTA supports HB242. Given the risk data center electricity usage poses to the costs for regular energy customers, in the event of a rate hike we want the most vulnerable of them to be cushioned from the impacts.
Formal Support for HB 242, HB 420, and HB 422 (Utility Consumer Protections) Dear Members of the Committee: I am writing to express my strong support for the suite of utility consumer protection bills currently before this committee: HB 242, HB 420, and HB 422. As a resident of Caroline County and a candidate for the Board of Supervisors, I am advocating for these measures to bring much-needed predictability and transparency to our local utility costs. HB 242: Stability for Fixed-Income Families Many residents in my district utilize "budget plans" to manage their monthly household expenses. When a utility increases these payments mid-cycle without sufficient notice, it creates an immediate financial crisis for those on fixed incomes. HB 242’s requirement for a 30-day written notice and a limit of one increase per 12-month period is a common-sense protection that ensures families aren't blindsided by their basic service costs. HB 422: Preventing Rate-Hike Fatigue Water and sewer services are non-negotiable essentials. Frequent, year-over-year rate applications make it impossible for families and small businesses to plan their long-term budgets. By establishing a three-year window between general rate increase applications, HB 422 provides a necessary "cooling off" period and encourages utilities to manage their infrastructure costs more efficiently rather than passing them immediately to the consumer. HB 420: Ensuring Transparency in Mergers & Sales When a utility company is sold or merged, the resulting "synergy savings" should benefit the ratepayers as much as the shareholders. By empowering the SCC to reopen rate cases if a sale occurs within 24 months of an increase, HB 420 ensures that corporate transitions do not become a vehicle for hidden profit at the expense of the public. Conclusion: These bills are not just about numbers; they are about the financial dignity of Virginians. We need a utility system that prioritizes stability over volatility. I urge the committee to Report all three bills. Respectfully, Nicholas J. Broughan Caroline County Resident Candidate for Board of Supervisors, Western Caroline