I'm writing in support of HB 2200, HB1984, HB1835, HB1914, HB2160, and HB2049. The influence of the electric utilities--particularly Dominion--has created a situation where they are benefiting at ratepayers' expense. Unsurprisingly, bills to limit their political influence have already been killed in the House's Privileges and Elections committee. Your committee now can at least restore the balance of power somewhat between the utilities and their customers by restoring more effective SCC control. People are angry. Norment calls it a "legislative assault" on the utilities. Meanwhile, there is news like this, https://www.energyandpolicy.org/dominion-va-contributions-2020/?fbclid=IwAR2Rt_-DpIu1mECLCJZuXcXxrfWlJbvt9Y-qoQ1W7xTV9LC1L-RxKOcF7Gw, reporting that Dominion's political contributions have quadrupled over the past two years. Norment received $30,000 in 2020. Members of your committee received in total $164,000 in 2020 and almost $700,000 over their careers. People are paying attention. Please vote in the public interest, not only the utilities'.

Virginians are facing an enormous economic and public health crisis. Because Virginians pay the 6th-highest electricity bills in the country, many Virginians could not afford their energy bills even before the pandemic. That burden has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. In the face of job and income losses, it is more important than ever that the General Assembly restore the SCC’s full authority to refund excess charges and set fair rates based on the cost of providing electricity. Dominion’s rates will be reviewed in 2021 which means that this is legislators’ last chance to ensure fair electricity rates for Dominion’s 2.5 million customers before 2024. CCAN Action Fund encourages you to SUPPORT this suite of bills that would restore the SCC’s authority to set fair rates. • HB 2200 (Jones) • HB 1984 (Hudson) • HB 1835 (Subramanyam) • HB 1914 (Helmer) • HB 2049 (Bourne) • HB 2160 (Tran)

Bills [SUPPORT: HB1835, HB1914, HB1984, HB2049, HB2057, HB2160, HB2200] At New Virginia Majority, we support the aforementioned bills. We believe that all Virginians should have access to fairly charged and affordable utility bills. In Virginia, families in low-income areas, communities of color, and older adults should not pay a considerably higher percentage of their monthly income on energy than the median income household and have to consider making serious economic sacrifices to pay their utility bills. This is an issue known as energy burden well studied by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in their 2020 report, How High Are America’s Residential Energy Burdens. This study found that a quarter of low-income households have an energy burden greater than 16% in the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), six times the median energy burden for the MSA (2.6%), with 6% and above considered high and 10% and above considered severe. This ACEEE report also found that in this MSA, 28% of Black households (42,980) and 24% of Hispanic households (6,024) experience a high energy burden (above 6%). This issue is of particular concern during the current COVID-19 pandemic, housing crisis, and weakened economy. We support the aforementioned bills which are designed to meet these on-going challenges and ensure utility customers are fairly charged for electricity service, lower customers utility bills, ensure customers are refunded 100% for historic overcharges, and restore related critical authority to the State Corporation Commission who oversees utility regulation. Thank you. Tyneshia Griffin, the Environmental Policy Research Analyst at New Virginia Majority.

If I understand correctly, this package of bills will restore state/citizen oversight to Dominion Energy here in Virginia. Oversight is badly needed. Sometimes it looks like Dominion calls the shots on the monopoly it hold. We should be paying less for electricity.

I certainly hope the committee will show the same support to HB 1835 as I do. As Virginians, we deserve fair rates for the energy we all use on a daily basis. Dominion should not be allowed to jack rates up as high as they please with no proportional public benefit, while rate-paying Virginians are the ones bearing the added cost, especially during a time when so many have lost their livelihoods. I certainly hope the committee will do what's right, and move this bill forward.

I support BH1835, which would eliminate provisions in our code that limit the ability of the SCC to order reduction in rates charged by Dominion to ratepayers. Currently the Code limits the authority of the SCC to lower rates it believes are warranted to $50 million. This is a utility friendly provision that hurts ratepayers who should be entitled to receive rate reductions if the SCC review demonstrates that Dominion is “over-earning.” Virginia’s energy BILLS are the 6th highest in the country, partly because Dominion has overcharged ratepayers at least $502 million since 2017, monies that have not been reimbursed to ratepayers. Time to restore authority to the SCC to look out for the interests of the energy customer.

I urge the subcommittee to support HB 1835. We desperately need to address the SCC's ability to oversee and adjust rates charged by Dominion. Ratepayers are your constituents, and many in our communities are hurting due to the pandemic and economic insecurity. This bill represents a concrete step that can be taken to help the Commonwealth's families who receive such high electric utility bills and may have to make choices none of us would ever want to have to make. It would also represent a reaffirmation of the SCC's role in good governance. Thank you for moving this bill forward. Amy Bergner

I urge this Committee to support HB1835. The current Code limits the authority of the SCC to lower the rates that we pay to Dominion to only $50 million. This is quite unfair to us ratepayers. I do not believe that Dominion should get the benefit of over-earning. My understanding is that Dominion has overcharged us ratepayers by at least $502 million since 2017. That is incredible. That money belongs to us ratepayers. And, it is extremely unfair to the low income folks, often people of color, who have no choice but to use Dominion. This Bill will eliminate those provisions that limit the SCC's ability to order a reduction in rates. I know there is a lot of talk about how Dominion's RATES are allegedly low compared to other states, but we Virginian's pay BILLS that are the 6th highest in the country. It is past time that the SCC is given the power to do proper regulation.

Dear Delegate, I'm writing to ask you to please support HB 1835. This bill would help bring fair prices for electricity to all Virginians. This bill corrects the current limits on the SCC’s authority to order a reduction in rates charged by Dominion. Virginia’s bills are the 6th highest in the country, and Dominion has overcharged ratepayers by more than $502 million, just since 2017. This should not be allowed to continue, especially when so many have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. We need this bill. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Melanie Barton

Simple and fair. As a rate-payer in Virginia, I want to see the State Corporation Commission reining in a clearly runaway monopoly utility. This is a start. Allow the SCC to order "any rate reduction it deems necessary and appropriate”. The utility will be sure to still recover its costs and earn a fair rate of return.

On behalf of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition, I ask the Subcommittee to pass this important ratepayer protection bill that would eliminate Code provisions limiting the ability of the SCC to order a reduction in rates charged by Dominion to ratepayers. Currently the Code limits the authority of the SCC to lower rates it believes are warranted to $50 million irrespective of whether Dominion's over-earnings are in excess of this amount. There is no good reason to permit Dominion a windfall at the expense of the ratepayer. This egregious loophole in the Code should be closed. Thank you. Sharon Shutler, Chair Climate & Clean Energy Working Group, Virginia Grassroots Coalition

Dear Delegate, Please support HB 1835. This bill corrects the current limits on the SCC’s authority to order a reduction in rates charged by Dominion. Virginia’s bills are the 6th highest in the country, and Dominion has overcharged ratepayers by more than $502 million, just since 2017. At this time when so many have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, we need this bill. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Kathleen Nawaz

I urge the Committee to support HB 1835 and report it favorably for a vote by the Full House of Delegates. The current restrictions on the SCC prevent rate reductions that exceed $50 million, even when such reductions are reasonable and prudent. Under current law, with that restriction, Dominion has been able to overcharge Virginians by more than $300 million/year in recent years. Virginians pay the 6th highest energy bills in the country, despite Dominion’s claim of a low kWh rate, a claim that ignores the additional fees that are listed on our bills each month. It’s the total that we have to pay, not just one line item on the bill. This bill would help bring fair prices for electricity to all Virginians.

Dear Members of the Committee: It's as simple as this, the existing law essentially gives Dominion the ability to regulate itself. The bills (which include low rates and high, high extra fees) are among the highest in the nation. The SCC needs to be given the tools to properly regulate the electric utility industry. HB 1914, one of several that are needed to accomplish this goal, guarantees that utilities recover full costs without placing an undue burden on ratepayers by giving to the SCC authority to set a fair amortization period of certain costs. Thank you.

I'm writing in support of HB 2200, HB1984, HB1835, HB1914, HB2160, and HB2049. The influence of the electric utilities--particularly Dominion--has created a situation where they are benefiting at ratepayers' expense. Unsurprisingly, bills to limit their political influence have already been killed in the House's Privileges and Elections committee. Your committee now can at least restore the balance of power somewhat between the utilities and their customers by restoring more effective SCC control. People are angry. Norment calls it a "legislative assault" on the utilities. Meanwhile, there is news like this, https://www.energyandpolicy.org/dominion-va-contributions-2020/?fbclid=IwAR2Rt_-DpIu1mECLCJZuXcXxrfWlJbvt9Y-qoQ1W7xTV9LC1L-RxKOcF7Gw, reporting that Dominion's political contributions have quadrupled over the past two years. Norment received $30,000 in 2020. Members of your committee received in total $164,000 in 2020 and almost $700,000 over their careers. People are paying attention. Please vote in the public interest, not only the utilities'.

Virginians are facing an enormous economic and public health crisis. Because Virginians pay the 6th-highest electricity bills in the country, many Virginians could not afford their energy bills even before the pandemic. That burden has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. In the face of job and income losses, it is more important than ever that the General Assembly restore the SCC’s full authority to refund excess charges and set fair rates based on the cost of providing electricity. Dominion’s rates will be reviewed in 2021 which means that this is legislators’ last chance to ensure fair electricity rates for Dominion’s 2.5 million customers before 2024. CCAN Action Fund encourages you to SUPPORT this suite of bills that would restore the SCC’s authority to set fair rates. • HB 2200 (Jones) • HB 1984 (Hudson) • HB 1835 (Subramanyam) • HB 1914 (Helmer) • HB 2049 (Bourne) • HB 2160 (Tran)

Bills [SUPPORT: HB1835, HB1914, HB1984, HB2049, HB2057, HB2160, HB2200] At New Virginia Majority, we support the aforementioned bills. We believe that all Virginians should have access to fairly charged and affordable utility bills. In Virginia, families in low-income areas, communities of color, and older adults should not pay a considerably higher percentage of their monthly income on energy than the median income household and have to consider making serious economic sacrifices to pay their utility bills. This is an issue known as energy burden well studied by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in their 2020 report, How High Are America’s Residential Energy Burdens. This study found that a quarter of low-income households have an energy burden greater than 16% in the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), six times the median energy burden for the MSA (2.6%), with 6% and above considered high and 10% and above considered severe. This ACEEE report also found that in this MSA, 28% of Black households (42,980) and 24% of Hispanic households (6,024) experience a high energy burden (above 6%). This issue is of particular concern during the current COVID-19 pandemic, housing crisis, and weakened economy. We support the aforementioned bills which are designed to meet these on-going challenges and ensure utility customers are fairly charged for electricity service, lower customers utility bills, ensure customers are refunded 100% for historic overcharges, and restore related critical authority to the State Corporation Commission who oversees utility regulation. Thank you. Tyneshia Griffin, the Environmental Policy Research Analyst at New Virginia Majority.

If I understand correctly, this package of bills will restore state/citizen oversight to Dominion Energy here in Virginia. Oversight is badly needed. Sometimes it looks like Dominion calls the shots on the monopoly it hold. We should be paying less for electricity.

I strongly support HB1914, which restores the right of customers to buy renewable energy from any supplier even once their own utility offers an RE purchase option. Currently, customers are not allowed to buy RE other than from Dominion or APCo, since these utilities offer 100% renewable products (which are more expensive and less “green” than those available in the competitive market). The bill also requires third party suppliers of RE to offer discounted RE products to low-income customers. The bill has widespread support from organizations such as Target, Walmart, Costco, Cox Communications, and associations for apartments, offices, colleges and the food industry.

An SCC report released in August 2020 stated that Dominion Energy collected an estimated half a billion dollars more than allowed between 2017 and 2019 – amounting to returns on equity of 13.84 percent and 13.47 percent in 2017 and 2018, rather than the current approved (and more than comfortable) return on equity of 9.2 percent. This is one of many examples of the unbalance of power between Virginia utilities and its ratepayers. This bill would give appropriate authority to the SCC as it relates to the rate of return for energy projects and authorized rate increases. This is about common-sense and good governance in regulatory oversight. I urge the Committee to approve this bill. Thank you! Chris LeMenestrel, McLean

I urge you to support and move forward ratepayer protection legislation during this session. Ratepayers have been unfairly disadvantaged and the SCC has been limited in its ability to regulate and oversee Dominion and other monopolies. Citizens of Virginia are suffering due to the pandemic and the economy, and communities are experiencing unjust treatment at the hands of utilities, as seen by failures to return overcharges, consistently high electric bills, and demands for food, medical, housing and clothing - necessities that many cannot afford while electric utilities and their shareholders reap outsized profits. Please move this legislation forward

Please support this important ratepayer protection bill that restores SCC authority over when to count utility costs against revenues. This positively affects every ratepayer in the Commonwealth, and at a time when millions can barely afford utilities, we are looking at an option to keep those in need in warm homes. It is a matter of equity. This bill granting the SCC the ability to balance ratepayer interests with those of utilities. The current Code provisions favor the utility at the expense of the ratepayers. The code is riddled with utility friendly provisions. It’s time to restore the authority to the SCC – the regulatory body – to look out for the ratepayer. Thank you for considering my testimony in support of this bill. I trust the committee will support it and move it to a full House of Delegates vote and ultimately pass it in the Senate as well.

HB1914, like HB1835, is another correction to the improper limitations that have been placed on the SCC's ability to regulate utilities. I urge this Committee to support passage of HB1914. This provision is a bit technical in nature, allowing the SCC to determine when to count utility costs against revenues. But placing that authority in the SCC is fundamental to its ability to balance the interest of ratepayers with that of utilities. Frankly, it is obvious that a utility is not going to be objective in deciding when to count costs against revenues. That is why it should not be left to them to do it. That is why we have regulators in the first place. Thanks. Annette Lang, Arlington

I ask the Subcommittee to support this important ratepayer protection bill that restores SCC authority over when to count utility costs against revenues. As with several other critical ratepayer protection bills this session, this bill grants the SCC more authority to balance ratepayer interests with those of utilities. The current Code provisions unfairly favor the utilities at the expense of the ratepayers. It is critical for the General Assembly, starting with this Subcommittee, to amend the utility provisions to provide the regulatory body, the SCC, with the tools it needs to actually and effectively regulate. Thank you. Sharon Shutler, Chair of the Climate & Clean Energy Working Group, Virginia Grassroots Coalition

Dear Delegate, Please support HB1914. This bill restores SCC authority over when to count utility costs against revenues, allowing the SCC to balance ratepayer interests with those of utilities. The SCC has an important role to play in Virginia (as do similar organizations across the US) and the time has come to restore it’s authority so that it is empowered to function to serve all, not just the utilities. Thank you. Kathleen Nawaz

Food & Water Watch supports HB2200 and HB1984. These bills would give the State Corporation Commission (SCC) a considerable amount of oversight authority on energy rates. With a rate case coming up later this year for Virginia's largest energy provider, passing these bills could protect consumers from potentially losing millions of dollars due to overcharges that is a common occurrence underneath current Virginia law.

As a customer of Dominion Power, I am tired of seeing Virginians pay electric bills that are ranked as among the highest in the country. Dominion's constant harping about its low rates is quite disingenuous, as if the kWh rate was all that a ratepayer had to actually pay. It is patently obvious that the regulatory powers of the SCC have been so weakened that it has insufficient tools to set reasonable rates while maintaining the standard of a fgair rate of return for the utility. This bill enables the Commission to set futurew rates based on future costs, regardless of past overcharges, which is the normal practice in all other regulated energy markets. The bill does so by enabling the SCC to use valid analytical methods, consistent with the public interest, to determine fair rates of return for the utility. Please support this bill. Thank you.

I'm writing in support of HB 2200, HB1984, HB1835, HB1914, HB2160, and HB2049. The influence of the electric utilities--particularly Dominion--has created a situation where they are benefiting at ratepayers' expense. Unsurprisingly, bills to limit their political influence have already been killed in the House's Privileges and Elections committee. Your committee now can at least restore the balance of power somewhat between the utilities and their customers by restoring more effective SCC control. People are angry. Norment calls it a "legislative assault" on the utilities. Meanwhile, there is news like this, https://www.energyandpolicy.org/dominion-va-contributions-2020/?fbclid=IwAR2Rt_-DpIu1mECLCJZuXcXxrfWlJbvt9Y-qoQ1W7xTV9LC1L-RxKOcF7Gw, reporting that Dominion's political contributions have quadrupled over the past two years. Norment received $30,000 in 2020. Members of your committee received in total $164,000 in 2020 and almost $700,000 over their careers. People are paying attention. Please vote in the public interest, not only the utilities'.

Virginians are facing an enormous economic and public health crisis. Because Virginians pay the 6th-highest electricity bills in the country, many Virginians could not afford their energy bills even before the pandemic. That burden has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. In the face of job and income losses, it is more important than ever that the General Assembly restore the SCC’s full authority to refund excess charges and set fair rates based on the cost of providing electricity. Dominion’s rates will be reviewed in 2021 which means that this is legislators’ last chance to ensure fair electricity rates for Dominion’s 2.5 million customers before 2024. CCAN Action Fund encourages you to SUPPORT this suite of bills that would restore the SCC’s authority to set fair rates. • HB 2200 (Jones) • HB 1984 (Hudson) • HB 1835 (Subramanyam) • HB 1914 (Helmer) • HB 2049 (Bourne) • HB 2160 (Tran)

Bills [SUPPORT: HB1835, HB1914, HB1984, HB2049, HB2057, HB2160, HB2200] At New Virginia Majority, we support the aforementioned bills. We believe that all Virginians should have access to fairly charged and affordable utility bills. In Virginia, families in low-income areas, communities of color, and older adults should not pay a considerably higher percentage of their monthly income on energy than the median income household and have to consider making serious economic sacrifices to pay their utility bills. This is an issue known as energy burden well studied by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in their 2020 report, How High Are America’s Residential Energy Burdens. This study found that a quarter of low-income households have an energy burden greater than 16% in the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), six times the median energy burden for the MSA (2.6%), with 6% and above considered high and 10% and above considered severe. This ACEEE report also found that in this MSA, 28% of Black households (42,980) and 24% of Hispanic households (6,024) experience a high energy burden (above 6%). This issue is of particular concern during the current COVID-19 pandemic, housing crisis, and weakened economy. We support the aforementioned bills which are designed to meet these on-going challenges and ensure utility customers are fairly charged for electricity service, lower customers utility bills, ensure customers are refunded 100% for historic overcharges, and restore related critical authority to the State Corporation Commission who oversees utility regulation. Thank you. Tyneshia Griffin, the Environmental Policy Research Analyst at New Virginia Majority.

If I understand correctly, this package of bills will restore state/citizen oversight to Dominion Energy here in Virginia. Oversight is badly needed. Sometimes it looks like Dominion calls the shots on the monopoly it hold. We should be paying less for electricity.

Good afternoon members of the committee. My name is Amanda Mileur and I reside in Norfolk, VA. I live a good life. I have a safe and secure place to live, enough to eat, clothes on my back and a stable income that allows me to travel and enjoy my leisure time. I credit my access to reproductive healthcare as one of the biggest factors that allowed me to achieve financial security. Without the ability to manage my own reproductive health, none of this would be possible. All people deserve and are due the same level of access to reproductive healthcare, and the same ability to achieve a stable, secure life. I urge you to support HB 1896. Thank you.

I urge you to support and move forward ratepayer protection legislation during this session. Ratepayers have been unfairly disadvantaged and the SCC has been limited in its ability to regulate and oversee Dominion and other monopolies. Citizens of Virginia are suffering due to the pandemic and the economy, and communities are experiencing unjust treatment at the hands of utilities, as seen by failures to return overcharges, consistently high electric bills, and demands for food, medical, housing and clothing - necessities that many cannot afford while electric utilities and their shareholders reap outsized profits. Please move this legislation forward

I am writing to ask you to support HB1984. This goes hand-in-hand with other Bills up in the Committee this Session that eliminate the unfair advantages, codified in current law, that utilities have long had over ratepayers. This Bill gives the SCC discretion to determine a "fair rate of return" for a utility and to order increases or decreases as appropriate. This Bill does NOT in any way prohibit utilities from recovering their full cost of service and their authorized profits. Rather, it prevents continued overcharge of us ratepayers. Thanks. Annette Lang, Arlington

I ask the Subcommittee to pass this important ratepayer protection bill which grants the SCC additional discretion to determine a “fair rate of return” for the utilities and to order rate increases or decreases as appropriate. The code currently restricts the ability of the SCC to proactively determine a fair rate of return. This bill will fix that issue and ensure that the SCC can set rates as low as possible while allowing utilities to recover the their costs of service and authorized profit. Significantly, however, the bill's provisions would authorize the SCC to prevent Dominion from continuing to overcharge ratepayers. As pointed out in my other comments on utility reform bills, the Virginia Code skews heavily in favor of the utilities at the expense of rate payers. Time to fix this! Thank you. Sharon Shutler, Chair Climate & Clean Energy Working Group, Virginia Grassroots Coalition

Dear Delegate, Please support HB1984. This bill, in addition to several others offered this session, provides important ratepayer protection. It gives the SCC additional discretion to determine a “fair rate of return” for the utility and to order rate increases or decreases as appropriate. Shockingly (at least to me) under current code the SCC is precluded from doing so. This bill ensures that the SCC can set rates as low as possible while still ensuring that utilities can recover the full costs of service and authorized profit – but not so high as to continue to overcharge customers. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Kathleen Nawaz

Dear Committee Members: I am asking that you support HB2048, the Right to Buy bill, which would restore the ability of customers to purchase 100% clean, renewable energy from other providers if they cannot obtain energy which is truly renewable from Dominion or Appalachian Power. THese alternate providers would be regulated by the SCC. Large number of companies including Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Cox Communications, Costco, Target, Walmart, Wegmans as well as colleges want the right to purchase from these providers. It makes little sense from preventing customers such as these businesses who are trying to convert to using truly green renewable energy and help tVIrginia achieve its critically important climate goals. Thank you.

Virginia Advanced Energy Economy (Va. AEE) firmly SUPPORTS HB. 2048 from Delegate Bourne. Virginia's present "hybrid" energy market, which bars consumers from purchasing 100% renewable energy when their utility has an approved 100% tariff is arbitrary and anti-competitive. Permitting competitive service providers (CSPs) to provide 100% renewable energy alongside Virginia's utilities - as HB. 2048 does - grows the market for wind, solar, and other advanced energy resources, and encourages competition, which should drive electricity prices down. Furthermore, this legislation fits with the landmark clean energy targets establish by the General Assembly last year in the Virginia Clean Economy Act. We encourage the subcommittee to support this important measure, as they did last year.

Conservatives for Clean Energy strongly supports HB2048. States across the Southeast are experiencing strong job growth and the positive economic impact of clean energy. We believe more opportunities can be driven by increased choice and competition in our energy markets, which is why you see such a broad coalition of support for this legislation. As Virginia continues to lower its heavy dependence on fossil fuels over time and increase electricity generation from emerging technologies like renewable energy (a transition that is supported by 82% of Virginia voters), as well as increased energy efficiency, it is critical that we utilize market-driven policies to help contain and reduce costs. Conservatives have long advocated for policies to drive innovation and lower costs through competitive markets, and we do so here. Our public opinion research shows strong support for this concept as well. When asked their opinion on whether Virginia should "Permit third-party sales of electricity from outside the monopoly utility so that customers can have more choice," fully 84% of voters indicated that this is an important policy change for increasing access to clean energy. Similarly, 80% of voters agreed with this statement: "Virginia should give businesses and consumers more choices about how to transition away from burning fossil fuels in order to drive innovation and competitive pricing." We encourage the General Assembly to support this effort to give businesses and consumers more freedom when it comes to choosing how to access renewable energy in the Commonwealth. Thank you.

The following organizations SUPPORT HB2048 - eliminating Virginia's renewable energy 'kill switch.' HB2048 would restore the ability for customers to shop for renewable energy and provide lower cost renewable energy options to low income customers. No mandates, just choice. Advanced Energy Economy | Albireo Energy | Apartment and Office Building Association | Calpine Energy Solutions | Ceres | CleanChoice Energy | Conservatives for Clean Energy | Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia | Costco Wholesale | Covanta | Cox Communications | Direct Energy | EA Power Solutions | ENGIE | Food Lion | Harris Teeter | iFly Virginia Beach | Infinite Energy | Kroger | MASA Corporation | Microsoft | NRG | Powered by Facts | Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance | Renewable Energy Supply Association | Sierra Club | Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. | Southern Environmental Law Center | TPI Efficiency | Target | Virginia Conservation Network | Virginia Food Industry Association | Vistra Energy | Virginia Apartment and Management Association | Virginia League of Conservation Voters | WGL Energy | Walmart | Wegmans

If I understand correctly, this package of bills will restore state/citizen oversight to Dominion Energy here in Virginia. Oversight is badly needed. Sometimes it looks like Dominion calls the shots on the monopoly it hold. We should be paying less for electricity.

This bill is essential to ensure that data center energy hogs can meet corporate sustainability goals and purchase renewably generated electricity while located in Dominion Power Territory. It also gives homeowners the freedom of choice.

Currently if you are a Virginia resident, is is very difficult to bring renewable energy into your building. People have a right to have more opportunity to buy renewable energy, no matter where they are in the Commonwealth. Please support this bill that will remove some of the barriers.

While HB2034 is directly for the benefit of energy consumers in SW Virginia, I strongly support it even though I live in Arlington. This Bill ensures that customers such as municipalities and public schools can enter into Power Purchase Agreements to access renewable energy. This access is already available to those of us within Dominion's territory but it needs to extend statewide. This will help lower the carbon footprint of these customers and that directly helps me. Thanks, Annette Lang, Arlington.

Please pass HB1925, referred to as the Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund and Program. Having done environmental enforcement work for my career as a lawyer in the Department of Justice, I saw firsthand what a difference it made to communities to have their brownfields moved from unproductive and unsightly eyesores to productive use. So much needs to be done in this area. The grants awarded would be on a competitive basis and would support wind, solar, or geothermal projects on formerly mined lands or brownfields. No state funds will be spent on the program unless the budget overrides. Its passage will allow VA to pursue federal funding without impacting the budget. Thanks. Annette Lang, Arlington

I am urging passage of HB2048. This bill eliminates what is known as the "kill switch": the right of Dominion and APCO to prevent customers from securing renewable energy from other sources because they now offer 100% renewable products. But, in the first instance, these products are more expensive and less green than those available in the competitive market. In the second instance, this is profoundly anti-competitive. This Bill has the widespread support of associations representing colleges, apartments, offices, and the food industry, as well as Target, Walmart, and Costco. I urge your support for HB2048. Thanks. Annette Lang, Arlington

Some argue that solar panels will require too much land. Much land area in the U.S., however, is already dedicated to industrial uses and a significant portion represents abandoned uses. This bill for Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund makes tremendous sense. The bill awards grants on a competitive basis to support wind, solar, or geothermal projects sited on formerly mined lands or brownfields. Renewable energy development on previously disturbed land rather than high-value fields and forests should be promoted. This bill will also create opportunities in Southwest Virginia ensure they are a part of the transition to clean energy. Please support the passage of this bill.

I am interested in and strongly support the passage of this bill. The 100 percent renewable products offered by Dominion or APCo are more expensive and less “green” than renewable products available in the competitive market. This bill is supported by many large private sector and public organizations. Customers should be able to buy renewable energy from any supplier. Thanks.

On behalf of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition, a coalition of over 50 Indivisible, Swing Left, and other organizations across the Commonwealth, I urge the Committee to adopt HB2048. This bill would restore the ability of customers to purchase electricity from Competitive Service Providers (CSPs) - companies regulated by the SCC. Virginia law provides customers with this option until such time, if ever, that Dominion and APCo offered 100% renewable energy. In 2019 and 2020, Dominion and APCo chose to offer 100% renewable energy product which acted as a “kill switch” for choice. However, the renewable energy product offered by Dominion and APCo is much less green and much more expensive than that which could be purchased by the CSPs. HB2048 would eliminate the “kill switch” and allow customers to buy cheaper, greener product from the CSPs. Large number of companies including Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Cox Communications, Costco, Target, Walmart, Wegmans as well as colleges want the right to purchase from CSPs. This is an important bill to increase the use of truly green renewable energy and help the Commonwealth achieve its critically important climate goals. Thank you. Sharon Shutler Chair, Climate & Clean Energy Working Group, Virginia Grassroots Coalition

To the Honorable Members of the House Labor & Commerce Committee & Subcommittees: I urge you to support this bill, which is critical not only to address Virginia’s carbon emission reduction goals, but also is needed to restore fair competition and customer choice in the renewable energy market. It is highly regrettable that large companies doing business in Virginia, such as data centers, industrial facilities or retailers which want to do the right thing to switch to clean energy and become carbon neutral, are not able to do so and not provided with a full array of competitive choices – including those that do not include questionably “green” biomass which I am being told is what Dominion Energy offers. It is imperative that we develop a competitive renewable energy market in Virginia – or else we will find ourselves behind other states and become less attractive to those businesses looking for affordable clean energy options. Thank you for your consideration!

Dear Delegate, I’m writing to urge you to support HB2048. This bill restores the right of customers to buy renewable energy (RE) from any supplier even once their own utility offers a RE purchase option. Currently, customers are not allowed to buy RE other than from Dominion or APCo, since these utilities offer 100% renewable products (which are more expensive and less “green” than those available in the competitive market). The bill also requires third party suppliers of RE to offer a discounted RE product to low-income customers, saving them at least 10% off the cost of regular utility service. Please note that this bill has widespread support from organizations such as Target, Walmart, Costco, Cox Communications, and associations for apartments, offices, colleges and the food industry. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Kathleen Nawaz

I'm writing in support of HB 2200, HB1984, HB1835, HB1914, HB2160, and HB2049. The influence of the electric utilities--particularly Dominion--has created a situation where they are benefiting at ratepayers' expense. Unsurprisingly, bills to limit their political influence have already been killed in the House's Privileges and Elections committee. Your committee now can at least restore the balance of power somewhat between the utilities and their customers by restoring more effective SCC control. People are angry. Norment calls it a "legislative assault" on the utilities. Meanwhile, there is news like this, https://www.energyandpolicy.org/dominion-va-contributions-2020/?fbclid=IwAR2Rt_-DpIu1mECLCJZuXcXxrfWlJbvt9Y-qoQ1W7xTV9LC1L-RxKOcF7Gw, reporting that Dominion's political contributions have quadrupled over the past two years. Norment received $30,000 in 2020. Members of your committee received in total $164,000 in 2020 and almost $700,000 over their careers. People are paying attention. Please vote in the public interest, not only the utilities'.

Virginians are facing an enormous economic and public health crisis. Because Virginians pay the 6th-highest electricity bills in the country, many Virginians could not afford their energy bills even before the pandemic. That burden has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. In the face of job and income losses, it is more important than ever that the General Assembly restore the SCC’s full authority to refund excess charges and set fair rates based on the cost of providing electricity. Dominion’s rates will be reviewed in 2021 which means that this is legislators’ last chance to ensure fair electricity rates for Dominion’s 2.5 million customers before 2024. CCAN Action Fund encourages you to SUPPORT this suite of bills that would restore the SCC’s authority to set fair rates. • HB 2200 (Jones) • HB 1984 (Hudson) • HB 1835 (Subramanyam) • HB 1914 (Helmer) • HB 2049 (Bourne) • HB 2160 (Tran)

Bills [SUPPORT: HB1835, HB1914, HB1984, HB2049, HB2057, HB2160, HB2200] At New Virginia Majority, we support the aforementioned bills. We believe that all Virginians should have access to fairly charged and affordable utility bills. In Virginia, families in low-income areas, communities of color, and older adults should not pay a considerably higher percentage of their monthly income on energy than the median income household and have to consider making serious economic sacrifices to pay their utility bills. This is an issue known as energy burden well studied by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in their 2020 report, How High Are America’s Residential Energy Burdens. This study found that a quarter of low-income households have an energy burden greater than 16% in the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), six times the median energy burden for the MSA (2.6%), with 6% and above considered high and 10% and above considered severe. This ACEEE report also found that in this MSA, 28% of Black households (42,980) and 24% of Hispanic households (6,024) experience a high energy burden (above 6%). This issue is of particular concern during the current COVID-19 pandemic, housing crisis, and weakened economy. We support the aforementioned bills which are designed to meet these on-going challenges and ensure utility customers are fairly charged for electricity service, lower customers utility bills, ensure customers are refunded 100% for historic overcharges, and restore related critical authority to the State Corporation Commission who oversees utility regulation. Thank you. Tyneshia Griffin, the Environmental Policy Research Analyst at New Virginia Majority.

HB 2049 removes the Customer Credit Reinvestment Offset (CCRO), which allows utilities to instantaneously recover hundreds of millions of dollars of the costs of infrastructure projects rather than refunding overcharges to their ratepayers. This limit on the SCC’s discretion to order refunds is unwarranted and harmful to Virginia utility ratepayers for these reasons: 1. CCROs hamper the SCC’s discretion in a way that no other state’s utility law does No other state has CCROs, and Virginia should not, either. State utility commissions normally have broad latitude to order refunds as part of their rate orders, with few limitations. The relevant language governing refunds is much shorter and not prescriptive, if it exists at all. By contrast, CCROs limit the SCC’s discretion completely. If they use up a utility's over-earnings, then the SCC cannot lower future rates. When that happens, Virginia’s ratepayers will needlessly overpay for electricity. 2. HB 2049 does not impact a utility’s ability to pursue timely cost recovery HB 2049 enables Virginia utilities to pursue cost recovery when they build new infrastructure projects. They can recover their full cost - plus a guaranteed profit - through base rates or rate adjustment clauses (RACs). For example, Dominion’s recent filing to the SCC to comply with Virginia’s new renewable portfolio standard proposes RACs for six company-owned projects. HB 2049 does not impact cost recovery for those or any other projects. There is no time lag, either. Using a RAC, a utility can pass on prudently incurred costs to its ratepayers as it pays them. This is consistent with normal capital investing, where utilities recover their costs over time. Indeed, when the General Assembly first added the RAC mechanism to the Code, it aimed to provide utilities with more certain and timely cost recovery in a “pay as you go” model. Given this, CCROs are redundant and unnecessary. 3. Utilities throughout the nation are modernizing the grid without CCROs I have studied grid modernization proceedings in dozens of states. Utilities are building wind and solar plants and installing smart meters without CCROs. In Colorado, Xcel is building a large wind farm using traditional cost recovery. Other utilities are using RACs and rate base treatment for renewable energy projects and other grid transformation projects. They do not need CCROs or request them. 4. Many qualifying projects are already deemed in the public interest, so the SCC has less ability to reduce the potential for overcharges Under current law, solar and wind projects, and grid transformation projects (as defined in the GTSA), are already deemed to be in the public interest. This reduces the SCC’s opportunity to evaluate project costs at the outset, which in turn increases the likelihood of overcharges and the use of CCROs. In summary, I support HB 2049, to preclude utilities from applying customer overcharges to new investments. Thank you for your consideration. - Professor Joel B. Eisen, energy law scholar, University of Richmond School of Law.

If I understand correctly, this package of bills will restore state/citizen oversight to Dominion Energy here in Virginia. Oversight is badly needed. Sometimes it looks like Dominion calls the shots on the monopoly it hold. We should be paying less for electricity.

I urge you to support and move forward ratepayer protection legislation during this session. Ratepayers have been unfairly disadvantaged and the SCC has been limited in its ability to regulate and oversee Dominion and other monopolies. Citizens of Virginia are suffering due to the pandemic and the economy, and communities are experiencing unjust treatment at the hands of utilities, as seen by failures to return overcharges, consistently high electric bills, and demands for food, medical, housing and clothing - necessities that many cannot afford while electric utilities and their shareholders reap outsized profits. Please move this legislation forward

Please support HB2049. Unbelievably -- and unlike most other utilities in the country -- Dominion is allowed to use its overearnings for new projects, instead of returning those overearnings to ratepayers. This is unfair to all ratepayers, but particularly to low income ratepayers. This Bill would put an end to that. It's about time. Thanks, Annette Lang, Arlington

I ask this Subcommittee to pass this bill - another one of the many critical ratepayer protection bills offered this General Assembly session. Specifically, this bill would prevent Dominion from retaining overearnings from ratepayers and diverting those monies for new projects. Like nearly every other regulated utility in the country, Dominion should be required to issue refunds rightfully owed ratepayers or credit their future bills. This is yet another windfall buried in the Code that inures to Dominion's benefit at the expense of ratepayers. I urge you to pass this bill. Thank you. Sharon Shutler, Chair Climate & Clean Energy Working Group, Virginia Grassroots Coalition

Dear Delegate, Please support HB2049. This, like several other bills proposed this session, is aimed at protecting ratepayers. The bill would prevent from Dominion from using overearnings from ratepayers to be used for new projects instead of issuing ratepayer refunds. Most utilities throughout the U.S. are required to issue refunds yet Dominion is currently not required to do so. Ratepayer protections are always important, but it seems that at this point in time, with so many families reeling from job loss and other economic (as well as health) hardships, it is time to ensure that overearnings are refunded. Please remember that Virginia has the 6th highest utility bills in the U.S., and we have many low income residents, who bear the heaviest energy burdens. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Kathleen Nawaz

Bills [SUPPORT: HB1835, HB1914, HB1984, HB2049, HB2057, HB2160, HB2200] At New Virginia Majority, we support the aforementioned bills. We believe that all Virginians should have access to fairly charged and affordable utility bills. In Virginia, families in low-income areas, communities of color, and older adults should not pay a considerably higher percentage of their monthly income on energy than the median income household and have to consider making serious economic sacrifices to pay their utility bills. This is an issue known as energy burden well studied by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in their 2020 report, How High Are America’s Residential Energy Burdens. This study found that a quarter of low-income households have an energy burden greater than 16% in the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), six times the median energy burden for the MSA (2.6%), with 6% and above considered high and 10% and above considered severe. This ACEEE report also found that in this MSA, 28% of Black households (42,980) and 24% of Hispanic households (6,024) experience a high energy burden (above 6%). This issue is of particular concern during the current COVID-19 pandemic, housing crisis, and weakened economy. We support the aforementioned bills which are designed to meet these on-going challenges and ensure utility customers are fairly charged for electricity service, lower customers utility bills, ensure customers are refunded 100% for historic overcharges, and restore related critical authority to the State Corporation Commission who oversees utility regulation. Thank you. Tyneshia Griffin, the Environmental Policy Research Analyst at New Virginia Majority.

If I understand correctly, this package of bills will restore state/citizen oversight to Dominion Energy here in Virginia. Oversight is badly needed. Sometimes it looks like Dominion calls the shots on the monopoly it hold. We should be paying less for electricity.

I am a member of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and its Environmental Committee, as well as the Virginia Grassroots Energy Coalition. I urge you to support HB1835, HB1914, HB1984, HB2049, HB2160, and HB2200 in the House Labor & Commerce Energy Subcommittee on Monday, February 1st. These bills, in particular HB2200 (a new iteration of HB 2057), will restore authority that previous Republican-dominated General Assemblies removed from the State Corporation Commission. These "death by a thousand cuts" were instigated by Dominion Energy and its smaller sibling, Appalachian Power. Together, the power monopolies and the Republicans waged a campaign of "regulatory capture," which has succeeded. The only way that regulated monopolies work to the benefit of the market and consumers is if the regulators are independent of the monopolies and have the authority to set utility rates and profit. (The yardstick is to provide a reasonable rate of return on invested capital.) These bills restore that authority. Evidence that the system is broken comes from Dominion's overcharging scandal. Reports are that since 2017 Dominion has overcharged ratepayers over $502 million, monies that have never been reimbursed. Incredibly, current law and regs allow Dominion to retain up to 30% of their overchages. This creates "moral hazard" by providing the perverse incentive for Dominion to intentionally or recklessly, with the forbearance of the SCC, overcharge customers. There is no penalty; rather, Dominion reaps the reward of keeping 30% of the overages. Clearly, as long as the laws and the SCC leave this system in place, Dominion will continue to engage in overcharges.    The SCC needs to order refunds and shut down this scam. More broadly, it needs these legislative reforms to step up to its role as an effective regulator. Otherwise, if regulation does not work, then future General Assemblies should legislate a break-up of these two monopolies and the creation of a competitive energy market for both generation and transmission. Virginians deserve better than the coddled Dominion and Appalachian Power monopolies and a neutered or captured SCC. Thank you and good luck passing these bills out of committee, then off the floors of both chambers, and to enactment into law.

I am writing because I believe in strong consumer protections against overreaching costs imposed by Virginia's monopoly utility provider, Dominion Energy. Given that no one can live without heat/AC and light, such consumer protections are more vital than ever before due to our society's horrific rise in income inequality and poverty. Please pass HB2057 to Increase SCC Oversight over Dominion Energy. The SCC must have the necessary authority to decide when utilities can recover their costs, and what rates they can set and what profit they can make when providing a service essential to human life, health, and well-being. Virginia has allowed its regulation to become so weak that the public is no longer being adequately served. It is time to restore a humane and moral balance to the interests of consumers against those of the utility companies. We the people deserve responsible oversight of utility profit-making. Please immediately take favorable action on HB2057. Thank you for your work.

I was part of a Virginia energy working group last year which researched and analyze the rules by which SCC determines a “fair rate of return for utilities”. It became clear that the rules and definition of a fair rate of return were archaic, outdated, and biased toward the utilities at the expense of Virginia ratepayers. This bill would restore appropriate authority to the SCC as it relates to the return on equity for energy projects and the calculation of overearnings and rate increases. I urge this Committee to support the bill, Chris LeMenestrel, McLean

In recent years, the SCC has had it's authority stripped and is unable to do it's duty to ensure that Virginia ratepayers are protected from inflated electric utility bills. Instead, Virginia's utiility code is full of utility friendly provisions that harm ratepayers. The bill would amend the Virginia Code to address much of this unfairness by better balancing the interests of ratepayers with those of the utilities. Importantly, this bill provides the SCC with the authority to determine the proper time period for the utilities to recover their costs and to establish utility rates and profit. It also empowers the SCC to order refunds to ratepayers and prevent overcharging ratepayers in the future. The General Assembly should restore authority to the SCC to better protect ratepayers from excessive utility bills resulting from the blatantly unfair provisions in our utility code.

As a college student renting a townhouse in Blacksburg, VA I think it is vital that the Subcommittee supports this important ratepayer protection bill (HB2057). Virginia's utility code is currently filled with utility friendly provisions. The bill would amend the Virginia Code to address much of this unfairness by better balancing the interests of ratepayers with those of the utilities. The bill will empower the SCC to order refunds to ratepayers and prevent overcharging ratepayers in the future. The General Assembly should restore authority to the SCC to better protect ratepayers from excessive utility bills resulting from the blatantly unfair provisions in our utility code. Keep in mind, this bill also provides the SCC with the authority to determine the proper time period for the utilities to recover their costs and to establish utility rates and profits.

As a Dominion customer for 20+ years, I would like back all the money they have overcharged me. My back-of-the-envelope calculation: $2.3B overearnings (over the last decade alone) would mean returning nearly $1000 back to 2.5 million residential customers. At least this bill provides for 100% of FUTURE overearnings to be returned to customers, up from 70% today. I ask that you vote YES on Del. Ware's bill HB2057.

Before Virginia can begin to see a cleaner, brighter energy future, the General Assembly must restore full ratemaking and accounting authority to the SCC. This legislation will enable the SCC do its primary job, which is setting appropriate, fair rates (not overcharging ratepayers.) I ask that you support HB 2057. Thank you. Abby Fox Alexandria, VA

I am a customer of Dominion Power and I am writing to request the Committee favorably report HB 2057. This is an eminently reasonable approach to protect electric utility ratepayers from being overcharged. The fact that Dominion has overcharged its ratepayers more than half a billion dollars since 2017 and has been able to keep a substantial portion of that amount is more than sufficient evidence that the current restrictions on the SCC are not protecting the ratepayers. The present restrictions limit the amount of reimbursement to the overcharged customers at 70% a situation that is equivalent to an undeserved subsidy of the utility. If, after analysis by the SCC, the utility has overcharged its ratepayers it is only fair for the full amount of the overcharge to be returned to the customer. Please report this bill to the Full House of Delegates for a vote.

I urge the Subcommittee to support HB 2057, a crucial ratepayer protection bill. As you know, Virginia's utility code is currently riddled with provisions that unfairly favor the interests of regulated utilities over those of ratepayers. HB 2057 would address much of this unfairness by better balancing the interests of ratepayers with those of the utilities. In particular, it gives the State Corporation Commission (SCC) the authority to determine the appropriate time period over which utilities may recover their costs, and the authority to establish appropriate utility rates and profit. It also empowers the SCC to order refunds to ratepayers when warranted, and significantly, to prevent overcharging of ratepayers in the future. To restore proper authority to the SCC to better protect ratepayers from the excessive utility bills that have resulting from the unfair provisions that have previously been inserted into our utility code, the General Assembly should enact HB 2057. Thank you. John Clewett

I urge you to support and move forward ratepayer protection legislation during this session. Ratepayers have been unfairly disadvantaged and the SCC has been limited in its ability to regulate and oversee Dominion and other monopolies. Citizens of Virginia are suffering due to the pandemic and the economy, and communities are experiencing unjust treatment at the hands of utilities, as seen by failures to return overcharges, consistently high electric bills, and demands for food, medical, housing and clothing - necessities that many cannot afford while electric utilities and their shareholders reap outsized profits. Please move this legislation forward

I urge the Subcommittee to support this important ratepayer protection bill. VA rate payers need protection from utilities overcharging ratepayers, as has occurred in the past. With this bill, the SCC will have the authority to determine the proper time period for the utilities to recover their costs and to establish utility rates and profit. While there are claims that we have the lowest electricity rates in the country, the other costs the utilities tack on the bills, including costs to recover for building new plants, make our rates much higher. As it's currently written, Virginia's utility code is riddled with utility friendly provisions. The bill would amend the Virginia Code to address much of this unfairness by better balancing the interests of ratepayers with those of the utilities. It also empowers the SCC to order refunds to ratepayers and prevent overcharging ratepayers in the future. The General Assembly should restore authority to the SCC to better protect ratepayers from excessive utility bills resulting from the blatantly unfair provisions in our utility code. I urge the committee to support this bill, and move it to a full vote in the House of Delegates, and to ultimately pass this bill into law in both the House and Senate. Thank you for listening to my testimony.

I urge your support for HB2057. This Bill enables the SCC to determine the proper time period of utilities to recover their costs. This sounds "small," but it makes a huge difference. The Bill also restores the SCC's authority to set utility rates and profits and it enables the SCC to prevent utilities from overcharging ratepayers in the future and order refunds. I've already said this in a comment on another Bill, but it bears repeating over and over: VIRGINIA HAS THE 6TH HIGHEST ENERGY BILLS IN THE COUNTRY. This is not okay. There are no geographic or external reasons for these high bills. It is purely the result of Dominion running roughshod over the General Assembly since time immemorial. Thanks, Annette Lang, Arlington

I write on behalf of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition - an organization representing more than 50 groups throughout the state, and ask the Subcommittee to support this important ratepayer protection bill. As its currently written, Virginia's utility code is riddled with utility friendly provisions. The bill would amend the Virginia Code to address much of this unfairness by better balancing the interests of ratepayers with those of the utilities. Importantly, this bill provides the SCC with the authority to determine the proper time period for the utilities to recover their costs and to establish utility rates and profit. It also empowers the SCC to order refunds to ratepayers and prevent overcharging ratepayers in the future. The General Assembly should restore authority to the SCC to better protect ratepayers from excessive utility bills resulting from the blatantly unfair provisions in our utility code. This bill is one of the top priority bills of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition. Thank you. Sharon Shutler, Chair Climate & Clean Energy Working Group, Virginia Grassroots Coalition

Dear Delegate, Please support HB2057. This important ratepayer protection bill makes minor changes to the Virginia Code to restore authority to the SCC to better balance the interests of ratepayers. It allows the SCC to determine the proper time period for the utilities to recover their costs and restores SCC authority to set utility rates and profit. Importantly, it also allows the SCC to prevent the utilities from overcharging ratepayers in the future and order refunds. Please remember that Virginians pay the 6th highest energy bills in the country. On top of that, Dominion has overcharged ratepayers over $502 million since 2017 -- monies that have never been reimbursed. This is a direct result of the fact that the SCC has been severely curtailed in its ability to do its job. This bill will help to restore the SCC’s authority to look out for the ratepayer. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Kathleen Nawaz

I'm writing in support of HB 2200, HB1984, HB1835, HB1914, HB2160, and HB2049. The influence of the electric utilities--particularly Dominion--has created a situation where they are benefiting at ratepayers' expense. Unsurprisingly, bills to limit their political influence have already been killed in the House's Privileges and Elections committee. Your committee now can at least restore the balance of power somewhat between the utilities and their customers by restoring more effective SCC control. People are angry. Norment calls it a "legislative assault" on the utilities. Meanwhile, there is news like this, https://www.energyandpolicy.org/dominion-va-contributions-2020/?fbclid=IwAR2Rt_-DpIu1mECLCJZuXcXxrfWlJbvt9Y-qoQ1W7xTV9LC1L-RxKOcF7Gw, reporting that Dominion's political contributions have quadrupled over the past two years. Norment received $30,000 in 2020. Members of your committee received in total $164,000 in 2020 and almost $700,000 over their careers. People are paying attention. Please vote in the public interest, not only the utilities'.

Virginians are facing an enormous economic and public health crisis. Because Virginians pay the 6th-highest electricity bills in the country, many Virginians could not afford their energy bills even before the pandemic. That burden has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. In the face of job and income losses, it is more important than ever that the General Assembly restore the SCC’s full authority to refund excess charges and set fair rates based on the cost of providing electricity. Dominion’s rates will be reviewed in 2021 which means that this is legislators’ last chance to ensure fair electricity rates for Dominion’s 2.5 million customers before 2024. CCAN Action Fund encourages you to SUPPORT this suite of bills that would restore the SCC’s authority to set fair rates. • HB 2200 (Jones) • HB 1984 (Hudson) • HB 1835 (Subramanyam) • HB 1914 (Helmer) • HB 2049 (Bourne) • HB 2160 (Tran)

Bills [SUPPORT: HB1835, HB1914, HB1984, HB2049, HB2057, HB2160, HB2200] At New Virginia Majority, we support the aforementioned bills. We believe that all Virginians should have access to fairly charged and affordable utility bills. In Virginia, families in low-income areas, communities of color, and older adults should not pay a considerably higher percentage of their monthly income on energy than the median income household and have to consider making serious economic sacrifices to pay their utility bills. This is an issue known as energy burden well studied by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in their 2020 report, How High Are America’s Residential Energy Burdens. This study found that a quarter of low-income households have an energy burden greater than 16% in the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), six times the median energy burden for the MSA (2.6%), with 6% and above considered high and 10% and above considered severe. This ACEEE report also found that in this MSA, 28% of Black households (42,980) and 24% of Hispanic households (6,024) experience a high energy burden (above 6%). This issue is of particular concern during the current COVID-19 pandemic, housing crisis, and weakened economy. We support the aforementioned bills which are designed to meet these on-going challenges and ensure utility customers are fairly charged for electricity service, lower customers utility bills, ensure customers are refunded 100% for historic overcharges, and restore related critical authority to the State Corporation Commission who oversees utility regulation. Thank you. Tyneshia Griffin, the Environmental Policy Research Analyst at New Virginia Majority.

I support HB 2160 for these reasons: 1. The mandatory earnings range and constraints on refunds are unnecessary When Virginia’s experiment with deregulation ended in 2007, these provisions were added to the re-regulation law at the utilities’ request. Rate cases since then have led to excess utility profits. So the historical conditions that prompted these provisions are long gone, and there is no reason to keep them. HB 2160 would go back to the basics and apply correct standards to set utilities’ profits. 2. Higher utility profits have harmed Virginia ratepayers Virginians are paying higher electric bills than ratepayers elsewhere. During the pandemic, this has prompted a serious crisis, as energy insecurity is harming hundreds of thousands of Virginians. Yet thanks to these provisions, Virginia’s utilities continue to reap excessive profits. In this difficult time, this is especially unwarranted. 3. Every other state awards utilities fair profits without mandatory earnings bands HB 2160 gives the SCC discretion to set a fair combined rate of return in any triennial review, which matches the practice elsewhere. No other state has a mandatory earnings range written into the state’s utility code. For example, in 2019, North Carolina’s legislature soundly rejected an earnings band proposal. Other states’ utility commissions apply time-tested utility law principles to set utilities’ rates of return and refund amounts. 4. Virginia utilities can still earn profits – predictably Under HB 2160, utilities can still fully recover prudently incurred costs, plus a guaranteed fair profit. The SCC would still use the peer group analysis to set utility profits. Virginia’s utilities have been through several rate cases since 2007 using this methodology. They understand what a fair profit is and make investment decisions accordingly. The only thing not guaranteed to a utility is excess profits. Even then, the SCC could allow earnings above a previously authorized rate of return – using its discretion. Nothing in HB 2160 impacts this. 5. Earnings bands and refund provisions are unnecessary to encourage new investments No utility in any other state has this type of advance guarantee of excess profits. That has not stopped utilities elsewhere from making multi-billion dollar investments in the electric grid and earning multi-million-dollar profits. It would not stop Virginia utilities, either. In summary, I support HB 2160, to provide for fairness in setting utilities’ profits. Thank you for your consideration. - Professor Joel B. Eisen, energy law scholar, University of Richmond School of Law

If I understand correctly, this package of bills will restore state/citizen oversight to Dominion Energy here in Virginia. Oversight is badly needed. Sometimes it looks like Dominion calls the shots on the monopoly it hold. We should be paying less for electricity.

I urge you to support and move forward ratepayer protection legislation during this session. Ratepayers have been unfairly disadvantaged and the SCC has been limited in its ability to regulate and oversee Dominion and other monopolies. Citizens of Virginia are suffering due to the pandemic and the economy, and communities are experiencing unjust treatment at the hands of utilities, as seen by failures to return overcharges, consistently high electric bills, and demands for food, medical, housing and clothing - necessities that many cannot afford while electric utilities and their shareholders reap outsized profits. Please move this legislation forward

HB2160 should be supported by all members of the Labor and Commerce Committee. It gives the SCC the power to decide whether a utility has "over earned." Currently, the law permits utilities to keep 30% of their over-earnings. This Bill would end that. If the SCC determined that over-earnings were excessive, it could require a refund of 100% to ratepayers. It is beyond time to restore the SCC to a place of looking out for the ratepayer. Thanks. Annette Lang, Arlington

I urge this Subcommittee to support HB2160 - another critical ratepayer protection bill - that provides the SCC more authority to determine whether a utility has “over earned.” Under this bill, if the SCC determines that the over-earnings are excessive, it can require the utilities to refund 100% of overcharges to ratepayers. Shockingly, the current Code inexplicably permits the utilities to keep 30% of these over-earnings. This provision must go. It is pure windfall for the utilities and egregiously unfair to ratepayers. It is time to restore authority to the SCC to look out for ratepayer interests. Thank you. Sharon Shutler, Chair Climate & Clean Energy Working Group

Dear Delegate, Please support HB2160, a critical ratepayer protection bill that provides the SCC more power to determine whether a utility has “over earned.” Under this bill, if the SCC determines that the over-earnings are excessive, it can require the utilities to the refund 100% of overcharges to ratepayers. Currently the Code permits the utilities to keep 30% of these over-earnings. This provision is pure windfall for the utilities and is egregiously unfair to ratepayers. Please vote for this bill, to restore the SCC’s authority to look out for the ratepayer. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Kathleen Nawaz

Virginians deserve refunds, especially during this time of financial strain due to COVID-19. HB 2160 would remove provisions that allow utilities to keep customer overcharges as bonuses and instead restore SCC authority to fully refund 100% of overcharges back to customers.

I am writing to encourage you to support HB2160, which would return overcharges by Dominion back into the pockets of Virginians. It couldn't come at a more critical time, as many families are struggling to pay their bills during the challenges of COVID-19. They shouldn't have to choose between paying their power bill versus paying rent. I was shocked to learn that Virginia has the 6th highest energy bills in the country. Thank you!

As a United Methodist Pastor in the Richmond area for over 9 years, one of the most common bills people have sought financial assistance for is their utility bill. Often times, I meet people struggling to decide between rent, food, and paying their utility bills. I URGE you to refund 100% of the money to customers who have been overcharged over the last several years. Especially with the pandemic, so many of us cannot afford utility monopolies to keep the money as "bonuses." A "few dollars a month" has a SIGNIFICANT impact on people's lives, especially for those who can least afford it. It is not trivial. Please restore SCC authority to refund 100% of overcharges back to customers. And please do everything in your power to consider customers (especially those from low-income households) over the requests of the utility.

As a homeowner, I am paying too much and do not have any energy alternatives. Please help pass this bill so that more homeowners like me can have access to affordable energy sources and low-income families can get the assistance they need.

Virginians deserve refunds, especially during this time of financial strain due to COVID-19. HB 2160 would remove provisions that allow utilities to keep customer overcharges as bonuses and instead restore SCC authority to fully refund 100% of overcharges back to customers.

Food & Water Watch supports HB2200 and HB1984. These bills would give the State Corporation Commission (SCC) a considerable amount of oversight authority on energy rates. With a rate case coming up later this year for Virginia's largest energy provider, passing these bills could protect consumers from potentially losing millions of dollars due to overcharges that is a common occurrence underneath current Virginia law.

I am writing to request your support for HB 2200 (incorporating HB 2057) . This bill makes a number of significant changes to SCC rate review proceedings, to protect the ratepayers from overcharges unilaterally imposed by the utility by eliminating the $50 million limit on refunds to Dominion customers in the next rate review proceeding.. At the same time, the bill retains the standard of setting a fair rate of return. In addition, it requires 100% of overearnings to be credited to customers’ bills, an eminently fair and just requirement. Please pass this bill. Thank you.

Dear Committee Members: I am asking that you support HB2048, the Right to Buy bill, which would restore the ability of customers to purchase 100% clean, renewable energy from other providers if they cannot obtain energy which is truly renewable from Dominion or Appalachian Power. THese alternate providers would be regulated by the SCC. Large number of companies including Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Cox Communications, Costco, Target, Walmart, Wegmans as well as colleges want the right to purchase from these providers. It makes little sense from preventing customers such as these businesses who are trying to convert to using truly green renewable energy and help tVIrginia achieve its critically important climate goals. Thank you.

I'm writing in support of HB 2200, HB1984, HB1835, HB1914, HB2160, and HB2049. The influence of the electric utilities--particularly Dominion--has created a situation where they are benefiting at ratepayers' expense. Unsurprisingly, bills to limit their political influence have already been killed in the House's Privileges and Elections committee. Your committee now can at least restore the balance of power somewhat between the utilities and their customers by restoring more effective SCC control. People are angry. Norment calls it a "legislative assault" on the utilities. Meanwhile, there is news like this, https://www.energyandpolicy.org/dominion-va-contributions-2020/?fbclid=IwAR2Rt_-DpIu1mECLCJZuXcXxrfWlJbvt9Y-qoQ1W7xTV9LC1L-RxKOcF7Gw, reporting that Dominion's political contributions have quadrupled over the past two years. Norment received $30,000 in 2020. Members of your committee received in total $164,000 in 2020 and almost $700,000 over their careers. People are paying attention. Please vote in the public interest, not only the utilities'.

Virginians are facing an enormous economic and public health crisis. Because Virginians pay the 6th-highest electricity bills in the country, many Virginians could not afford their energy bills even before the pandemic. That burden has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. In the face of job and income losses, it is more important than ever that the General Assembly restore the SCC’s full authority to refund excess charges and set fair rates based on the cost of providing electricity. Dominion’s rates will be reviewed in 2021 which means that this is legislators’ last chance to ensure fair electricity rates for Dominion’s 2.5 million customers before 2024. CCAN Action Fund encourages you to SUPPORT this suite of bills that would restore the SCC’s authority to set fair rates. • HB 2200 (Jones) • HB 1984 (Hudson) • HB 1835 (Subramanyam) • HB 1914 (Helmer) • HB 2049 (Bourne) • HB 2160 (Tran)

Bills [SUPPORT: HB1835, HB1914, HB1984, HB2049, HB2057, HB2160, HB2200] At New Virginia Majority, we support the aforementioned bills. We believe that all Virginians should have access to fairly charged and affordable utility bills. In Virginia, families in low-income areas, communities of color, and older adults should not pay a considerably higher percentage of their monthly income on energy than the median income household and have to consider making serious economic sacrifices to pay their utility bills. This is an issue known as energy burden well studied by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in their 2020 report, How High Are America’s Residential Energy Burdens. This study found that a quarter of low-income households have an energy burden greater than 16% in the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), six times the median energy burden for the MSA (2.6%), with 6% and above considered high and 10% and above considered severe. This ACEEE report also found that in this MSA, 28% of Black households (42,980) and 24% of Hispanic households (6,024) experience a high energy burden (above 6%). This issue is of particular concern during the current COVID-19 pandemic, housing crisis, and weakened economy. We support the aforementioned bills which are designed to meet these on-going challenges and ensure utility customers are fairly charged for electricity service, lower customers utility bills, ensure customers are refunded 100% for historic overcharges, and restore related critical authority to the State Corporation Commission who oversees utility regulation. Thank you. Tyneshia Griffin, the Environmental Policy Research Analyst at New Virginia Majority.

If I understand correctly, this package of bills will restore state/citizen oversight to Dominion Energy here in Virginia. Oversight is badly needed. Sometimes it looks like Dominion calls the shots on the monopoly it hold. We should be paying less for electricity.

I am a member of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and its Environmental Committee, as well as the Virginia Grassroots Energy Coalition. I urge you to support HB1835, HB1914, HB1984, HB2049, HB2160, and HB2200 in the House Labor & Commerce Energy Subcommittee on Monday, February 1st. These bills, in particular HB2200 (a new iteration of HB 2057), will restore authority that previous Republican-dominated General Assemblies removed from the State Corporation Commission. These "death by a thousand cuts" were instigated by Dominion Energy and its smaller sibling, Appalachian Power. Together, the power monopolies and the Republicans waged a campaign of "regulatory capture," which has succeeded. The only way that regulated monopolies work to the benefit of the market and consumers is if the regulators are independent of the monopolies and have the authority to set utility rates and profit. (The yardstick is to provide a reasonable rate of return on invested capital.) These bills restore that authority. Evidence that the system is broken comes from Dominion's overcharging scandal. Reports are that since 2017 Dominion has overcharged ratepayers over $502 million, monies that have never been reimbursed. Incredibly, current law and regs allow Dominion to retain up to 30% of their overchages. This creates "moral hazard" by providing the perverse incentive for Dominion to intentionally or recklessly, with the forbearance of the SCC, overcharge customers. There is no penalty; rather, Dominion reaps the reward of keeping 30% of the overages. Clearly, as long as the laws and the SCC leave this system in place, Dominion will continue to engage in overcharges.    The SCC needs to order refunds and shut down this scam. More broadly, it needs these legislative reforms to step up to its role as an effective regulator. Otherwise, if regulation does not work, then future General Assemblies should legislate a break-up of these two monopolies and the creation of a competitive energy market for both generation and transmission. Virginians deserve better than the coddled Dominion and Appalachian Power monopolies and a neutered or captured SCC. Thank you and good luck passing these bills out of committee, then off the floors of both chambers, and to enactment into law.

I am urging support for HB2200 (chief patron Jones), a Bill that would help to restore SCC discretion of certain accounting and ratemaking functions. Instead of requiring the SCC (through the use of the word "shall") to follow certain pro-utility provisions, the new bill would give the SCC the authority to decide whether to follow those provisions or not (by changing the word "shall" to "may.") This may seem "small" but as a former DOJ environmental enforcement attorney, the difference between "shall" and "may" is the difference between night and day. The Bill also restores the SCC's discretionary authority over (i) the length of the recovery period for certain large-scale utility costs; (ii) the cost recovery mechanism utilities can use of large-scale infrastructure projects; (iii) issuing full refunds to customers when they have been overcharged; and (iv) setting utility rates and authorized profits moving forward. Please support HB2200. Thanks. Annette Lang, Arlington, VA