HB543: Natural gas utilities; alternative ratemaking plan, report.

Chief Patron

Sam Nixon (R-27)
Richmond, VA
Served: 1994–

Progress

	Introduced
	Passed Committee
	Passed House
	Passed Senate
	Signed by Governor
	Became Law

Status

03/14/2008: signed by governor

View Entire History

01/07/2008 Committee
01/07/2008 Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 080113656
01/07/2008 Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
01/24/2008 Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/25/2008 Committee substitute printed 080147656-H1
01/28/2008 Read first time
01/29/2008 Read second time
01/29/2008 Committee substitute agreed to 080147656-H1
01/29/2008 Passed by for the day
01/30/2008 Read second time
01/30/2008 Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB543H1
01/31/2008 Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
01/31/2008 VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (98-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2008 Communicated to Senate
02/01/2008 Constitutional reading dispensed
02/01/2008 Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
02/04/2008 Impact statement from SCC (HB543H1)
02/05/2008 Impact statement from SCC (HB543H1)
02/19/2008 Assigned C&L sub: Utilities
02/25/2008 Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A) (see vote tally)
02/26/2008 Committee substitute printed 089564656-S1
02/27/2008 Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/28/2008 Read third time
02/28/2008 Reading of substitute waived
02/28/2008 Committee substitute agreed to 089564656-S1
02/28/2008 Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB543S1
02/28/2008 Passed Senate with substitute (39-Y 0-N 1-A) (see vote tally)
02/29/2008 Placed on Calendar
03/03/2008 Senate substitute agreed to by House 089564656-S1 (100-Y 0-N)
03/03/2008 VOTE: --- ADOPTION (100-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2008 Enrolled
03/05/2008 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB543ER)
03/05/2008 Impact statement from SCC (HB543ER)
03/05/2008 Impact statement from SCC (HB543S1)
03/05/2008 Signed by Speaker
03/06/2008 Signed by President
03/12/2008 Governor's recommendation received by House
03/12/2008 Placed on Calendar
03/13/2008 House concurred in Governor's recommendation (97-Y 0-N)
03/13/2008 VOTE: --- ADOPTION (97-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/13/2008 Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 1-A) (see vote tally)
03/13/2008 G Governor's recommendation adopted
03/13/2008 Reenrolled
03/13/2008 Reenrolled bill text (HB543ER2)
03/13/2008 G Approved by Governor-Chapter 639 (effective 7/1/08)
03/13/2008 Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
03/13/2008 Signed by President as reenrolled
03/13/2008 Enacted, Chapter 639 (effective 7/1/08)
03/14/2008 G Approved by Governor-Chapter 639 (effective 7/1/08)
03/18/2008 G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0639)

Summary

Natural gas utilities; alternative ratemaking plan. Authorizes any natural gas utility to file a conservation and ratemaking efficiency plan that includes (i) a normalization component that removes the effect of weather from the determination of conservation and energy efficiency results and (ii) a mechanism that decouples the recovery of a utility's allowed distribution revenue from the level of consumption of natural gas by its customers. Such plans may include one or more residential, small commercial, or small general service classes, but shall not apply to large commercial or large industrial customer classes. The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is required to allow a utility that implements a plan to recover, through its regulated rates, its costs, together with a return thereon, associated with cost-effective conservation and energy efficiency programs. Utilities that demonstrate certain reductions in annualized, weather-normalized usage per customer, will receive an incentive of 10 percent of the net realized commodity savings. The SCC is prohibited from reducing a utility's profit as a result of the implementation of a natural gas conservation and ratemaking efficiency plan. The SCC shall consider authorizing a greater profit when a natural gas conservation and ratemaking efficiency plan is implemented in conjunction with a cost-of-service rate case or a performance-based regulation plan.

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