Underground electric distribution lines; placing in areas of transit-oriented development. (SB1759)

Introduced By

Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon) with support from co-patrons Sen. Bill DeSteph (R-Virginia Beach), Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico), and Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria)

Progress

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

Description

Undergrounding utility lines pilot program; transportation infrastructure improvement; urban county executive form of government. Establishes a pilot program under which the governing body of any locality operating under the urban county executive form of government (Fairfax County) may request an electric utility to place underground electric utility distribution lines in transportation projects to serve and facilitate the creation of transit-oriented development in such locality in conjunction with a transportation infrastructure improvement project that the Commonwealth Transportation Board identifies that reduces congestion, improves mobility, incorporates transit systems and improves safety. The measure provides that the locality and the utility shall enter into an agreement that provides that (i) the locality shall pay to the utility its full additional costs of relocating and converting that portion of the line located in the locality underground rather than overhead that are not recoverable under applicable rates, net of relocation credits, which costs shall include associated feasibility costs, or any smaller portion of such costs as the utility and the locality may agree; (ii) the locality shall impose an additional levy on electric utility customers in the locality in an amount sufficient to cover the utility's additional costs, which levy shall not exceed $1 per month on residential customers and shall be collected by the utility on behalf of the locality; (iii) the utility shall convert, operate, and maintain the agreed portion of the line underground; and (iv) other terms and conditions on which the parties may agree shall be included in the agreement. The measure provides that upon presentation of the agreement to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the Commissioner of Highways shall be responsible for securing the necessary easements and permits for the pilot program. The measure provides that the pilot program terminates on July 1, 2022. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/18/2019Presented and ordered printed 19100654D
01/18/2019Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
01/31/2019Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 4-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2019Committee substitute printed 19106254D-S1
01/31/2019Rereferred to Finance
01/31/2019Reported from Finance (13-Y 3-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2019Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/05/2019Floor substitute printed 19106453D-S2 (Surovell)
02/05/2019Read second time
02/05/2019Reading of substitute waived
02/05/2019Committee substitute rejected 19106254D-S1
02/05/2019Substitute by Senator Surovell agreed to 19106453D-S2
02/05/2019Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute SB1759S2
02/05/2019Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/05/2019Passed Senate (32-Y 8-N) (see vote tally)
02/05/2019Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/05/2019Passed Senate (29-Y 11-N) (see vote tally)
02/08/2019Placed on Calendar
02/08/2019Read first time
02/08/2019Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
02/14/2019House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
02/14/2019Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendments (20-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
02/18/2019Read second time
02/19/2019Floor substitute printed 19107326D-H1 (Kilgore)
02/19/2019Read third time
02/19/2019Committee amendments from Commerce and Labor rejected
02/19/2019Substitute by Delegate Kilgore agreed to 19107326D-H1
02/19/2019Engrossed by House - floor substitute SB1759H1
02/19/2019Passed House with substitute (93-Y 4-N)
02/19/2019VOTE: PASSAGE (93-Y 4-N) (see vote tally)
02/20/2019House substitute agreed to by Senate (29-Y 10-N) (see vote tally)
02/20/2019Title replaced 19107326D-H1
02/23/2019Enrolled
02/23/2019Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1759ER)
02/23/2019Signed by President
02/23/2019Signed by Speaker
03/04/2019Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 4, 2019
03/04/2019G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 26, 2019
03/18/2019Impact statement from DPB (SB1759ER)
03/21/2019G Approved by Governor-Chapter 792 (effective 7/1/19)
03/22/2019G Approved by Governor-Chapter 792 (effective 7/1/19)
03/22/2019G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0792)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 2 minutes.