A new piece of legislation sponsored by State Sen. David R. Suetterlein is poised to review and amend regulations governing retail electric competition and options for sourcing renewable energy in Virginia. The initiative aims to modernize existing provisions, the Virginia State Senate reports.
Presented as SB818 on Jan. 23, 2026, in the 2026 regular session, the bill is officially titled: “Electric utilities; licensed retail suppliers, renewable portfolio standard requirements.”
This article distills the bill’s contents with clarifications based on its actual text.
The legislation would change regulations related to Virginia’s retail electric market, including retail competition, the aggregation of customers, and sourcing renewable energy. It alters eligibility requirements and deadlines for large customers using licensed power suppliers, reduces the required notice to return to the incumbent utility to 1 year, with at least a 30-month commitment, and modifies outlined exemptions. It instructs that licensed suppliers serving these customers comply with renewable portfolio standards on an aggregate basis and explains how their renewable energy certificates are credited toward the obligations of the incumbent utility. Additionally, it requires the State Corporation Commission to establish a public list for customers seeking 100% renewable power from licensed suppliers.
Sen. David R. Suetterlein (Republican-4th District) and Sen. Kannan Srinivasan (Democrat-32nd District) are sponsoring the bill.
Since the 2026 session began, Suetterlein has introduced 18 other bills.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Grove City College.
Suetterlein, representing the 4th Senate district as a Republican, won election to the Virginia State Senate in 2024, succeeding former state senator Ryan McDougle.
In Virginia, the bill process starts with introduction by a legislator in the House of Delegates or Senate and referral to one or more committees for consideration and possible amendment. If committee approval is granted, it moves to the floor for debate and votes in both legislative chambers. Bills approved by both move on to the governor, who can sign, veto or let a bill become law without a signature. Each regular session of the Virginia General Assembly, beginning the second Monday in January, sees hundreds of bills introduced, though comparatively few become law.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| David R. Suetterlein and Kannan Srinivasan | SB818 | 01/23/2026 | Electric utilities; licensed retail suppliers, renewable portfolio standard requirements. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB815 | 01/23/2026 | School bds.; opening of school year, certain alternative schedules & schedule flexibility permitted. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB817 | 01/23/2026 | School bds; parental notification of course registration deadlines and processes required, policies. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB820 | 01/23/2026 | Community Builders Pilot Program; name change, statewide demonstration model site, repeals sunset. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Bill DeSteph, Bryce E. Reeves, Christie New Craig, Christopher T. Head, Emily M. Jordan, Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr., J.D. “Danny” Diggs, Luther Cifers, III, Mark D. Obenshain, Mark J. Peake, Richard H. Stuart, Ryan T. McDougle, T. Travis Hackworth, Tammy Brankley Mulchi, Tara A. Durant, Timmy F. French, Todd E. Pillion, and William M. Stanley, Jr. | SB7 | 01/14/2026 | Income tax, state; standard deduction and earned income tax credit. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Bill DeSteph, Bryce E. Reeves, Christie New Craig, Christopher T. Head, Emily M. Jordan, Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr., J.D. “Danny” Diggs, Luther Cifers, III, Mark D. Obenshain, Mark J. Peake, Richard H. Stuart, Ryan T. McDougle, T. Travis Hackworth, Tammy Brankley Mulchi, Tara A. Durant, Timmy F. French, Todd E. Pillion, and William M. Stanley, Jr. | SB9 | 01/14/2026 | RS & UT; food for human consumption and essential personal hygiene products, delayed effective date. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Joseph P. McNamara, and Sam Rasoul | SB10 | 01/14/2026 | Employment prohibition exceptions; apprenticeship program for children 16 years of age or older. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB15 | 01/14/2026 | Motorcycle Driver Improvement Clinic Fund; created. |
| David R. Suetterlein and Bill DeSteph | SB17 | 01/14/2026 | Enforcement of vehicle liens; increases property value. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB202 | 01/14/2026 | Elections; filling vacancies in county and city governing bodies. |
| David R. Suetterlein and Bryce E. Reeves | SB203 | 01/14/2026 | Teacher licensure; career and technical education or dual enrollment, three-year licenses. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Angelia Williams Graves, and Tammy Brankley Mulchi | SB204 | 01/14/2026 | License plates, special; issuance to members of Virginia REALTORS, fees collected. |
| David R. Suetterlein and T. Travis Hackworth | SB205 | 01/14/2026 | Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities; program extension. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Barbara A. Favola, Anne Ferrell Tata, Irene Shin, and Joshua G. Cole | SB206 | 01/14/2026 | Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; petitions for relief of care and custody. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB533 | 01/14/2026 | Elections; absentee voting in person, uniform availability. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Joseph P. McNamara, and Sam Rasoul | SB534 | 01/14/2026 | Emergency custody orders; transportation to treatment center, etc. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB538 | 01/14/2026 | Parole; investigation prior to release, input from the attorney for the Commonwealth. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB686 | 01/14/2026 | Holding a handheld personal communications device while driving; driver improvement clinic. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB692 | 01/14/2026 | Western Virginia Public Education Consortium; governance, funding, duties, report. |
Information in this article was acquired from the Virginia State Senate. Access the original source data here.
