Bill of the Day: Energy Efficiency & Affordability
Updated on March 5th, 2026.
Leesburg Sunset. Photo by Hugh Kenny.
Why Does Energy Efficiency Matter for Affordability?
Energy efficiency is key to affordability in electric bills. Energy efficiency is performing the same task while using less energy, whether that task is heating, cooling, lighting, appliance use, industrial processes, or utility programs. Energy efficiency reduces wasted energy.
Energy efficiency benefits more than just our pocketbooks. Efficient homes, schools, and commercial buildings better control moisture, air quality, and temperature, and are more comfortable. They provide health benefits such as fewer asthma attacks and emergency department visits for respiratory-related illnesses.
High utility bills are forcing Virginians to make choices between essentials like groceries and medication and keeping their homes at safe temperatures during extreme heat and cold. One in four Virginia households is energy insecure, meaning they face shutoffs or shutoff notices, unsafe indoor temperatures, or lack functioning HVAC.
You can take a deeper dive into promoting energy efficiency in Our Common Agenda. To learn more, read our “Ensuring Access to Energy Efficiency” policy paper.
Energy Efficiency Bills to Support in the General Assembly
Legislators have introduced bills to ensure access to energy efficiency for all Virginians:
(Delegate Betsy Carr) Lowers energy bills by requiring electric utility companies to create a program to shift low-income customers from old oil or propane heat to high-efficiency electric heat pumps. Companion to SB72.
(Delegate Levere Bolling) Establishes the Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force to develop actionable solutions to lower household energy costs and improve housing quality for low income Virginians. Companion to SB5.
(Delegate Maldonado) Protects Virginians from higher energy bills caused by the potential removal of federal appliance energy efficiency standards. Companion to SB256.
(Senator Locke) Establishes the Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force to develop actionable solutions to lower household energy costs and improve housing quality for low income Virginians. Companion to HB3.
(Senator Kannan Srinivasan) Lowers energy bills by requiring electric utility companies to create a program to shift low-income customers from old oil or propane heat to high-efficiency electric heat pumps. Companion to HB2.
(Senator McPike) Protects Virginians from higher energy bills caused by the potential removal of federal appliance energy efficiency standards. Companion to HB672.
(Delegate Bennett-Parker) Modernizes Virginia’s building code process to align with the latest national energy efficiency standards.
Take Action
See the real time updates from Virginia’s Legislative Information System (LIS) on the bill tracker below: