Bills aimed at lowering utility bills also renew pricey power line burial program

By: Shannon Heckt

Outlets: Virginia Mercury

Published: March 4, 2026

Words: 1,260

Last Updated: 1 week ago

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Lawmakers say two bills working through the General Assembly will lower customers’ utility bills in the short-term by pushing more costs onto data centers. The House passed Senate Bill 253 by Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Tuesday and the Senate Finance committee advanced House Bill 1393, by Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, D-Henrico.

But advocates challenge the reality of those projected savings, saying the extension of an expensive power line burial program included in …

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