Virginia Law

The Commission shall have a total membership of 14 members that shall consist of 10 legislative members, three nonlegislative citizen members, and one ex officio member. Members shall be appointed as follows: four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules that consist of three members from the majority party and one member from the minority party or an equal number from each in the event the chamber is evenly divided; six members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; one nonlegislative citizen member with expertise in economic development and ratepayer advocacy to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; one nonlegislative citizen member with expertise in energy affordability and ratepayer advocacy to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and one nonlegislative citizen member with expertise in public utility regulation and ratepayer advocacy to be appointed by the Governor. The Attorney General or his designee shall serve ex officio. Any such designee shall be an attorney employed within the Department of Law's Division of Consumer Counsel. Nonlegislative citizen members of the Commission shall be citizens of the Commonwealth. Each member of the Commission shall annually complete an orientation on electric utility regulation provided by the State Corporation Commission.

Legislative members of the Commission and the ex officio member shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for a term of two years. All members may be reappointed. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

The Commission shall annually elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly. The chairman of the Commission shall be authorized to designate one or more members of the Commission to observe and participate in the discussions of any work group convened by the State Corporation Commission in furtherance of its duties under the Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act (§ 56-576 et seq.) and this chapter. Members participating in such discussions shall be entitled to compensation and reimbursement provided in § 30-204, if approved by the Joint Rules Committee or its Budget Oversight Subcommittee.

2003, c. 885; 2004, c. 1000; 2008, c. 883; 2023, cc. 753, 793.