SCC News

RICHMOND – Although the Atlantic hurricane season ends November 30, that may not mean an end to your risk for floods.

The State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance reminds Virginians that floods can happen anywhere and anytime – not just during hurricane season. Some factors that contribute to floods include heavy rains, saturated soil, melting snow and ice, broken dams and a lack of vegetation due to wildfires, development or other causes.

Floods are the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States, causing billions of dollars in damage each year. Just one inch of water can cause as much as $25,000 damage to your home, according to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

“Even a seemingly small amount of water can cause extensive damage to your home and other property,” said Virginia Insurance Commissioner Scott A. White. “Don’t wait until it’s too late. Assess your risk; protect your property and see if flood insurance is right for you.”

Homeowners, renters and commercial insurance policies issued in Virginia typically do not provide coverage for damage caused by floods, surface water or storm surge. However, coverage may be available to homeowners, renters and businesses in eligible communities through the NFIP. The federally backed flood insurance offered through the NFIP provides separate coverage for structures and contents in the event of flood damage.

Flood insurance may also be available through some private insurers. Policyholders typically must wait 30 days for a flood insurance policy to take effect, so advance planning is crucial.

If you live near the coast or in a floodplain near a river, it is especially important to consider the need for flood insurance coverage. But as Hurricane Helene reminded us, areas hundreds of miles from the ocean can experience the devastating effects of floods.

To learn more about flood insurance, contact your insurance agent or the NFIP at 877-336-2627 or visit floodsmart.gov. Ask whether your flood insurance policy covers your personal property.

Unlike homeowners insurance, auto insurance usually does cover damage caused by flooding, provided you have “other-than-collision” (or “comprehensive”) coverage on your vehicle. In addition to water damage caused by flooding, comprehensive coverage typically helps pay to repair or replace vehicles if they are stolen or otherwise damaged by such things as fire, water, wind, hail, vandalism, glass breakage, falling objects or contact with an animal. Check your auto insurance policy or contact your insurance agent to find out if your vehicle is protected in the event it is damaged by floods.

For questions or information about a variety of insurance-related topics, contact the Virginia Bureau of Insurance in Richmond at 804-371-9741 or toll-free at 1-877-310- 6560 or visit its website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/insurance.

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Contact: Katha Treanor, 804-371-9141

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) will hold a hearing in Fairfax County on December 5, 2024, to receive public testimony on a request by Dominion Energy Virginia to build electric transmission facilities that include 230 kilovolt Lines #210 and #243 Extension and the 230-34.5 kilovolt Edsall Substation.

The public hearing is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and conclude at 10 p.m. in the North Springfield Elementary School, 7602 Heming Court, in Springfield. Persons intending to testify as public witnesses should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the meeting and register with the Commission’s bailiff. Witness statements will be limited to five minutes in length.

The SCC also offers a public witness session by telephone to begin at 10 a.m. on December 19, 2024. Public witnesses intending to provide oral testimony telephonically at this hearing must pre-register with the SCC by 5 p.m. on December 12, 2024. The hearing will be webcast at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting.

Public witnesses wishing to provide telephonic testimony may preregister in one of three ways:

• Completing a public witness form for case number PUR-2024-00135 on the SCC’s website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting.
• Emailing the same form (PDF version on the same website as above) to  SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov.
• Calling the SCC at 804-371-9141 during normal business hours (8:15 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and providing your name and the phone number you wish the Commission to call to reach you during the hearing.

For those who prefer, there is also an opportunity to provide comments in writing on the proposed transmission line project. Written comments may be submitted through the SCC’s website by December 12, 2024, at scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Simply go to the SCC website, hover over the word “Cases” and select “Submit Public Comments” from the menu that appears. You will see a list of “Cases Currently Accepting Public Comments.” Scroll down to case numbers PUR-2024-00135. Then select “Submit Comments.” 

Comments can also be submitted by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments must refer to case number PUR-2024-00135.

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Contact: Andy Farmer, 804-371-0141

Case Number PUR-2024-00135 – Dominion Energy Virginia for approval and certification of electric transmission facilities: 230 kilovolt Lines #210 and #243 Extension and the 230-34.5 kilovolt Edsall Substation

RICHMOND – The holiday season, for many, means good food, gifts, gatherings with friends and loved ones and engaging in special festivities. Don’t let cooking fires, stolen gifts, icy sidewalks, overworked electrical outlets or other seasonal hazards dampen your holiday spirit.

The State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance (Bureau) encourages Virginians to protect themselves financially against holiday mishaps by ensuring they have the insurance coverage they need.

“At home or on the road, don’t let a lack of insurance coverage put the brakes on your happy holiday season,” said Virginia Insurance Commissioner Scott White. “Review your insurance now. Understand what is and is not covered and ask your insurance agent or company if you have questions.”

• Review your insurance coverage and update it as needed to protect yourself and your loved ones in the event an injury, illness, theft or other mishap occurs.
• Take steps now to keep your home, vehicle and belongings safe during the holidays. Know how much your auto and homeowners insurance will cover if someone steals gifts, decorations or other items from your vehicle, home or yard.
• Know, too, what type of insurance you need if a special holiday meal or decorations go up in flames; an undercooked turkey sends guests to the hospital; a guest slips and falls on your front steps; or frozen pipes burst causing water damage to your home.
• Severe winter weather and distracted drivers can make holiday driving a challenge. Keep your auto insurance company’s contact information and a copy of your insurance card with you when you drive. Review your liability limits to ensure you have adequate protection against injury or damage if you are involved in an accident during the hectic holiday rush.
• Know what your health insurance will cover if you need treatment at an urgent care facility or hospital while you are out-of-state or traveling abroad. Take health insurance information with you when traveling, such as identification cards and contact details for all of your family members.Make an early New Year’s resolution to create – or update – your home inventory. An inventory can help you determine if your homeowners or renters policy provides enough coverage for your belongings and can facilitate the claims process if you have to file an insurance claim. An inventory also will help you identify high-cost items that may need separate insurance coverage such as jewelry, art or electronics.
• Check to make sure you have insurance coverage for seasonal activities that you may enjoy such as skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.

For information about a variety of insurance-related topics, contact the Bureau in Richmond at 804-371-9741 or toll-free at 1-877-310-6560 or visit its website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Insurance. Additional information also may be found on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website at naic.org.

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Contact: Katha Treanor, 804-371-9141

Richmond – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has scheduled a hearing on Dominion Energy Virginia’s 2024 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) this spring. An IRP is a document developed by an electric utility that provides a forecast of that electric utility’s load obligations and a plan to meet those obligations by supply side and demand side resources over the next 15 years to promote reasonable prices, reliable service, energy independence, and environmental responsibility. 

In its IRP, Dominion forecasts a 5.5 percent annual increase in electricity demand over the next decade, and for electricity demand to double by 2039 in the company’s delivery zone within the PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM) region. PJM is a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in 13 Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia.

Dominion asserts that the Company's IRP "highlights the need to address significant demand growth through resource adequacy across all functions of the utility, the balance between clean energy priorities and the paramount requirement of service reliability, and maintaining rates that continue to be affordable for [the Company's] customers…" Dominion also recognizes that the IRP is a “snapshot in time” and not a request to approve any specific resource or portfolio.

The SCC has scheduled a public witness session to begin at 10 a.m. on April 14, 2025. Public witnesses intending to provide oral testimony must pre-register with the SCC by 5 p.m. on April 8, 2025. The hearing will be webcast at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting.  

Public witnesses wishing to provide oral testimony may pre-register in one of three ways:

• Completing a public witness form for case number PUR-2024-00184 on the SCC’s website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting 
• E-mailing the same form (PDF version on the same website as above) to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov
• Calling the SCC at 804-371-9141 during normal business hours (8:15 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and providing your name and the phone number you wish the Commission to call to reach you during the hearing.
• To promote fairness for all public witnesses, each witness will be allotted five minutes to provide testimony.

A public evidentiary hearing will follow the public witness hearing at 10 a.m. on April 15, 2025, in the SCC’s second floor courtroom at 1300 East Main Street in Richmond to receive testimony and evidence from the company, any respondents and the SCC staff.

For those who prefer, there is also an opportunity to provide comments in writing on the Dominion application. Written comments may be submitted through the SCC’s website by April 8, 2025,  at scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Simply go to the SCC website, select "Cases" and then "Submit Public Comments," and scroll down to case number PUR-2024-00184. Then select SUBMIT COMMENTS. 

Comments can also be submitted by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments must refer to case number PUR-2024-00184. 

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Contact: Andy Farmer, 804-371-9141

Case Number PUR-2024-00184 – Dominion Energy Virginia’s Integrated Resource Plan

Nearly 500,000 Virginians losing Medicaid can find affordable alternatives on the Marketplace.

RICHMOND – Open enrollment begins November 1, 2024, on Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace, the Commonwealth’s official state-based exchange dedicated to providing affordable and high-quality health insurance to eligible consumers. This open enrollment season, running now through January 15, 2025, comes at an important time as nearly 500,000 Virginians have lost Medicaid coverage following the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Launched in 2023, the Marketplace has helped more than 400,000 Virginia residents enroll in health plans, placing Virginia among the top 10 states nationwide for first-year enrollment. The Marketplace is operated by the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange, a division of the State Corporation Commission.

“Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace was designed by Virginians, for Virginians, and we’re excited to help more residents find affordable health coverage,” said Keven Patchett, director of Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace. “With more than 3,000 certified local assisters and agents across the Commonwealth and translation services in more than 15 languages, our team of experts is here to guide Virginians through open enrollment and ensure they receive the best plan to fit their needs and budget.”

The Marketplace is the only place where Virginians can apply for financial assistance to help lower their monthly health insurance costs. Nine out of 10 customers qualify for savings, and many Virginians can get coverage for as little as $10 a month. Individual and family plans are available to eligible Virginians, including those who are unemployed, are self-employed, or have jobs that don’t provide affordable insurance options.

Every health plan offered on the Marketplace covers the 10 essential health benefits required by law, which include emergency services, pregnancy and childbirth services, and prescription drugs.

“Navigating changes in your health care coverage can be daunting, especially for the many residents who have recently lost Medicaid coverage,” said Patchett. “Life happens in real time, and we are proud to be an accessible, easy-to-use resource for Virginians to find the plan that’s right for them.”

The plan year 2025 Open Enrollment Period will run from November 1, 2024, through January 15, 2025. Anyone who enrolls by December 31, 2024, will have health insurance coverage effective on January 1, 2025. For those who enroll between January 1 and January 15, coverage will begin February 1, 2025. After January 15, Virginians experiencing a Qualifying Life Event (such as having a baby or losing health insurance coverage) may be eligible to enroll during a Special Enrollment Period.

To get started, Virginians can visit Marketplace.Virginia.gov to browse and compare health insurance plans. For additional help — either online or in person — Virginians can access the following resources:

The Marketplace Help Center can connect Virginians to someone either in person or on the phone. Free translation services are also available.

The FAQ page answers some of the most common questions about the Marketplace.

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Contact: Andy Farmer, 804-371-9141

RICHMOND – Autumn means falling leaves and shorter periods of daylight. It also brings an increase in vehicle collisions with deer.

Deer mating and migration that typically occur this time of year contribute to an increase in vehicle-deer crashes. In fact, November is the peak month for insurance claims related to vehicle collisions with deer. The State Corporation Commission’s (SCC’s) Bureau of Insurance reminds motorists to stay alert for deer when driving on Virginia’s roadways.

“Even the most careful driver is at risk of colliding with a deer, which can leap into a roadway with no warning,” said Virginia Insurance Commissioner Scott White. “As fall arrives, ask your insurance agent or company to find out if your automobile policy provides coverage for claims involving a crash with deer or other wildlife.”

Insurance policies with liability-only coverage may not cover damage to your auto if it strikes a deer. Collisions with deer typically fall under optional “other-than-collision” (or “comprehensive”) coverage. In addition to deer crashes, other-than-collision coverage often covers other types of damage to your vehicle such as damage resulting from theft, wind, hail, flood, fire or vandalism.

Eliminating distractions in your vehicle and lowering your travel speed may help prevent a crash with deer. If a deer runs out in the road, drivers should stay in their lane and brake as carefully as possible. While jarring, striking a deer is often safer for the driver and vehicle occupants than swerving sharply, which may cause loss of control, creating additional peril for you and your vehicle as well as putting surrounding vehicles and their occupants at risk.

If your vehicle strikes a deer, notify law enforcement as soon as possible. If you plan to file an insurance claim, notify your insurance company and take photos of the scene of the crash when safe to do so, as well as damage to the vehicle. If you notice fluids leaking from your vehicle, damaged tires, broken lights or other damage, call a tow truck.

The Bureau of Insurance stands ready to assist Virginians with their questions regarding auto and many other types of insurance. For more information, call the Bureau at 1-877-310-6560 or in Richmond at 804-371-9741 or visit scc.virginia.gov/pages/Insurance.

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Contact: Jordan Bondurant, 804-371-9141

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is offering an opportunity for members of the public to hear presentations regarding personal motor vehicle (auto) and homeowners insurance rates in Virginia. The presentations will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in the Commission's Courtroom C, located on the second floor of the SCC’s headquarters at 1300 East Main Street in Richmond. The presentations also will be broadcast online through a live webcast available through the SCC’s website.

These presentations – from a sampling of auto and homeowners insurers representative of those doing business in Virginia – will address the following:

• Trends affecting rates in Virginia;
• How rates in Virginia compare to rates in other states;
• The outlook for future rate changes;
• Steps being taken or anticipated to control or mitigate rate increases, and
• Options that are available to policyholders to lower rates.

In addition, the SCC’s Bureau of Insurance (Bureau) will provide an overview of its role in the rate process and review for auto and homeowners insurance rates and information regarding the market for these types of insurance in Virginia.

To listen to the presentations, visit Virginia SCC - Webcasts on the day of the presentations.

When considering purchasing auto and homeowners insurance, the Bureau encourages Virginians to shop around and compare costs, additional coverage options, deductibles, limits and any applicable exclusions. The Bureau offers a variety of resources regarding auto and homeowners insurance on its website – including online tools to help Virginians shop for and compare auto and homeowners insurance premiums – at Virginia SCC - Property & Casualty.

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Contact: Katha Treanor, 804-371-9141

INS-2024-00088 - SCC Ex Parte: 2024 State of the Market Presentations as Directed by the Commission 

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission has scheduled a technical conference to explore the effects of the increasing number of large-use retail electric customers on Virginia’s utilities, ratepayers and power grid.

The December 16, 2024, proceeding will consider current and future challenges presented by the growth of such “hyperscale” power users across the Commonwealth. Large power users such as data centers could bring an “unprecedented” amount of new load for electric utilities, creating complications and risks the utilities have not previously encountered, the Commissioners said. 

The technical conference is intended to identify potential frameworks that facilitate service; address risks and issues of the increased usage; are just and reasonable to current and future customers; and meet current Virginia statutes. In addition, this proceeding may examine, to the extent relevant, issues related to the co-location of generation resources at new large-use customer load sites.
The Commission also identified three main questions to be addressed: 

1. Should the Commission establish a tariff framework and terms of service for these large-scale customers?
2. Should certain transmission costs be directly assigned to a new large-use customer class?
3. Should certain generation costs be directly assigned to a new large-use customer class?

Anyone interested in participating as a panelist should submit a self-nomination by email to tech-conf-PUR-2024-00144@scc.virginia.gov no later than October 22, 2024. All submissions should refer to Case No. PUR-2024-00144. Following the technical conference, it is the Commission's intent to invite all interested persons to submit post-technical conference comments addressing some or all of the issues raised during the technical conference.

The technical conference will be open to the public and streamed as a webcast.

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Contact: Greg Weatherford, 804-371-9141

PUR-2024-00144-Scheduling-Order-and-Notice

RICHMOND – Wandering the rails, freight train hopping or driving around closing gates to beat an oncoming train are best left for movie thrills by Hollywood’s special effects and stunt experts. Such activity is not only extremely dangerous but also illegal.

From September 23-29, 2024, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) joins Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to rail safety education – in raising awareness about the need for pedestrians, motorists, bicyclists and others to stay safe around railroad tracks and crossings. See Tracks? Think Train Week (formerly Rail Safety Week) promotes the critical importance of rail safety.

Every three hours in the United States, a person or vehicle is hit by a train, according to OLI. Most of these tragedies could have been prevented.

SCC Division of Utility and Railroad Safety director Lauren Govoni and Virginia OLI coordinator Tracey Lamb encourage Virginians to remain alert, use caution and obey signs and signals around railroad tracks. Always expect a train, they advise.

“Rail safety is much more than just a single tip or slogan,” Govoni said. “It’s a set of guidelines for different groups of people, including children, first responders, media professionals, photographers, personal and professional drivers, and more.”

The SCC will partner with law enforcement and other agencies and organizations to spotlight daily See Tracks? Think Train Week themes that include commuter and transit safety, crossing safety and professional drivers, trespass prevention and photographer safety. Potentially life-saving information will appear on the SCC website and social media pages.

The theme for Thursday, September 26, is Transit Safety/Professional Driver Safety. In conjunction with that, Govoni, Lamb and other SCC staff will join representatives from the Federal Transit Administration, OLI and Virginia Railway Express for a rail passenger safety event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Alexandria Amtrak Station. They will be available to answer questions and share rail and transit safety information and visitors will have an opportunity to take the Transit Safety Pledge.

The 82% decrease in collisions nationwide at highway-rail grade crossings during the last 50 years is encouraging, but “there is still more rail safety awareness work to do,” Lamb said. “Trains can take a mile or more to come to a complete stop. If your vehicle ever stalls on the track, get out and move away; then call the phone number on the blue Emergency Notification System sign located at the crossing or call 9-1-1,” she said.

Virginia Operation Lifesaver is administered by the SCC’s Division of Utility and Railroad Safety, which offers educational sessions and can be reached by phone at 804-371-1588. To learn more about railroad safety and railroad education in Virginia, visit scc.virginia.gov/pages/Railroad-Regulation or oli.org.

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Contact: Jordan Bondurant, 804-371-9141

RICHMOND – Many American families would face financial hardship if a wage earner died unexpectedly. Life Insurance Awareness Month – celebrated each September – is a reminder that life insurance can help protect your loved ones financially now and in the future.

The State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) Bureau of Insurance (Bureau) reminds Virginians that there are many factors to consider when determining if life insurance is right for you and your family.

“Life insurance is an important decision when considering your family’s financial future,” said Virginia Insurance Commissioner Scott A. White.  “Examine your existing financial resources, debts and other liabilities, as well as your family’s needs and goals. Understand the different types of life insurance and shop around to compare prices and coverage.”

White encourages Virginians who already have life insurance to review their policies regularly to ensure their coverage keeps pace with their changing circumstances.Life events such as a marriage, birth, divorce, remarriage or other changes affecting your finances (such as a new mortgage or a new job) may trigger a need to update your life insurance policy.

If you do not have life insurance, shop around and understand the different types of policies available and the costs.

Consider the following when determining how much life insurance you may need: Does your spouse or partner work? Do you have any sources of income other than salary? Do you have life insurance through your job? Are there financial obligations that may fall upon family members if you die, such as a mortgage or rent, business expenses, medical expenses, car loans or student loans? How much money may you need for short-term and long-term goals, such as retirement, providing care for a loved one or your children’s education?

Understand the types of life insurance available – term life or permanent – and how benefits are paid when you die. What you pay for life insurance (premiums) depends on the type of policy you choose, your health status, age, gender, occupation, family health history and lifestyle.

When considering life insurance options, compare premiums, coverage and claims service.  Talk to an insurance agent or company or contact the Bureau of Insurance in Richmond at 804-371-9741 or toll-free at 1-877-310-6560 for questions or to verify that the company or individual offering the coverage is licensed and in good standing. The Bureau’s free Virginia Life Insurance Consumer Guide provides answers to many life insurance questions. That guide is available on the Bureau’s website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Tips,-Guides-Publications.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers a free Life Insurance Policy Locator Service that can help consumers find lost life insurance policies and annuity contracts. To learn more about the Locator Service, visit  https://content.naic.org/article/naic-life-insurance-policy-locator-helps-consumers-find-lost-life-insurance-benefits

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Contact: Katha Treanor, 804-371-9141