Virginia Enacts Heat-Related Utility Bill Protections

As extreme heat becomes a matter of life and death, Virginia implements new laws to prevent residential power cutoffs during high temperatures, with State Senator Lashrecse Aird emphasizing the need for protective legislation due to increasing heat crises. The law, effective July 1, bars utility disconnections above 92 degrees and on specific days to prevent prolonged outages. This initiative follows concerns raised during the COVID-19 pandemic about utility shutoffs affecting public health and safety, prompting bipartisan support for the bill. While Virginia takes steps to safeguard residents, other states like Indiana lack similar protections, raising concerns about vulnerable populations facing energy insecurity and health risks during heatwaves.