Six members of the City Council are supporting a plan to develop an energy efficiency program that could help residents and businesses use less — and spend less on — gas and electricity. 

The proposal, which was initially introduced in January, got its first public hearing Tuesday and cleared a committee vote with little discussion. It will now need approval from the full Council, an outcome that seems likely given the endorsement of a majority of the body’s nine members, including Council President Cynthia Newbille (7th District). 

“Richmond ratepayers pay more than most other Virginians for their electricity bills and their utility bills, so we are always going to support opportunities to figure out ways to address that,” said Laura Thomas, director of the Office of Sustainability. 

An amended version of the resolution greenlit by the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Committee Tuesday would direct the City Council to work with Mayor Danny Avula’s administration to produce a plan for setting up a comprehensive energy efficiency program within 180 days.  

The program would have “a primary goal of reducing energy burden for income-qualified households with the understanding that advancement of any deliverables will be contingent on funding and adequate resources,” a draft of the amended resolution states. 

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The city’s charter currently mandates that DPU “shall be responsible” for a gas utility.

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Thomas said that any program would likely focus on both the gas utility that is operated by the Department of Public Utilities as well as ways that residents could reduce their electricity use.

“Energy efficiency could come in the form of weatherization, which includes things like weather-stripping or increasing the insulation in an attic,” she said. 

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“We still have to keep it up to date for the people that are still here.”

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Richmond city code already allows the director of DPU to offer rebates for “energy audits, the installation of energy efficient natural gas equipment, insulation and other conservation measures” if funding is available. 

But the city doesn’t have a broader program aimed at encouraging efficiency, and its sustainability plan, RVAgreen 2030, urged officials to take steps “to reduce the energy burden of Richmond’s most vulnerable communities” and “develop policies, incentives, and financing mechanisms to improve commercial energy efficiency.” 

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Virginia law and policy both favor energy efficiency, although the state leaves regulation of municipal utilities like Richmond Gas Works — one of just three municipal gas utilities in the state alongside those operated by Charlottesville and Danville  —- up to local governments. 

State law requires all investor-owned electric utilities to have energy efficiency programs and declares that “it is in the public interest to authorize and encourage the adoption of natural gas conservation and ratemaking efficiency plans that promote the wise use of natural gas and natural gas infrastructure.” Efficiency targets were a major part of Virginia’s 2020 landmark energy law, the Virginia Clean Economy Act. 

Thomas said that as energy costs rise, “now is the time to make sure that we’re addressing those concerns in Richmond.” 

To assist with the city’s efforts, Councilor Andrew Breton (1st District) has proposed putting $125,000 in next year’s budget to hire an energy efficiency program coordinator. That idea, introduced as an amendment to Avula’s budget proposal, is still being considered by the Council. 

Contact Reporter Sarah Vogelsong at svogelsong@richmonder.org