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Del. Ward Armstrong speaks out against legislation that would have an adverse effect on residents and businesses throughout the Commonwealth-HB2367 and SB1368. Concerns about this legislation include how it will impact residential customers and small businesses in rural areas throughout Virginia, increased costs to consumers for basic telephone service, the reliability of wireless service in many areas, and how this bill would limit the State’s regulatory authority over telephone service. Even more troubling is a little talked about provision in the bill which could significantly impact the SCC’s ability to regulate electric utilities. Currently, Virginia law requires public utilities to maintain records for submitting rate of return statements. This legislation would limit such recordkeeping only to companies required to file such statements annually. According to the SCC, this could adversely impact the Commission’s ability to get necessary rate of return information for electric utilities such as APCo and Dominion because they are not required to file rate of return statements on an annual basis.