SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
1994 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 56-265.13:5, 56-265.13:6, and 56-265.13:7 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 56-265.13:5. Notice of rate changes.
A. A small water or sewer utility shall make a copy of its current rates, charges, fees, rules and regulations available for public inspection during regular business office hours in its designated business office where bills can be paid.
B. Unless a small water or sewer utility shall notify
notifies in writing all of its customers of any changes in its
rates, charges, fees, rules and regulations at least forty-five days in
advance of any change in any one of them, the utility shall not make any
such changes. A copy of such notification shall be forwarded to the
Commission at the same time as provided to the customers. The notice to the
customers shall identify the nature of the change, the effective date of the
change, and in the case of changes in rates, fees, and charges, shall
identify the new rates, fees, and charges.
§ 56-265.13:6. Public hearing on application; prohibition of multiple rate increases within any twelve-month period.
A. Upon application to the Commission by at least twenty-five percent of all customers affected by a rate change or by 250 affected customers, whichever number is lesser, or by the small water or sewer utility itself, or by the Commission, upon its own motion, a hearing shall be held after at least thirty days' notice to the small water or sewer utility and to its customers. The Commission may order such improvements or changes in service, regulations, measurements, practices, acts, and rates of such utility as are just and reasonable.
When a hearing is ordered, the Commission shall have the authority to
declare suspend such rates, tolls, and charges for no more
than sixty days and to declare them to be interim thereafter and
subject to refund with interest until such time as the Commission has made
its final determination in the proceeding. Upon completion of the hearing
and decision, the Commission may order such public utility to refund, with
interest at a rate set by the Commission, the portion of such rates, tolls,
or charges found not justified by its decision.
B. The rates or charges of A small water or sewer utility shall not
be increased implement an increase in the utility's rates or
charges more than once within any twelve-month period. This limitation
shall not apply to prohibit applications for increases in rates
or charges pursuant to § 56-245.
§ 56-265.13:7. Regulation by State Corporation Commission.
A. Every small water or sewer utility subject to this chapter shall be
subject only to the following provisions: §§ 56-233.1 56-234.4,
56-235.1, 56-236, 56-239, 56-245, 56-245.1, 56-246,
56-247.1 through 56-248, 56-249 through 56-249.2, 56-250, 56-254, 56-256
through 56-265, and Chapters 1 (§ 56-1 et seq.), 2 (§ 56-47 et seq.) and 10.1
(§ 56-265.1 et seq.) of Title 56. Small water or sewer utilities shall not be
subject to Chapters 3 (§ 56-55 et seq.) and 4 (§ 56-76 et seq.) of Title 56.
B. The Commission is authorized to promulgate any rules necessary to implement this chapter.