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2023 SESSION

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23102947D
HOUSE BILL NO. 2213 Offered January 11, 2023 Prefiled January 11, 2023 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 23 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-596.5, relating to electric utilities; planned service outages; notice to customers. ---------- Patron-- Tran ---------- Referred to Committee on Commerce and Energy ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 23 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-596.5 as follows:

§ 56-596.5. Customers to be notified of planned service outages.

A. As used in this section:

"Electric utility" means an investor-owned electric utility, a cooperative electric utility, or an electric utility owned or operated by a municipality.

"Planned service outage" means an interruption in service to an electric utility customer initiated by the electric utility to perform scheduled activities, including maintenance, infrastructure improvements, and new construction due to customer growth. "Planned service outage" does not include any unplanned or unscheduled interruption in service to an electric utility customer as a result of emergency repairs or maintenance, unexpected weather events, or otherwise.

B. In the event of a planned service outage by an electric utility that will last for one or more hours, the utility shall issue a notice to each affected customer whose service is expected to be interrupted at least 24 hours in advance of the planned service outage. The notice required by this subsection shall be delivered to each affected customer by mail or through electronic means.

C. During a planned service outage, the electric utility shall make reasonable attempts to minimize the inconvenience to affected customers, consistent with safety and security considerations.

D. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) an interruption in electric utility service pursuant to a tariff or agreement approved by the Commission or (ii) a curtailment or interruption of service to customers receiving service under interruptible rate classifications when the curtailment or interruption of service occurs pursuant to the affected customer's service agreement.