reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
VA Code § 56-255 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-255. Extension of electric service to territory not being served

If, from any rural territory not now being served, application be made to the Commission by a group of five or more persons, natural or artificial, to require an extension of electric service to such territory, the Commission shall, if necessary to accomplish the purposes sought, fix a time for hearing such application, on such terms and conditions as the Commission may prescribe, and, if it be established to the satisfaction of the Commission that a proper guaranteed revenue for a sufficient number of years will accrue to any company which may be required to construct the desired extension, and that a reasonable investment will accrue to the company constructing such extension, then the Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to require the nearest or most advantageously located electric utility company to such territory to construct such extension to such point or points in such territory and to serve such customer or customers therein, as in its judgment is right and proper.1936, p. 1056; Michie Code 1942, § 4057(24).
VA Code § 56-256 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-256. Powers of corporations generally; rights, powers, privileges and immunities, etc.

Every corporation organized for the purpose of: (1) constructing, maintaining, and operating an electric railway, or works, (2) supplying and distributing electricity for light, heat, or power, (3) producing, distributing, and selling steam, heat, or power, or compressed air, (4) producing, distributing and selling gas made of coal or other materials, (5) furnishing and distributing a water supply to any city or town, or (6) piping cold air outside of its plant, or (7) constructing and maintaining any public viaduct, bridge or conduit, shall, in addition to the powers conferred upon corporations generally, have all the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities, and be subject to all the rules, regulations, restrictions, pains, and penalties prescribed by §§ 56-458, 56-459 to 56-462, 56-466, 56-467 and 56-484, which sections shall apply to, and as far as practicable, operate upon the corporations mentioned in this section, unless otherwise provided.Code 1919, §§ 4058, 4061.
VA Code § 56-256.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-256.1. Height of electric power distribution lines over agricultural land

Unless placement at a greater height is required pursuant to § 56-466 or other applicable law, any electric distribution line that is installed, either as a new line or as a replacement for an existing line, on or after July 1, 2018, by or for an electric utility upon or over land upon which agricultural operations, as defined in § 3.2-300, are conducted shall be placed at a height that is not less than the minimum height requirement that applies to the placement of electric distribution lines above road crossings.2018, c. 354.
VA Code § 56-257 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-257. Manner of installing underground utility lines

A. Every operator, as defined in § 56-265.15, having the right to install underground utility lines, as defined in § 56-265.15, except interstate gas pipelines subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, shall install such underground utility lines in accordance with accepted industry standards. Such standards shall include, as applicable, standards established by the National Electric Safety Code, the Commission's pipeline safety regulations, the Department of Health's waterworks regulations (12VAC5-590-10 et seq.), and standards established by the Utility Industry Coalition of Virginia.B. The Commission shall promulgate any rules or regulations necessary to enforce the provisions of this section as to those operators that do not comply with such accepted industry standards.C. This section shall not authorize the Commission to order action by, or impose penalties on, any county, city or town. However, the Commission shall inform counties, cities and towns of alleged violations by the locality of the accepted industry standards or regulations adopted under this section and, at the request of the locality, suggest corrective action.Code 1919, § 4059; 1996, c. 278; 2000, c. 779.
VA Code § 56-257.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-257.1. Means of locating nonmetallic underground conduits

Any plastic or other nonmetallic pressurized conduit installed underground on and after July 1, 1976, shall have affixed thereto a wire conductive of electricity or some other means of locating the conduit while it is underground.1976, c. 556.
VA Code § 56-257.2:1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-257.2:1. Projects presenting material risk to public safety; licensed professional engineers; regulations

The Commission shall promulgate regulations requiring that a licensed professional engineer exercise responsible charge, as defined in § 54.1-400, over engineering projects that (i) involve gas pipeline facilities, as defined in the federal regulations promulgated under 49 U.S.C § 60101 et seq., as amended and adopted by the State Corporation Commission, and the federal pipeline safety laws, and (ii) may present a material risk to public safety.2020, c. 822.
VA Code § 56-257.4 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-257.4. Report by the State Corporation Commission on investigation of natural gas utilities incident

The Commission shall, upon written request, make available for public inspection within 30 days of the receipt of the request a report regarding the finalized enforcement action or investigation related to the death or personal injury necessitating inpatient hospitalization of any person, or estimated damage to property exceeding $50,000, that was the direct result of a leak or other incident involving the intrastate facilities of a natural gas utility operator. The report shall only be available for public inspection, upon written request, after the Commission has concluded the enforcement action or investigation. The report shall not reveal:1. Infrastructure information for, or the location or operation of security or utility equipment and systems of, any public or private building, structure, or information storage facility;2. Risk assessment information not provided to the public by the utility operator;3. Specific security plans and measures of an entity, facility, building structure, information technology system, or software program;4. Information confidential or sensitive in nature;5. Information proprietary to the natural gas utility operator; or6. Information that would jeopardize the safety or security of any (i) person; (ii) governmental facility, building, or structure; or (iii) private commercial office, residential, or retail building.2019, c. 501.
VA Code § 56-257.5 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-257.5. Manner of installing underground utility lines through agricultural operation

A. For purposes of this section:"Topsoil" means at least 12 inches of the surface soil layer or a six-inch layer of soil that includes the surface soil and the unconsolidated subsoil immediately below it."Underground utility line" means an underground pipeline or conduit of an inside diameter greater than 12 inches or an underground electrical transmission or distribution line of a capacity greater than 115 kilovolts.B. Every operator, as defined in § 56-265.15, having the right to install an underground utility line shall install such underground utility line in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to subsection C.C. The Commission shall adopt regulations applicable to any operator that is subject to the provisions of subsection B. The regulations shall require that if such operator, in the course of installing the underground utility line, disturbs an area of land that measures 10,000 square feet or more and constitutes one or more agricultural operations, as defined in § 3.2-300, the operator shall, if desired by the landowner or land management agency, either (i) redistribute the topsoil removed from the disturbed area to graded areas elsewhere on the land of the affected property owner or (ii) if insufficient graded areas are available as sites for such redistribution, stockpile the topsoil removed from the disturbed area until it can be redistributed on the area initially disturbed. The regulations shall require that redistributed topsoil be placed on scarified land and that stockpiled topsoil be protected from erosion and compaction. If the property owner does not agree, then the topsoil shall be disposed of in accordance with applicable law.2020, c. 666.
VA Code § 56-258 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-258. Who to permit laying of pipelines in roads

The Commissioner of Highways or the board of supervisors or other governing body in any county that has withdrawn its county roads from the secondary system of state highways is authorized to enter into contract with water companies or other corporations or persons to lay water pipelines along the rights-of-way of public roadways and turnpikes. Such water pipelines shall be laid in such manner as not to obstruct passage thereon when completed, and in any such contract the Commissioner of Highways or any such board of supervisors or other governing body, as the case may be, shall provide that the parties so laying such pipelines shall, at all times, exercise reasonable care not to obstruct such roadways while laying, repairing or replacing such pipe.Code 1919, § 4060; 2013, cc. 585, 646.
VA Code § 56-259.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-259.1. Instruments conveying easements to public service corporations

No instrument executed by a landowner after January 1, 2002, by which an easement of right of way in land is conveyed to a public service corporation shall be accepted for recordation in any Clerk's office that maintains property records unless it bears the following provision:"NOTICE TO LANDOWNER: You are conveying rights to a public service corporation. A public service corporation may have the right to obtain some or all of these rights through exercise of eminent domain. To the extent that any of the rights being conveyed are not subject to eminent domain, you have the right to choose not to convey those rights and you could not be compelled to do so. You have the right to negotiate compensation for any rights that you are voluntarily conveying."If such an instrument does not bear such a notice provision but is accepted for recordation in any Clerk's office, the absence of such notice provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such instrument.2001, c. 751.
VA Code § 56-260 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-260. Compensation for damages

If any company of the character mentioned in this chapter and such owner as is referred to in § 56-259 cannot agree on the terms of such contract as is referred to in § 56-259, the company may acquire such right-of-way in the manner provided by the laws of this Commonwealth for the exercise of the right of eminent domain; and in case any person is damaged in his property along the line of any such public road, highway, park, street, avenue, or alley by any such use or occupation of the same, by any company of the character mentioned in this chapter, such corporation shall, before using or occupying with its works such public roads, highways, parks, streets, avenues, or alleys, make compensation therefor to the persons so damaged. If the parties cannot agree upon the same, such compensation shall be ascertained in the mode prescribed by law for the exercise of the right of eminent domain.Code 1919, § 4063.
VA Code § 56-260.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-260.1. Contract provisions exempting company from liability unlawful

No contract for an easement of right-of-way for a pipeline, power or telephone line, sewer, main or similar works shall contain any provision which purports to exempt the corporation erecting, laying or installing the same from liability for injuries sustained by any person or property by reason of the laying, constructing, maintaining, operating, repairing, altering, replacing or removal of, or any failure or defect in, such line, sewer, main or works. Any such provision in any such contract is hereby declared to be against public policy and shall be null and void and unenforceable; provided, that this provision shall not apply as to any cause of action arising prior to June 26, 1964.1964, c. 523.
VA Code § 56-261 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-261. Duties of companies furnishing water or sewerage facilities

Every public service corporation engaged in the business of furnishing water or sewerage facilities to any city, incorporated town, or county having a population greater than 500 inhabitants per square mile as shown by United States census, in this Commonwealth or to inhabitants thereof (whether or not such business is conducted under or by virtue of a municipal franchise), shall furnish at all times and at a reasonable charge a supply of water, a system of distribution or disposal and services and facilities incidental to such supply, distribution or disposal sufficient and adequate to the protection of the health of such inhabitants and to the public health of the community, and any such water company shall furnish a supply of water adequate for proper fire protection within such city or town or such county and the adjacent territory served by the mains of such corporation. Each person operating a sewerage system which includes one or more sewage treatment plants shall notify in writing, the Commission, the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality and each electric or natural gas utility supplying or distributing energy to such system that such system includes a sewage treatment plant.1924, p. 690; 1928, p. 632; Michie Code 1942, § 4073a; 2000, c. 183.
VA Code § 56-261.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-261.1. Duties of water and sewerage companies in certain counties

Chapter 298 of the Acts of 1950, approved April 4, 1950, requiring water and sewerage companies in any county adjoining a county having a population in excess of 2,000 per square mile, to furnish a supply of water sufficient for health and fire protection, is incorporated in this Code by this reference.
VA Code § 56-261.2 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-261.2. Hydrant connections and water supply for fire protection in certain counties

Chapter 319 of the Acts of 1950, approved April 4, 1950, relating to any county adjoining a county having a population in excess of 2,000 per square mile requiring certain water companies to furnish water for fire protection and the necessary hydrant connections, is incorporated in this Code by this reference.
VA Code § 56-262 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-262. Proceeding upon failure of public service corporation to perform duties

If any such public service corporation shall fail or refuse to perform any of the duties imposed by § 56-261 or by this chapter, any city or incorporated town, or any such county served or whose inhabitants are served by such corporation may file with the State Corporation Commission a petition setting forth the failure or refusal of such corporation to carry out and perform one or more of such duties, at a reasonable charge, or to the detriment or threatened detriment of the public health or safety from fire of such community.1924, p. 690; 1928, p. 632; Michie Code 1942, § 4073b.
VA Code § 56-263 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-263. Commission may order increase in service

The Commission, after due notice to such public service corporation, shall investigate such complaint and if, upon such investigation, the Commission shall determine that the public health of the community or its safety from fire is impaired or threatened with impairment by reason of the failure of such public service corporation to perform or carry out any of the duties imposed by § 56-261, or by this chapter, it shall embody such finding in an order to be entered upon its records and at the same time shall enter an order requiring such public service corporation to make such increase in its water supply or such increases, changes, modifications and extensions of its distribution or disposal system and such changes, modifications and extensions in its service charges and facilities as may be requisite to the proper protection of the public health or safety of the community. The Commission shall fix in its order a reasonable time within which such increases, changes, modifications and extensions shall be completed and may require reports from such public service corporation of the progress of the work so ordered.1924, p. 690; 1928, p. 632; Michie Code 1942, § 4073c.
VA Code § 56-264 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-264. Quo warranto in case of failure to comply with order of Commission

If any such public service corporation shall fail or refuse to comply with any order of the Commission made pursuant to the provisions of § 56-263, the Commonwealth, or any person authorized by Article 1 (§ 8.01-635 et seq.) of Chapter 25 of Title 8.01 to institute such a proceeding, may proceed against such corporation by a writ of quo warranto, or information in the nature of a writ of quo warranto, in the circuit or corporation court having jurisdiction in the county or city wherein is located the principal office of the corporation in this Commonwealth. The provisions of Article 1 of Chapter 25 of Title 8.01 shall be applicable to any such proceeding except as herein otherwise provided and if, in such proceeding, there shall be a judgment of dissolution, the provisions of § 13.1-755 shall apply.1924, p. 690; 1928, p. 633; Michie Code 1942, § 4073d.
VA Code § 56-264.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-264.1. Collection of rates, fees and charges

In the event that the rates, fees or charges charged by any private sewage disposal system company for the services and facilities of any sewage disposal system or sewer improvements by or in connection with any real estate or other property served shall not be paid as and when due, the owner, tenant or occupant, as the case may be, of such property shall, until such rates, fees and charges shall be paid, cease to dispose of sewage or industrial wastes originating from or on such property by discharge thereof directly or indirectly into the sewerage system, and if such owner, tenant or occupant shall not cease such disposal within two months thereafter, it shall be the duty of each county, city, town or other public corporation, board or body, supplying water to or selling water for use on, such property, within five days after receipt of notice of such facts from the private sewage disposal system company to cease supplying water to, and selling water for use on, such property. If such county, city, town or other public corporation, board or body, shall not within such time cease supplying water to, and selling water for use on, such property the private sewage disposal system company may disconnect such property from such sewage disposal system or sewer improvements, and for such purposes may enter on any lands, waters and premises of such county, city, town or other public corporation, board or body. The county, city, town or other public corporation, board or body supplying water to or selling water for use on such property may establish a reasonable fee for discontinuing such service and shall establish administrative regulations to insure proper notice to the customer, to provide for reestablishment of service and to protect it against liability for action taken pursuant hereto.1976, c. 405.
VA Code § 56-264.3 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-264.3. Cost allocation and rate design

A. The provisions of this section shall apply in any proceeding in which the Commission is required to determine, pursuant to § 56-234, if (i) rates charged by water and sewerage companies with fewer than 10,000 customer accounts, inclusive of their subsidiaries, are reasonable and just and (ii) customers using water and sewerage services under like conditions are being charged uniformly for such services.B. Any rate application or proposal submitted to the Commission that would allocate the revenue requirement of a water or sewerage company with fewer than 10,000 customer accounts, inclusive of their subsidiaries, among more than one class of customers shall be supported by a class cost-of-service study that is designed to allocate revenues on the basis of cost causation and to assign credit for contributions in aid of construction, not previously addressed in a utility acquisition transaction or the most recent approved rate case application, to the customer class that made the contributions.C. In setting rates, the Commission shall not find that any allocation of the revenue requirement to a particular class of customers that is greater than the portion of the revenue requirement that can be attributed to that class on the basis of a cost-of-service study of the type described in subsection B is just and reasonable unless the allocation is otherwise supported by substantial evidence.D. In any proceeding pursuant to § 56-234 regarding the rates charged by water and sewerage companies, the revenues to be produced by rates as designed for any particular class of customers shall not provide an anticipated return on equity more than 25 percent greater or less than the return on equity used to set rates for the company as a whole, unless otherwise supported by clear and convincing evidence. The effect of this provision on class rate design shall not be considered in establishing the return on equity used to set rates for the company as a whole.2019, c. 715.