reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
VA Code § 56-265 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10 - Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally|§ 56-265. Certain sections not to limit Commission's powers

Nothing in § 56-261 or §§ 56-262 through 56-264 shall be construed so as to limit or curtail the existing powers of the Commission to require of all public service corporations in all cases the rendition of adequate service to the public at reasonable rates nor the existing right of municipalities or individuals to apply to the Commission for the enforcement of such duties, the purpose of such sections being to extend and not to limit the powers of the Commission.1924, p. 691; 1928, p. 633; Michie Code 1942, § 4073f.
VA Code § 56-265.3:1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.3:1. Certificates to furnish water and sewer service

A. Any company proposing to construct facilities after January 1, 1995, ultimately intended to make water or sewer service available to more than fifty residential building lots shall, prior to construction or financial commitments therefor, organize a public service corporation and seek certificates of public convenience and necessity pursuant to §§ 56-265.2 and 56-265.3. The application for such certificates shall include (i) a comprehensive business plan detailing the technical, managerial and financial resources to be devoted to operation of the water or sewer service; (ii) except in the case of a company seeking a certificate to operate a sewer service only, proof of receipt of, or application for, a permit for the facilities pursuant to Virginia Department of Health requirements under Article 2 (§ 32.1-167 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 32.1; and (iii) such other information as is now or hereafter deemed appropriate by the Commission, including proof of the issuance of a bond or the deposit of funds in escrow as may be required by the Department of Health pursuant to § 32.1-174.1.B. Certificates of public convenience and necessity shall not be granted by the Commission unless, in addition to the findings required by §§ 56-265.2 and 56-265.3, it also finds that the comprehensive business plan presented in the application reasonably assures that system performance requirements for providing water supply can be met over the long term and at reasonable costs. The Commission may issue such certification with any conditions or restrictions as public interest may require.C. Water or sewer companies existing on or before January 1, 1995 which extend their service at any time following the effective date of this section shall not be required to comply with the requirements thereof.D. If any applicant under this section so requests, the Commission shall not disclose the contents of the comprehensive business plan except as necessary to perform its duties.1994, c. 852.
VA Code § 56-265.4 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.4. Certificate to operate in territory of another certificate holder

Except as provided in § 56-265.4:4, no certificate shall be granted to an applicant proposing to operate in the territory of any holder of a certificate unless and until it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Commission that the service rendered by such certificate holder in such territory is inadequate to the requirements of the public necessity and convenience; and if the Commission shall be of opinion that the service rendered by such certificate holder in such territory is in any respect inadequate to the requirements of the public necessity and convenience, such certificate holder shall be given reasonable time and opportunity to remedy such inadequacy before any certificate shall be granted to an applicant proposing to operate in such territory. For the purposes of this section, the transportation of natural gas by pipeline, without providing service to end users within the territory, shall not be considered operating in the territory of another certificate holder.1950, p. 600; 1984, c. 382; 2014, cc. 467, 507.
VA Code § 56-265.4:1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.4:1. Furnishing of electric public utility service or provision of facilities therefor by municipal corporations and other governmental bodies

If any municipal corporation or other governmental body, having legal authority by charter or other law, shall desire to supply electric public utility service, or construct, enlarge or acquire, by lease or otherwise, any electric utility facilities, outside its political boundaries, it shall have power to enter into agreements in that regard with affected public utilities which shall be binding in accordance with their terms and for the period therein provided; but no contract entered into under this section shall limit the power of the Commission to fix rates and to otherwise regulate a public utility. No such service by a municipal corporation or other governmental body shall be provided, or facilities constructed, enlarged or acquired, in territory allotted to any public utility by the Commission except in territory served by such municipal corporation or other governmental body on June 26, 1964, unless the affected public utility shall consent by such an agreement or the Commission shall grant a certificate therefor upon application by the municipal corporation or other governmental body pursuant to § 56-265.4, authority for which certification is hereby granted. Provided, however, this limitation on the extension of public utility service by any municipal corporation or governmental body outside its political boundaries shall not be applicable to cities or towns extending their service in accordance with the provisions of § 56-265.4:2. No public utility shall extend its electric public utility service, or construct, enlarge or acquire, by lease or otherwise, any electric utility facilities, in territory served exclusively by a municipal corporation or other governmental body on June 26, 1964, unless such municipal corporation or other governmental body shall consent by such an agreement. In case of question as to the scope of the territory served by a municipal corporation or other governmental body on June 26, 1964, the Commission may, and on application by either such public utility or such municipal corporation or other governmental body shall, decide such question and allot such territory accordingly, between such public utility and such municipal corporation or other governmental body, in which event any expansion of service outside the territory so allotted shall be subject to the applicable provisions of this chapter, provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prevent any municipal corporation from constructing or maintaining facilities in county areas for the purpose of generating or purchasing electricity to be transmitted into the service area of such municipal corporation.1964, c. 228; 1978, c. 325.
VA Code § 56-265.4:2 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.4:2. Extension of service by cities and towns into annexed areas

A. Any city or town in the Commonwealth which provides electric utility service for the use of its residents may, at any time following annexation of additional territory to such city or town, acquire the distribution system facilities of the electric utility serving the annexed area in the manner provided by Title 25.1. As used in this section (i) the term "distribution system facilities" shall be deemed to include all facilities necessary to distribute electric utility service to any annexed area but shall not include substations of the public utility whose facilities are being acquired, and (ii) the terms "city" and "town" shall not include a shire, a borough or any other subdivision of a city or town. This section shall not apply to the addition of territory to a city or town by consolidation, merger, or through any other procedure that results in an effective combination with another governmental entity.B. Upon completion of the eminent domain proceedings or upon the negotiation of a settlement between the city or town and the electric utility, the State Corporation Commission shall amend the certificate of convenience and necessity of the public utility whose distribution system facilities have been acquired to reflect the change in its territory.1978, c. 325; 1987, c. 337; 1995, c. 36.
VA Code § 56-265.4:5 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.4:5. Furnishing gas service to commercial and industrial customers in an area not certificated for public utility gas service

A. Any company desiring to make an exempt sale, transmission or service under subdivision (b) (4) of § 56-265.1 shall notify the Commission of its plans for furnishing such gas service. The Commission shall make a determination of whether the customers' facilities are located within a territory for which a certificate has been granted, or, as of the time of the Commission's receipt of the notice provided hereunder, within any area, territory, or jurisdiction served by a municipal corporation that provided gas distribution service as of January 1, 1992, and shall prohibit the furnishing of gas service to any facility so located. The Commission shall provide notice of such plans to furnish gas service to all public utilities providing gas service in the Commonwealth. Within sixty days of such notice, any public utility so notified may make application to the Commission to provide such service. If an application is filed, the Commission shall determine, after a public hearing, which company shall furnish the gas service.B. In the event a gas utility is issued a certificate to serve the area where customers to whom service is being provided pursuant to this section are located, the gas utility shall have the right, subject to existing contracts regarding gas service to such customers and to the gas utility's effective transportation tariff, to acquire any facilities installed to serve such customers, at a price to be mutually agreed upon, or if not so agreed, at a price to be determined by the Commission.1990, c. 488; 1992, c. 476.
VA Code § 56-265.5 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.5. Effective date of certificates

Certificates issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be effective from the date of issuance unless a different date be specified therein and shall remain in effect until terminated as herein provided.1950, p. 600.
VA Code § 56-265.6 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.6. Penalties for misrepresentations, violations of law, regulations or terms of certificates

The Commission may, by its order duly entered after hearing, held after due notice to the holder of any such certificate and an opportunity to such holder to be heard, at which hearing it shall be proved that such holder has willfully made a misrepresentation of a material fact in obtaining such certificate or has willfully violated or refused to observe the laws of this State touching such certificate or any of the terms of the certificate, or any of the Commission's proper orders, rules or regulations, impose a penalty not exceeding $1,000, which may be collected by the process of the Commission as provided by law; or the Commission may suspend, revoke, alter or amend any such certificate for any of the causes set forth above. But no such certificate shall be revoked, altered or amended (except upon application of the holder thereof) unless the holder thereof shall wilfully fail to comply, within a reasonable time to be fixed by the Commission, with the lawful order of the Commission or with the lawful rule or regulation of the Commission, or with the term, condition or limitation of such certificate, found by the Commission to have been violated by such holder. No such certificate shall be suspended, revoked, altered or amended for any cause not stated in this section.Proceedings looking to the imposition of any penalty provided for in this section may be commenced upon the complaint of any person or upon the Commission's own initiative.1950, p. 600.
VA Code § 56-265.7 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.7. Appeal from order of revocations, etc.

From any order of the Commission suspending, revoking, altering or amending any certificate, the holder thereof shall have the right of appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia, as a matter of right, as in other cases of appeals from the Commission.1950, p. 601.
VA Code § 56-265.8 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.8. Proceedings before Commission on or before July 1, 1950

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to or in any way affect any proceeding before the State Corporation Commission on or before July 1, 1950, and shall not confer on said Commission any jurisdiction not now vested in it with respect to any such proceeding.1950, p. 601.
VA Code § 56-265.8:1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.8:1. Inspection and approval of certain installations not regulated pursuant to this chapter

The owner or operator of any facility for the generation of electrical energy not subject to regulation under the Utilities Facilities Act but designed to generate electrical energy for the use by persons other than the owner or operator shall at his expense have the facility designed and inspected by a professional engineer licensed to work in the State of Virginia. Said engineer shall certify that the installation meets the standards of the National Electrical Code and the National Safety Code and that there is adequate equipment for standby purposes. The provisions of this section shall apply only to generation facilities used as a primary source of power and not to emergency supply systems. The provisions hereof shall not apply to municipally owned and operated facilities.1970, c. 363.
VA Code § 56-265.9 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.1 - Utility Facilities Act|§ 56-265.9. Title of chapter

This chapter may be cited as the Utility Facilities Act.1950, p. 601.
VA Code § 56-265.10 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.2 - Certain Water and Sewerage Systems Not Regulated As Public Utilities|§ 56-265.10. Definitions

(a) "Water system" as used herein means any privately owned connected system of mains, pipes, conduits, pumping stations, reservoirs and related facilities furnishing water to 50 or more subscribers for compensation when the person who furnishes the service is not subject to regulation by the Commission as a public utility under Chapter 10 (§ 56-232 et seq.) of Title 56.(b) "Sewerage system" means any privately owned system of pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, force mains, sewage treatment plants, and all other constructions, devices, and appliances appurtenant thereto, used for conducting or treating sewage as that term is defined in Chapter 3.1 (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.) of Title 62.1, which furnishes service for compensation to 50 or more subscribers, which is not subject to regulation by the Commission as a public utility, and for which a certificate has not been issued or applied for in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1.(c) "Commission" means the State Corporation Commission.(d) "Person" means person as that term is defined in § 1-230.1954, c. 669; 2005, c. 839.
VA Code § 56-265.11 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.2 - Certain Water and Sewerage Systems Not Regulated As Public Utilities|§ 56-265.11. Petition of subscribers alleging inadequacy of service; Commission to investigate and formulate opinion

If fifty or more of the subscribers, but not more than one from any one household, who have contracts to purchase water from a water system or for sewerage service from a sewerage system file with the Commission a petition alleging that the service furnished by the system is inadequate and ought to be improved, the Commission shall after notice to the operators of such system investigate the complaint and formulate an opinion whether in the light of the successful performance of sewerage or water systems of similar design and purpose, the system is capable of serving the reasonable domestic needs of the persons or properties served.1954, c. 669.
VA Code § 56-265.11:1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.2 - Certain Water and Sewerage Systems Not Regulated As Public Utilities|§ 56-265.11:1. Notification to energy utilities

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.2000, c. 183.
VA Code § 56-265.12 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.2 - Certain Water and Sewerage Systems Not Regulated As Public Utilities|§ 56-265.12. Opinion of Commission admissible in evidence

The opinion of the Commission shall be furnished in writing to the petitioners and to the owners of the water or sewerage system and shall be admissible in evidence in any proceedings concerning contracts between such water sewerage system and its subscribers together with any other evidence which may be offered by either litigant.1954, c. 669.
VA Code § 56-265.13 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.2 - Certain Water and Sewerage Systems Not Regulated As Public Utilities|§ 56-265.13. Chapter not applicable to certain hotel corporations

No provision of this chapter shall apply to a corporation the principal business of which is the operation of a hotel and which may extend the use of its surplus water and sewerage facilities to a limited number of patrons.1954, c. 669.
VA Code § 56-265.13:1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.2:1 - Small Water or Sewer Public Utility Act|§ 56-265.13:1. Short title

This chapter may be cited as the "Small Water or Sewer Public Utility Act."1986, c. 323.
VA Code § 56-265.13:2 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.2:1 - Small Water or Sewer Public Utility Act|§ 56-265.13:2. Definitions

As used in this chapter:"Commission" shall mean the "State Corporation Commission.""Service" shall mean any product or commodity furnished by a small water or sewer utility, as well as its equipment, apparatus, appliances and facilities devoted to the functions in which that utility is engaged to the use and accommodation of the public.1986, c. 323.
VA Code § 56-265.13:3 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.2:1 - Small Water or Sewer Public Utility Act|§ 56-265.13:3. Applicability of chapter

This chapter shall apply to every certificated water or sewer public utility company or water and sewer public utility company (i) with gross annual operating revenues of less than one million dollars or (ii) that is owned by the property owners' association of the subdivision served by the public utility.In case of a company with gross annual revenues of $500,000 or more, (i) the Commission may suspend a proposed increase in rates for a period not exceeding 150 days from the date of the filing of the proposed rate increase and (ii) notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, such company shall be subject to Chapter 4 (§ 56-76 et seq.) of Title 56.1986, c. 323; 1993, c. 369; 1997, c. 143.
VA Code § 56-265.13:4 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.2:1 - Small Water or Sewer Public Utility Act|§ 56-265.13:4. Rates and services

A small water or sewer utility shall be required to furnish reasonably adequate services and facilities, subject to the regulation of the Commission. The charges made by any small water or sewer utility for any service rendered shall be (i) uniform as to all persons or corporations using such service under like conditions and (ii) nondiscriminatory, reasonable and just. Every charge for service found to be otherwise shall be unlawful. Reasonable and just charges for service within the meaning of this section shall be the lowest charges as shall produce sufficient revenues to pay all lawful and necessary expenses incident to:1. The operation of the system, including maintenance costs, operating charges, and interest charges on bonds or other obligations;2. The providing for the liquidation of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness and the attraction of capital;3. The providing of adequate funds to be used as working capital, as well as reasonable reserves and funds for making replacements, which may be escrowed and used only as working capital if the Commission so directs as a result of a proceeding conducted pursuant to § 56-265.13:6;4. The providing for the payment of taxes that may be assessed against the small water or sewer utility or its property; and5. Compensation of owners of the utility for their capital or property invested in the system, if any, and for their time and other resources expended in the operation of the system not otherwise recovered under subdivisions 1 through 4 of this section.1986, c. 323.
VA Code § 56-265.13:5 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 56 - Public Service Companies|Chapter 10.2:1 - Small Water or Sewer Public Utility Act|§ 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 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.1986, c. 323; 1994, c. 313.