reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
30 V.S.A. § 2816
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 77 - Gas and Electric Companies|§ 2816. Civil penalty for violation of gas safety standards

§ 2816. Civil penalty for violation of gas safety standards|(a) Gas pipeline safety program. Any person who violates any statute, rule, regulation, or order of the Public Utility Commission relating to safety standards or safety practices applicable to transportation of gas through gas pipeline facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $200,000.00 for each violation for each day that the violation persists. However, the maximum civil penalty shall not exceed $2,000,000.00 for any related series of violations. The penalty may be imposed by the Commission after notice to the offending person of the alleged violations and opportunity for hearing.(b) Any civil penalty may be compromised by the Public Utility Commission. In determining the amount of the penalty, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the business of the person charged, the gravity of the violation, and the good faith of the person in attempting to achieve compliance, after notification of a violation, shall be considered. The amount of the penalty, when finally determined, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, may be deducted from any sums owing by the State to the person charged or may be recovered in a civil action based upon this section. (Added 1969, No. 94; amended 1991, No. 90; 1999, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 14; 2007, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2013, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 20, 2014.)
30 V.S.A. § 2901
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2901. Definitions

§ 2901. Definitions|In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words shall have the following meanings:  (1) "Commission" means the Public Utility Commission of this State. (2) "Legal voter" means a person qualified to vote under the provisions of 17 V.S.A. § 2121. (3) "Municipal plant" means any plant or system owned and operated by any municipality for the manufacture, distribution, purchase, and sale of electricity or the manufacture, distribution, purchase, and sale of gas. (4) "Municipality" means any city, town, or village within this State. (5) "Utility" means any person or corporation engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of gas and electricity in this State. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 39(b), eff. March 1, 1961; 2017, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 175.)
30 V.S.A. § 2902
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2902. Powers of municipalities

§ 2902. Powers of municipalities|(a) In accordance with this chapter, a municipality may buy and sell electric current for domestic use and for commercial purposes and construct, purchase or lease, and maintain and operate one or more plants for the manufacture, distribution, purchase, and sale of gas or electricity for the use of such municipality and for the use of the residents of such municipality and for such other customers outside such municipality as the Commission may approve unless otherwise provided for in this chapter. For such purposes a municipality may purchase and hold in fee simple or otherwise any real or personal estate and any rights therein, including water rights and may do all other things necessary for carrying into effect the purposes of this chapter and may excavate and dig conduits and ditches in any highway or other land or place, and erect poles, place wires, and lay pipes for the transmission and distribution of electricity and gas, in such places as may be deemed necessary and proper and in all such respects such municipality shall have the same privileges and be subject to the same restrictions as are provided for public service corporations in chapters 71, 73, and 75 of this title. Such municipality may change, enlarge, and extend the same from time to time and maintain the same, having due regard for the safety and welfare of its citizens and security of the public travel.(b) The obligations of any municipal electric utility under any contract authorized by this section or other applicable law shall not be deemed to constitute an indebtedness or a lending of credit of the municipal electric utility, nor shall such obligations be included in computing the borrowing capacity of any such municipal electric utility. These obligations of municipal electric utilities shall be treated as expenses of operating their electric plants, and shall constitute special obligations of such municipal electric utilities payable solely from the revenues and other moneys derived by them from their electric departments or systems. The liability of these municipal electric utilities from other funds is limited to obligations undertaken by them to pay for the electric power and energy used by them. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 39(b), eff. March 1, 1961; 1989, No. 112, § 3a, eff. June 22, 1989.)
30 V.S.A. § 2903
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2903. Authorization by voters; cities

§ 2903. Authorization by voters; cities|(a) A city may acquire or construct a plant:  (1) when proposed by a three-fifths vote of its legislative body, subject to the veto power of the mayor under the provisions of its charter; or (2) when proposed by a petition signed by 10 percent of the voters of the city;   provided that  (3) within one year from the date of the affirmative vote of the legislative body or the date of submission of the petition, three-fifths of the voters present and voting by Australian ballot at a regular, duly warned annual city meeting approve the acquisition or construction of the plant.   (b) At least 20 days before the annual meeting, the legislative body shall hold a public hearing on the issue of acquisition or construction, giving notice of the public hearing in the same manner as it is given for the annual meeting. If the date of the affirmative vote of the legislative body or the date of submission of the petition too closely precedes the date of the annual meeting to permit the question to be duly warned at that meeting or to permit the duly warned public hearing before that meeting, the question may be decided at the next annual meeting without another proposal by the legislative body or by the voters. In case the voters of the city fail to approve the proposal submitted to them, no similar vote shall be taken until the next annual city meeting. (Amended 1979, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
30 V.S.A. § 2904
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2904. Towns and villages

§ 2904. Towns and villages|A town or village may acquire or construct a municipal plant, when authorized by three-fifths of the legal voters present and voting by Australian ballot at any annual meeting duly warned. At least 20 days before the annual meeting, the legislative body shall hold a public hearing on the issue of acquisition or construction, giving notice of the public hearing in the same manner as it is given for the annual meeting. In case the voters of the town or village fail to approve the proposal submitted to them, no similar vote shall be taken until the next annual meeting. (Amended 1979, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
30 V.S.A. § 2905
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2905. Indebtedness

§ 2905. Indebtedness|A municipality that has voted according to the provisions of this chapter to acquire or construct a municipal plant may incur debt for the purpose of establishing, purchasing, constructing, extending, or enlarging it, but subject to the provisions of law limiting municipal indebtedness. Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the rights of any municipality now or hereafter incurring debt under 24 V.S.A. § 1822.
30 V.S.A. § 2906
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2906. Existing plants

§ 2906. Existing plants|Within 30 days after the passage of the ratifying vote provided for in section 2903 of this title or the vote provided for in section 2904 of this title, the mayor of the city, the selectboard of the town, or the trustees of the village shall notify in writing any utility engaged, at the time of the vote required by such sections, in generating or distributing gas or electricity for sale in such municipality, of such vote and request such utility whether it elects to sell and at what price, in the manner hereinafter provided, that portion of its plant and property located within such municipality which is suitable for and used in connection with the business of such utility, and that portion, if any, lying outside such municipality, which such municipality proposes to purchase.
30 V.S.A. § 2907
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2907. Utility to accept or reject offer to purchase

§ 2907. Utility to accept or reject offer to purchase|The utility shall reply to such request by delivering its answer in writing to the mayor of the city, the selectboard of the town, or the trustees of the village, within 90 days of the receipt of such request. If the reply is in the negative or if the reply is not made within such period of 90 days as aforesaid, the utility thereby waives any right it may have had to require the purchase of its plant and property by the municipality. If the reply is in the affirmative, it shall, within 90 days, submit the price and terms which it is willing to accept for all such plant and property, together with a detailed schedule of all the plant and property it proposes to sell to such municipality. Such plant and property shall at all reasonable times thereafter be open to the examination of the authorities and experts of the municipality or any other persons or boards charged with the duty of determining the fair value of such property.
30 V.S.A. § 2908
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2908. Agreement on price not binding unless ratified

§ 2908. Agreement on price not binding unless ratified|The mayor and council of a city, the selectboard of a town, or the trustees of a village may negotiate and agree with the utility upon the price to be paid for the plant and property. However, any agreement shall not be binding upon any municipality until ratified by three-fifths of the voters present and voting by Australian ballot at a duly warned annual or special meeting which is preceded by at least 20 days by a public hearing on ratification of the agreement. Notice of the public hearing shall be given in the same manner as it is given for the annual meeting. A ratifying vote shall be had within six months from the date of the filing of the reply provided in section 2907 of this title. (Amended 1979, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)
30 V.S.A. § 2909
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2909. Hearing before Commission on failure to agree

§ 2909. Hearing before Commission on failure to agree|If the municipality does not ratify such agreement for the purchase in the manner provided in section 2908 of this title or if the price cannot be agreed upon or if it cannot be agreed as to how much, if any, of such plant and property lying outside such municipality the public interest requires such municipality to purchase, either the municipality or the utility may petition the Commission for a determination of these questions. The Commission, after proper notice and hearing, shall decide the amount of just compensation and any other matters in dispute, and shall also, when required to fix the price to be paid for such plant and property, determine the amount of damages, if any, caused by the severance of the plant and property proposed to be purchased from the other plant and property of the utility. The Commission shall make its determinations on or before 12 months after the filing of the petition. The Commission may extend the time for determination an additional six months upon agreement of all of the parties or, absent such an agreement, upon a finding by the Commission, after notice and hearing, that such an extension is necessary to prevent injustice to one or more of the parties. From such determinations, there shall be the right of appeal to the Supreme Court on all matters involved as provided in chapter 1 of this title. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 39(b), eff. March 1, 1961; 2003, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 99, eff. June 8, 2004.)
30 V.S.A. § 2910
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2910. Taking utility property by eminent domain

§ 2910. Taking utility property by eminent domain|If the utility shall have replied in the negative or if it shall have failed to reply within the time prescribed in section 2907 of this title, the municipality, in the event that it shall have passed the votes required in sections 2903 and 2904 of this title, may take such private plant and property by the exercise of the right of eminent domain, paying therefor just compensation determined in the manner provided in section 2909 of this title, or, after the Commission upon proper notice and hearing has determined that it will promote the general good of the State so to do, may construct a municipal plant. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 39(b), eff. March 1, 1961.)
30 V.S.A. § 2911
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2911. Effect of negative vote for acquisition of utility property

§ 2911. Effect of negative vote for acquisition of utility property|Within 90 days of the final determination of the price to be paid for the plant and property, as well as the amount of the plant and property to be taken or acquired under the provisions of section 2909 or 2910 of this title, the municipality shall decide whether or not to take the plant or property at that price by a vote taken pursuant to procedures similar to those used in obtaining a ratifying vote as provided in section 2908 of this title. If that vote is in the negative, no other action under this chapter shall be had during the ensuing period of one year. (Amended 1979, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.). § 4.)
30 V.S.A. § 2912
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2912. Operation in other municipalities

§ 2912. Operation in other municipalities|A municipality, which has acquired the plant, property, or facilities of a utility in any other municipality in accordance with the provisions of sections 2906-2911 of this title, may thereafter operate therein as a public utility with the same rights and franchises that the owners of such outlying plant had prior to acquisition under the terms of this chapter. Such operation shall be subject to the same jurisdiction, control, and regulation by the Commission as would any other public utility so operating. If the outlying municipality shall itself vote to establish a municipal plant, all the provisions of this chapter shall be applicable. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 39(b), eff. March 1, 1961.)
30 V.S.A. § 2913
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2913. Extension into other municipalities

§ 2913. Extension into other municipalities|After notice and public hearing, the Commission may authorize a municipality that has acquired or constructed and is operating a municipal plant to extend its mains or lines into an adjoining municipality in order to distribute and sell gas or electricity therein, provided that such outlying municipality is not then being supplied with gas or electricity by a municipal plant or by a utility or provided that the Commission finds that it will promote the general good of the State so to do. Such authorization shall be upon such terms and conditions and with such limitations and restrictions as the Commission finds will promote the general good of the State. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 39(b), eff. March 1, 1961.)
30 V.S.A. § 2914
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2914. Condemnation

§ 2914. Condemnation|When it is necessary that a municipality that has voted to establish a municipal plant should acquire property within this State, or some easement or other limited right in such property in order that it may render adequate service to the public in the operation of its municipal plant, it may condemn such property or right in the manner prescribed for public service corporations in chapter 3 of this title.
30 V.S.A. § 2915
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2915. Commissioners

§ 2915. Commissioners|For the more convenient management of any such municipal plant, any such municipality may vest the construction, management, control, and direction of the same in a board of commissioners to consist of three or more citizens of such municipality, such commissioners to have such powers and duties relating to the construction, management, control, and direction thereof as the municipality may prescribe. Their term of office shall be for three years and until their successors are elected and qualified. The first board of commissioners may be chosen for terms of one, two, and three years, respectively, by the legal voters of the municipality at the same meeting or election at which the provisions of this chapter are accepted, or at any special meeting or election thereafter called for that purpose, and their successors shall be elected thereafter in manner or form as the city or town may determine, provided that the term of service of the commissioners first elected shall be designated at the time of their election.
30 V.S.A. § 2916
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2916. Appointment

§ 2916. Appointment|The commissioners may be appointed by the mayor and board of aldermen or city council or by the selectboard of the town or by the trustees of the village, if the municipality fails to elect or shall vote to authorize the mayor and board of aldermen or city council or selectboard or trustees to appoint. If a vacancy occurs, it may be filled by the legislative branch.
30 V.S.A. § 2917
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2917. Compensation

§ 2917. Compensation|The compensation of the commissioners shall be fixed by the legislative body of the municipality. They shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties. They shall annually organize by choosing one of their number as chair of their board. They shall appoint a clerk who shall record the same in his or her records. The commissioners shall fix the compensation of all officers and agents appointed by them.
30 V.S.A. § 2918
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2918. Reports

§ 2918. Reports|The commissioners shall annually, or when requested by the legislative body, make a report to the municipality, at the time other officers of the municipality report, of the condition of the plant financially and otherwise, showing the funds belonging to their department and the expenses and income thereof with such other facts and information as the voters should have, which report shall be published annually.
30 V.S.A. § 2919
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2919. Appropriations

§ 2919. Appropriations|Any municipality having a municipal plant may appropriate money for the maintenance and operation of such plant, specifying that the same shall be taken from the receipts of the department. Where such appropriations are made, the treasurer of the municipality, in advance of the collection of such receipts, may pay bills on account of such appropriations, and any sum so advanced shall be repaid to the municipality from such receipts, when collected, and shall be applied as reimbursement to the municipality or to the payment of any temporary loan made by the municipality in anticipation of revenue of that year.
30 V.S.A. § 2920
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2920. Abandonment

§ 2920. Abandonment|A municipality that has established a municipal plant shall not abandon by sale of such plant or otherwise the distribution of gas or electricity to its consumers until such sale or abandonment has been authorized in the manner and by the votes prescribed for the acquisition of such municipal plants by sections 2903 and 2904 of this title and until the Commission, after notice and a public hearing, has determined that the facilities for furnishing and distributing gas and electricity in the territory served by such plant will not thereby be diminished, and that such sale or abandonment and the terms thereof will promote the general good of the State. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 39(b), eff. March 1, 1961.)
30 V.S.A. § 2921
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2921. Effect on special legislation

§ 2921. Effect on special legislation|All acts or parts of acts authorizing a particular municipality to construct or acquire or maintain or operate a municipal plant shall not be repealed by the provisions of this chapter.
30 V.S.A. § 2922
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2922. Other municipalities

§ 2922. Other municipalities|Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, after any part of this chapter takes effect, no municipality operating an electric plant or distribution system, whether under authorization of this chapter or any other general law or special act, shall extend its service lines into any area outside its borders where electric service is otherwise then available, except with the consent of the municipality in which such outside area is located. Such consent shall be given only after application therefor to the legislative body of the town or city in which it is sought to extend the lines. Such body shall fix a time and place for hearing on such application and post a notice thereof in the office of the clerk of the town or city, as the case may be, at least 30 days before such time fixed for hearing. At such hearing or some adjourned session thereof such legislative body shall determine whether such consent is in the public interest, and shall issue or withhold its certificate accordingly. However, such legislative body shall not act with reference to the issuance of such certificate contrary to the action, if any, of the legal voters of such municipality, taken at any annual or special meeting thereof duly warned.
30 V.S.A. § 2923
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 30 - Public Service|Chapter 79 - Municipal Plants|§ 2923. Rate of return

§ 2923. Rate of return|(a) In determining rates charged by a municipal plant, the Public Utility Commission shall allow, in addition to all other factors, a reasonable rate of return on capital investments. The return shall be commensurate with that permitted private utilities having corresponding risks and equivalent to that necessary for private utilities to assure confidence in the financial integrity of the enterprise so as to maintain its credit and attract new capital.(b) Revenue received as a return on capital investment shall be retained by the municipal utility and held in a contingent fund for use by it in that or any subsequent fiscal year. (Added 1973, No. 186 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 30, 1974.)