VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER
An Act to amend and reenact §§12.1-30.1 and 56-237.1 of the
Code of Virginia, relating to the regulation of water and sewer utilities.
[H 611]
Approved
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§12.1-30.1 and 56-237.1 of the Code of Virginia are
amended and reenacted as follows:
§12.1-30.1. Meetings and communications between commissioners
and parties or staff.
The Commission shall after public hearing, promulgate rules of
practice and procedure pursuant to §12.1-25 controlling meetings and
communications between commissioners and any party, or between commissioners
and staff concerning any fact or issue arising out of a proceeding involving
the regulation of rates, charges, services or facilities of railroad,
telephone, gas or, electric, water, or sewer companies.
The rules shall provide, among other provisions, that no commissioner shall
consult with any party or any person acting on behalf of any party with respect
to such proceeding without giving adequate notice and opportunity for all
parties to participate.
§56-237.1. Notification of intent to seek rate change in
schedules required to be filed under §56-236.
A. Every public utility which, other than a public
utility providing water or sewer service, that indicates upon existing
required schedules, or upon new schedules required to be filed in lieu thereof,
changes in rates, tolls, charges, rules and regulations, shall cause to have
published, once a week for four successive weeks, in one or more newspapers in
circulation in its franchise area and approved by the Commission, a notice of
its intention to change its rates, tolls, charges, rules and regulations. Every
public utility providing water or sewer service that indicates upon existing
required schedules, or upon new schedules required to be filed in lieu thereof,
changes in rates, tolls, charges, rules and regulations, shall cause to have
published at least once in one or more newspapers in circulation in its
franchise area and approved by the Commission, a notice of its intention to
change its rates, tolls, charges, rules and regulations. The last such
publication shall appear no less than 30 days prior to the time any changed
rates, tolls, charges, rules and regulations shall take effect. This notice
shall be in such form and contain such information as prescribed by the
Commission.
B. Every public utility which that indicates
upon existing required schedules, or upon new schedules required to be filed in
lieu thereof, changes in rates, tolls, charges, rules, and regulations,
shall mail to each of its customers who receive periodic statements of
charges by mail or send electronically to each of its customers who receive
periodic statements of charges electronically, along with its periodic
invoice, bill, or other statement advising the customer of its charges,
a notice of its intention to change its rates, tolls, charges, rules,
and regulations. This notice shall be mailed or sent electronically no
less than 30 days prior to the time any such changed rate, toll, charge, rule,
and regulation shall take effect. This notice shall be in such form and contain
such information as prescribed by the Commission.
C. The Except for public utilities providing water
or sewer service, the Commission may dispense with either or both of the
requirements contained in subsections A and B if either or both such
requirements are not necessary to provide adequate notice to all of the public
utilities' customers. The Commission may prescribe additional requirements for
notification to a public utility's customers of its intention to change its
rates, tolls, charges, rules, and regulations.
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