{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-2109.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-2109.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-2109.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-2109.html"}],"law_id":79360,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79360,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2109","catch_line":"Powers of localities as to public utilities and computer services; prevention of pollution of certain water","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-715; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-292; 1970, c. 565; 1980, c. 483; 1994, c. 634; 1996, c. 384; 1997, c. 587; 2000, c. 663; 2003, c. 940; 2007, c. 813.","full_text":"A\n\nAny locality may (i) acquire or otherwise obtain control of or (ii) establish, maintain, operate, extend and enlarge: waterworks, sewerage, gas works (natural or manufactured), electric plants, public mass transportation systems, stormwater management systems and other public utilities within or outside the limits of the locality and may acquire within or outside its limits in accordance with § 15.2-1800 whatever land may be necessary for acquiring, locating, establishing, maintaining, operating, extending or enlarging waterworks, sewerage, gas works (natural or manufactured), electric plants, public mass transportation systems, stormwater management systems and other public utilities, and the rights-of-way, rails, pipes, poles, conduits or wires connected therewith, or any of the fixtures or appurtenances thereof. As required by subsection C of § 15.2-1800, this section expressly authorizes a county to acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries.\n\t\t\tThe locality may also prevent the pollution of water and injury to waterworks for which purpose its jurisdiction shall extend to five miles beyond the locality. It may make, erect and construct, within or near its boundaries, drains, sewers and public ducts and acquire within or outside the locality in accordance with § 15.2-1800 so much land as may be necessary to make, erect, construct, operate and maintain any of the works or plants mentioned in this section.\n\t\t\tIn the exercise of the powers granted by this section, localities shall be subject to the provisions of § 25.1-102 to the same extent as are corporations. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to confer upon any locality the power of eminent domain with respect to any public utility owned or operated by any other political subdivision of this Commonwealth. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to exempt localities from the provisions of Chapters 20 (§ 46.2-2000 et seq.), 22 (§ 46.2-2200 et seq.) and 23 (§ 46.2-2300 et seq.) of Title 46.2.B\n\nA locality may not (i) acquire all of a public utility’s facilities, equipment or appurtenances for the production, transmission or distribution of natural or manufactured gas, or of electric power, within the limits of such locality or (ii) take over or displace, in whole or in part, the utility services provided by such gas or electric public utility to customers within the limits of such locality until after the acquisition is authorized by a majority of the voters voting in a referendum held in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 (§ 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2 in such locality on the question of whether or not such facilities, equipment or appurtenances should be acquired or such services should be taken over or displaced; however, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the use of energy generated from landfill gas in the City of Lynchburg or Fairfax County. In no event, however, shall a locality be required to hold a referendum in order to provide gas or electric service to its own facilities. Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection, a locality may acquire public utility facilities or provide services to customers of a public utility with the consent of the public utility. No city or town which provided electric service as of January 1, 1994, shall be required to hold such a referendum prior to the acquisition of a public utility’s facilities, equipment or appurtenances used for the production, transmission or distribution of electric power or to the provision of services to customers of a public utility. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to (a) create a property right or property interest or (b) affect or impair any existing property right or property interest of a public utility.C\n\nThe City of Bristol is authorized to provide computer services as defined in § 18.2-152.2. “Computer services” as used in this section shall specifically not include the communications link between the host computer and any person or entity other than (i) such locality’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities or (ii) an adjoining locality’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":284100,"text":"Any locality may (i) acquire or otherwise obtain control of or (ii) establish, maintain, operate, extend and enlarge: waterworks, sewerage, gas works (natural or manufactured), electric plants, public mass transportation systems, stormwater management systems and other public utilities within or outside the limits of the locality and may acquire within or outside its limits in accordance with § 15.2-1800 whatever land may be necessary for acquiring, locating, establishing, maintaining, operating, extending or enlarging waterworks, sewerage, gas works (natural or manufactured), electric plants, public mass transportation systems, stormwater management systems and other public utilities, and the rights-of-way, rails, pipes, poles, conduits or wires connected therewith, or any of the fixtures or appurtenances thereof. As required by subsection C of § 15.2-1800, this section expressly authorizes a county to acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries.\n\t\t\tThe locality may also prevent the pollution of water and injury to waterworks for which purpose its jurisdiction shall extend to five miles beyond the locality. It may make, erect and construct, within or near its boundaries, drains, sewers and public ducts and acquire within or outside the locality in accordance with § 15.2-1800 so much land as may be necessary to make, erect, construct, operate and maintain any of the works or plants mentioned in this section.\n\t\t\tIn the exercise of the powers granted by this section, localities shall be subject to the provisions of § 25.1-102 to the same extent as are corporations. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to confer upon any locality the power of eminent domain with respect to any public utility owned or operated by any other political subdivision of this Commonwealth. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to exempt localities from the provisions of Chapters 20 (§ 46.2-2000 et seq.), 22 (§ 46.2-2200 et seq.) and 23 (§ 46.2-2300 et seq.) of Title 46.2.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":284101,"text":"A locality may not (i) acquire all of a public utility’s facilities, equipment or appurtenances for the production, transmission or distribution of natural or manufactured gas, or of electric power, within the limits of such locality or (ii) take over or displace, in whole or in part, the utility services provided by such gas or electric public utility to customers within the limits of such locality until after the acquisition is authorized by a majority of the voters voting in a referendum held in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 (§ 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2 in such locality on the question of whether or not such facilities, equipment or appurtenances should be acquired or such services should be taken over or displaced; however, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the use of energy generated from landfill gas in the City of Lynchburg or Fairfax County. In no event, however, shall a locality be required to hold a referendum in order to provide gas or electric service to its own facilities. Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection, a locality may acquire public utility facilities or provide services to customers of a public utility with the consent of the public utility. No city or town which provided electric service as of January 1, 1994, shall be required to hold such a referendum prior to the acquisition of a public utility’s facilities, equipment or appurtenances used for the production, transmission or distribution of electric power or to the provision of services to customers of a public utility. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to (a) create a property right or property interest or (b) affect or impair any existing property right or property interest of a public utility.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":284102,"text":"The City of Bristol is authorized to provide computer services as defined in § 18.2-152.2. “Computer services” as used in this section shall specifically not include the communications link between the host computer and any person or entity other than (i) such locality’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities or (ii) an adjoining locality’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14728,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions for Public Utilities","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13192,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:34","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:34","permalink":{"id":154517,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14728,"identifier":"2","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2","url":"\/15.2\/II\/21\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13192,"edition_id":1,"name":"Franchises; Sale and Lease of Certain Municipal Public Property; Public Utilities","identifier":"21","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","permalink":{"id":154333,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13192,"identifier":"21","token":"15.2\/II\/21","url":"\/15.2\/II\/21\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":79360,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2109","catch_line":"Powers of localities as to public utilities and computer services; prevention of pollution of certain water","url":"\/15.2-2109\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2109","metadata":false},{"id":71006,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2109.1","catch_line":"Prescriptive easements for provision of water and sewer services","url":"\/15.2-2109.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2109.1","metadata":false},{"id":70677,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2109.2","catch_line":"Mutual aid agreements for power and natural gas","url":"\/15.2-2109.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2109.2","metadata":false},{"id":87456,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2109.3","catch_line":"Provision of natural gas distribution service within counties","url":"\/15.2-2109.3\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2109.3","metadata":false},{"id":57929,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2110","catch_line":"Mandatory connection to water and sewage systems in certain counties","url":"\/15.2-2110\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2110","metadata":false},{"id":70760,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2111","catch_line":"Regulation of sewage disposal or water service","url":"\/15.2-2111\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2111","metadata":false},{"id":59568,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2112","catch_line":"Agreements by political subdivisions for sewage or water service","url":"\/15.2-2112\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2112","metadata":false},{"id":84432,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2113","catch_line":"Connections of fire suppression systems","url":"\/15.2-2113\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2113","metadata":false},{"id":60869,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2114","catch_line":"Regulation of stormwater","url":"\/15.2-2114\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2114","metadata":false},{"id":69504,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2114.01","catch_line":"Local Stormwater Management Fund; grant moneys","url":"\/15.2-2114.01\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2114.01","metadata":false},{"id":56426,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2114.1","catch_line":"Car-washing fundraiser","url":"\/15.2-2114.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2114.1","metadata":false},{"id":58555,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2115","catch_line":"Purchase of gas, electric and water plants operating in contiguous territory","url":"\/15.2-2115\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2115","metadata":false},{"id":65470,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2116","catch_line":"Acquisition by county or city of water supply system or sewage system from sanitary district","url":"\/15.2-2116\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2116","metadata":false},{"id":75698,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2117","catch_line":"Contracts with sewerage or water purification company, etc","url":"\/15.2-2117\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2117","metadata":false},{"id":74215,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2118","catch_line":"Lien for water and sewer charges and taxes imposed by localities","url":"\/15.2-2118\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2118","metadata":false},{"id":81760,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2118.1","catch_line":"Lien for gas utilities charges and taxes imposed by localities","url":"\/15.2-2118.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2118.1","metadata":false},{"id":60752,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2119","catch_line":"Fees and charges for water and sewer services provided to a property owner","url":"\/15.2-2119\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2119","metadata":false},{"id":61731,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2119.1","catch_line":"Credit for excessive water and sewer charges","url":"\/15.2-2119.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2119.1","metadata":false},{"id":78767,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2119.2","catch_line":"Discounted fees and charges for certain low-income, elderly, or disabled customers","url":"\/15.2-2119.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2119.2","metadata":false},{"id":65635,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2119.3","catch_line":"Sustainable infrastructure financial assistance","url":"\/15.2-2119.3\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2119.3","metadata":false},{"id":82149,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2119.4","catch_line":"Fees and charges for water and sewer services provided to a tenant or lessee of the property owner","url":"\/15.2-2119.4\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2119.4","metadata":false},{"id":81070,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2120","catch_line":"Enforcement of liens for water or sewer charges","url":"\/15.2-2120\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2120","metadata":false},{"id":57664,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2121","catch_line":"Regulations as to water, sewer and other facilities in subdivisions and development plans","url":"\/15.2-2121\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2121","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":71006,"structure_id":14728,"section_number":"15.2-2109.1","catch_line":"Prescriptive easements for provision of water and sewer services","url":"\/15.2-2109.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2109.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-2109\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 623; in 1970, chapter 565; in 1980, chapter 483; in 1994, chapter 634<\/a>; in 1996, chapter 384<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 663<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 940<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 813<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":80108,"section_number":"15.2-1901","catch_line":"Condemnation authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1901\/"},{"id":56240,"section_number":"25.1-102","catch_line":"Condemnation of property of corporations possessing power of eminent domain","order_by":null,"url":"\/25.1-102\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82693,"section_number":"15.2-1800","catch_line":"Purchase, sale, use, etc., of real property","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1800\/"},{"id":54922,"section_number":"18.2-152.2","catch_line":"Definitions; computer crimes","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-152.2\/"},{"id":58078,"section_number":"24.2-681","catch_line":"How special elections superintended and determined","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-681\/"},{"id":56240,"section_number":"25.1-102","catch_line":"Condemnation of property of corporations possessing power of eminent domain","order_by":null,"url":"\/25.1-102\/"},{"id":70585,"section_number":"46.2-2000","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-2000\/"},{"id":71597,"section_number":"46.2-2200","catch_line":"Repealed","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-2200\/"},{"id":74160,"section_number":"46.2-2300","catch_line":"Repealed","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-2300\/"}],"permalink":{"id":154519,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79360,"identifier":"15.2-2109","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2109","url":"\/15.2-2109\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-2109\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/2\/15.2-2109","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers of localities as to public utilities and computer services; prevention of pollution of certain water","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-2109","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any locality<\/span> may (i) acquire or otherwise obtain control of or (ii) establish, maintain, operate, extend and enlarge: waterworks, sewerage, gas works (natural or manufactured), electric plants, public mass transportation systems, stormwater management systems and other public utilities within or outside the limits of the locality<\/span> and may acquire within or outside its limits in accordance with § 15.2-1800<\/a> whatever land may be necessary for acquiring, locating, establishing, maintaining, operating, extending or enlarging waterworks, sewerage, gas works (natural or manufactured), electric plants, public mass transportation systems, stormwater management systems and other public utilities, and the rights-of-way, rails, pipes, poles, conduits or wires connected therewith, or any of the fixtures or appurtenances thereof. As required by subsection C of § 15.2-1800<\/a>, this section expressly authorizes a county<\/span> to acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries.\n\t\t\tThe locality<\/span> may also prevent the pollution of water and injury to waterworks for which purpose its jurisdiction<\/span> shall extend to five miles beyond the locality<\/span>. It may make, erect and construct, within or near its boundaries, drains, sewers and public ducts and acquire within or outside the locality<\/span> in accordance with § 15.2-1800<\/a> so much land as may be necessary to make, erect, construct, operate and maintain any of the works or plants mentioned in this section.\n\t\t\tIn the exercise of the powers granted by this section, localities shall be subject to the provisions of § 25.1-102<\/a> to the same extent as are corporations. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to confer upon any locality<\/span> the power of eminent domain with respect to any public utility owned or operated by any other political subdivision of this Commonwealth. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to exempt localities from the provisions of Chapters 20 (§ 46.2-2000<\/a> et seq.), 22 (§ 46.2-2200<\/a> et seq.) and 23 (§ 46.2-2300<\/a> et seq.) of Title 46.2. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A locality<\/span> may not (i) acquire all of a public utility’s facilities, equipment or appurtenances for the production, transmission or distribution of natural or manufactured gas, or of electric power, within the limits of such locality<\/span> or (ii) take over or displace, in whole or in part, the utility services provided by such gas or electric public utility to customers within the limits of such locality<\/span> until after the acquisition is authorized by a majority of the voters<\/span> voting in a referendum<\/span> held in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 (§ 24.2-681<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2 in such locality<\/span> on the question of whether or not such facilities, equipment or appurtenances should be acquired or such services should be taken over or displaced; however, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the use of energy generated from landfill gas in the City<\/span> of Lynchburg or Fairfax County<\/span>. In no event, however, shall a locality<\/span> be required to hold a referendum<\/span> in order<\/span> to provide gas or electric service to its own facilities. Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection, a locality<\/span> may acquire public utility facilities or provide services to customers of a public utility with the consent of the public utility. No city<\/span> or town<\/span> which provided electric service as of January 1, 1994, shall be required to hold such a referendum<\/span> prior to the acquisition of a public utility’s facilities, equipment or appurtenances used for the production, transmission or distribution of electric power or to the provision of services to customers of a public utility. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to (a) create a property right or property interest or (b) affect or impair any existing property right or property interest of a public utility. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The City<\/span> of Bristol is authorized to provide computer services as defined in § 18.2-152.2<\/a>. “Computer services” as used in this section shall specifically not include the communications link between the host computer and any person or entity other than (i) such locality<\/span>’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities or (ii) an adjoining locality<\/span>’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS OF LOCALITIES AS TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND COMPUTER SERVICES; PREVENTION OF\nPOLLUTION OF CERTAIN WATER (\u00a7 15.2-2109)\n\nA. Any locality may (i) acquire or otherwise obtain control of or (ii)\nestablish, maintain, operate, extend and enlarge: waterworks, sewerage, gas\nworks (natural or manufactured), electric plants, public mass transportation\nsystems, stormwater management systems and other public utilities within or\noutside the limits of the locality and may acquire within or outside its limits\nin accordance with § 15.2-1800 whatever land may be necessary for\nacquiring, locating, establishing, maintaining, operating, extending or\nenlarging waterworks, sewerage, gas works (natural or manufactured), electric\nplants, public mass transportation systems, stormwater management systems and\nother public utilities, and the rights-of-way, rails, pipes, poles, conduits or\nwires connected therewith, or any of the fixtures or appurtenances thereof. As\nrequired by subsection C of § 15.2-1800, this section expressly authorizes\na county to acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries.\n\t\t\tThe locality may also prevent the pollution of water and injury to waterworks\nfor which purpose its jurisdiction shall extend to five miles beyond the\nlocality. It may make, erect and construct, within or near its boundaries,\ndrains, sewers and public ducts and acquire within or outside the locality in\naccordance with § 15.2-1800 so much land as may be necessary to make,\nerect, construct, operate and maintain any of the works or plants mentioned in\nthis section.\n\t\t\tIn the exercise of the powers granted by this section, localities shall be\nsubject to the provisions of § 25.1-102 to the same extent as are\ncorporations. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to confer\nupon any locality the power of eminent domain with respect to any public utility\nowned or operated by any other political subdivision of this Commonwealth. The\nprovisions of this section shall not be construed to exempt localities from the\nprovisions of Chapters 20 (§ 46.2-2000 et seq.), 22 (§ 46.2-2200 et\nseq.) and 23 (§ 46.2-2300 et seq.) of Title 46.2.\n\nB. A locality may not (i) acquire all of a public utility’s facilities,\nequipment or appurtenances for the production, transmission or distribution of\nnatural or manufactured gas, or of electric power, within the limits of such\nlocality or (ii) take over or displace, in whole or in part, the utility\nservices provided by such gas or electric public utility to customers within the\nlimits of such locality until after the acquisition is authorized by a majority\nof the voters voting in a referendum held in accordance with the provisions of\nArticle 5 (§ 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2 in such locality\non the question of whether or not such facilities, equipment or appurtenances\nshould be acquired or such services should be taken over or displaced; however,\nthe provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the use of energy generated\nfrom landfill gas in the City of Lynchburg or Fairfax County. In no event,\nhowever, shall a locality be required to hold a referendum in order to provide\ngas or electric service to its own facilities. Notwithstanding any provision of\nthis subsection, a locality may acquire public utility facilities or provide\nservices to customers of a public utility with the consent of the public\nutility. No city or town which provided electric service as of January 1, 1994,\nshall be required to hold such a referendum prior to the acquisition of a public\nutility’s facilities, equipment or appurtenances used for the production,\ntransmission or distribution of electric power or to the provision of services\nto customers of a public utility. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to\n(a) create a property right or property interest or (b) affect or impair any\nexisting property right or property interest of a public utility.\n\nC. The City of Bristol is authorized to provide computer services as defined in\n§ 18.2-152.2. “Computer services” as used in this section shall\nspecifically not include the communications link between the host computer and\nany person or entity other than (i) such locality’s departments, offices,\nboards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities or\n(ii) an adjoining locality’s departments, offices, boards, commissions,\nagencies or other governmental divisions or entities.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-715; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-292; 1970, c. 565; 1980, c.\n483; 1994, c. 634; 1996, c. 384; 1997, c. 587; 2000, c. 663; 2003, c. 940; 2007,\nc. 813.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}