{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-5402.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-5402.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-5402.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-5402.html"}],"law_id":72529,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72529,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5402","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1979, c. 416, \u00a7 15.1-1605; 1997, c. 587; 2006, cc. 929, 941.","full_text":"Wherever used in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears in the context:\n\t\t“Authority” means a political subdivision and a body politic and corporate created, organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or if the authority is abolished, the board, body, commission, department or officer succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to whom the powers given by this chapter shall be given by law.\n\t\t“Bonds” or “revenue bonds” means bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness of an authority issued by the authority pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.\n\t\t“Cost” or “cost of a project” means, but shall not be limited to, the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, betterment or extension of any project, including the cost of studies, plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and revenues relating thereto, the cost of labor and materials; the cost of land, land rights, rights-of-way and easements, water rights, fees, permits, approvals, licenses, certificates, franchises, and the preparation of applications for and securing the same; administrative, legal, engineering and inspection expenses; financing fees, expenses and costs; working capital; costs of fuel and of fuel supply resources and related facilities; interest on bonds during the period of construction and for such reasonable period thereafter as may be determined by the issuing authority; establishment of reserves; and all other expenditures of the issuing authority incidental, necessary or convenient to the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, betterment or extension of any project and the placing of the project in operation.\n\t\t“Governmental unit” means any incorporated city or town in the Commonwealth owning on January 1, 1979, a system or facilities for the generation, transmission or distribution of electric power and energy for public and private uses and engaged in the generation or retail distribution of electricity; any incorporated city in the Commonwealth which on January 1, 1979, has a population of 200,000 or more; or any county or incorporated city or town in the Commonwealth which after January 1, 1979, is authorized to participate in an authority pursuant to an act of the General Assembly.\n\t\t“Project” means any system of facilities for the generation, transmission, transformation, supply, or distribution of electric power and energy by any means whatsoever, including fuel and fuel supply resources and other related facilities, any interest therein and any right to output, capacity or services thereof, but does not include facilities for the distribution of electric energy for retail sale unless the facilities are owned by an authority created by a governmental unit that is exempt from the referendum requirement of \u00a7 15.2-5403, and the distribution is limited to retail sales within the geographic area that was served as of January 1, 2006, by the governmental unit that is the sole member of such authority.\n\t\t“Unit” means any governmental unit; any electric authority; any investor-owned electric power company; any electric cooperative association or corporation; the Commonwealth or any other state; or any department, institution, commission, public instrumentality or political subdivision of the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":261165,"text":"Wherever used in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears in the context:\n\t\t“Authority” means a political subdivision and a body politic and corporate created, organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or if the authority is abolished, the board, body, commission, department or officer succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to whom the powers given by this chapter shall be given by law.\n\t\t“Bonds” or “revenue bonds” means bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness of an authority issued by the authority pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.\n\t\t“Cost” or “cost of a project” means, but shall not be limited to, the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, betterment or extension of any project, including the cost of studies, plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and revenues relating thereto, the cost of labor and materials; the cost of land, land rights, rights-of-way and easements, water rights, fees, permits, approvals, licenses, certificates, franchises, and the preparation of applications for and securing the same; administrative, legal, engineering and inspection expenses; financing fees, expenses and costs; working capital; costs of fuel and of fuel supply resources and related facilities; interest on bonds during the period of construction and for such reasonable period thereafter as may be determined by the issuing authority; establishment of reserves; and all other expenditures of the issuing authority incidental, necessary or convenient to the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, betterment or extension of any project and the placing of the project in operation.\n\t\t“Governmental unit” means any incorporated city or town in the Commonwealth owning on January 1, 1979, a system or facilities for the generation, transmission or distribution of electric power and energy for public and private uses and engaged in the generation or retail distribution of electricity; any incorporated city in the Commonwealth which on January 1, 1979, has a population of 200,000 or more; or any county or incorporated city or town in the Commonwealth which after January 1, 1979, is authorized to participate in an authority pursuant to an act of the General Assembly.\n\t\t“Project” means any system of facilities for the generation, transmission, transformation, supply, or distribution of electric power and energy by any means whatsoever, including fuel and fuel supply resources and other related facilities, any interest therein and any right to output, capacity or services thereof, but does not include facilities for the distribution of electric energy for retail sale unless the facilities are owned by an authority created by a governmental unit that is exempt from the referendum requirement of \u00a7 15.2-5403, and the distribution is limited to retail sales within the geographic area that was served as of January 1, 2006, by the governmental unit that is the sole member of such authority.\n\t\t“Unit” means any governmental unit; any electric authority; any investor-owned electric power company; any electric cooperative association or corporation; the Commonwealth or any other state; or any department, institution, commission, public instrumentality or political subdivision of the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14152,"edition_id":1,"name":"Electric Authorities Act","identifier":"54","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12721,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:03","permalink":{"id":159171,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14152,"identifier":"54","token":"15.2\/IV\/54","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/54\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12721,"edition_id":1,"name":"Other Governmental Entities","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":157897,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12721,"identifier":"IV","token":"15.2\/IV","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/","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":65196,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5400","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/15.2-5400\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5400","metadata":false},{"id":86116,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5401","catch_line":"Intent of General Assembly","url":"\/15.2-5401\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5401","metadata":false},{"id":72529,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5402","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/15.2-5402\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5402","metadata":false},{"id":79988,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5403","catch_line":"Creation of electric authority; referendum","url":"\/15.2-5403\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5403","metadata":false},{"id":66895,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5404","catch_line":"Articles of incorporation","url":"\/15.2-5404\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5404","metadata":false},{"id":85800,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5405","catch_line":"Certificate of incorporation or charter; addition and withdrawal of members; board of directors; indemnification of directors, officers or employees","url":"\/15.2-5405\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5405","metadata":false},{"id":69588,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5405.1","catch_line":"Applicability of personnel and procurement procedures to certain authorities","url":"\/15.2-5405.1\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5405.1","metadata":false},{"id":84424,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5406","catch_line":"Rights, powers and duties of authority","url":"\/15.2-5406\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5406","metadata":false},{"id":72674,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5406.1","catch_line":"Retail distribution of electric energy limited to certain authorities","url":"\/15.2-5406.1\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5406.1","metadata":false},{"id":56253,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5406.2","catch_line":"Tort claims against certain authorities","url":"\/15.2-5406.2\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5406.2","metadata":false},{"id":64564,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5407","catch_line":"Membership in more than one authority","url":"\/15.2-5407\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5407","metadata":false},{"id":59051,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5408","catch_line":"Sale of power and energy, including capacity and output to member governmental units by authority; duration of contracts; source of payments; furnishing of money, property or services by member governmental units","url":"\/15.2-5408\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5408","metadata":false},{"id":70404,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5409","catch_line":"Sale of capacity and output to nonmembers; limitations","url":"\/15.2-5409\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5409","metadata":false},{"id":67460,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5410","catch_line":"Contents of agreement as to joint ownership of project; designation of party to agreement as agent for construction, operation and maintenance of project; powers and duties of agent","url":"\/15.2-5410\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5410","metadata":false},{"id":64546,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5411","catch_line":"Contracts for planning, acquisition, construction, etc., of projects","url":"\/15.2-5411\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5411","metadata":false},{"id":61540,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5412","catch_line":"Issuance of bonds by authority","url":"\/15.2-5412\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5412","metadata":false},{"id":67503,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5413","catch_line":"Interim receipts and temporary bonds; lost, stolen and destroyed bonds","url":"\/15.2-5413\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5413","metadata":false},{"id":55312,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5414","catch_line":"Bonds not debts of Commonwealth or member governmental unit","url":"\/15.2-5414\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5414","metadata":false},{"id":84956,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5415","catch_line":"Security for bonds; trust agreement; bond resolution","url":"\/15.2-5415\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5415","metadata":false},{"id":57033,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5416","catch_line":"Rents, rates, fees and other charges","url":"\/15.2-5416\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5416","metadata":false},{"id":82650,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5417","catch_line":"Moneys received deemed trust funds","url":"\/15.2-5417\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5417","metadata":false},{"id":82417,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5418","catch_line":"Bondholders' and trustees' remedies","url":"\/15.2-5418\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5418","metadata":false},{"id":69922,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5419","catch_line":"Refunding bonds","url":"\/15.2-5419\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5419","metadata":false},{"id":62550,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5420","catch_line":"Status of bonds under Uniform Commercial Code","url":"\/15.2-5420\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5420","metadata":false},{"id":78951,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5421","catch_line":"Bonds as legal investments and lawful security","url":"\/15.2-5421\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5421","metadata":false},{"id":59284,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5422","catch_line":"Bonds exempt from taxation","url":"\/15.2-5422\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5422","metadata":false},{"id":68719,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5423","catch_line":"Payments in lieu of property taxes; license tax","url":"\/15.2-5423\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5423","metadata":false},{"id":58684,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5423.1","catch_line":"Exemption from taxation for certain authorities","url":"\/15.2-5423.1\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5423.1","metadata":false},{"id":82928,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5424","catch_line":"Transfer, etc., of property of political subdivisions upon request of authority","url":"\/15.2-5424\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5424","metadata":false},{"id":81962,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5425","catch_line":"Eminent domain","url":"\/15.2-5425\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5425","metadata":false},{"id":57373,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5426","catch_line":"Annual reports","url":"\/15.2-5426\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5426","metadata":false},{"id":82182,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5427","catch_line":"Liability of members or officers","url":"\/15.2-5427\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5427","metadata":false},{"id":69086,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5428","catch_line":"Dissolution of authority","url":"\/15.2-5428\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5428","metadata":false},{"id":58789,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5429","catch_line":"Legislative consent to application of laws of other states","url":"\/15.2-5429\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5429","metadata":false},{"id":75194,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5430","catch_line":"Provisions of chapter cumulative; construction","url":"\/15.2-5430\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5430","metadata":false},{"id":81605,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5431","catch_line":"Provisions of chapter controlling over other statutes and charters","url":"\/15.2-5431\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5431","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":86116,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5401","catch_line":"Intent of General Assembly","url":"\/15.2-5401\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5401","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":79988,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5403","catch_line":"Creation of electric authority; referendum","url":"\/15.2-5403\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5403","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-5402\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1979. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 416 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1979 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2006, chapters 929<\/a> and 941<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":79988,"section_number":"15.2-5403","catch_line":"Creation of electric authority; referendum","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5403\/"}],"permalink":{"id":159181,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72529,"identifier":"15.2-5402","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5402","url":"\/15.2-5402\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-5402\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5402","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-5402","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Wherever used in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears in the context:\n\t\t“Authority<\/span>” means a political subdivision and a body politic and corporate created, organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or if the authority<\/span> is abolished, the board, body, commission, department or officer succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to whom the powers given by this chapter shall be given by law<\/span>.\n\t\t“Bonds” or “revenue bonds<\/span>” means bonds, notes and other evidences<\/span> of indebtedness of an authority<\/span> issued by the authority<\/span> pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.\n\t\t“Cost” or “cost of a project<\/span>” means, but shall not be limited to, the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, betterment or extension of any project<\/span>, including the cost of studies, plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and revenues relating thereto, the cost of labor and materials<\/span>; the cost of land, land rights, rights-of-way and easements, water rights, fees, permits, approvals, licenses, certificates, franchises, and the preparation of applications for and securing the same; administrative, legal, engineering and inspection expenses; financing fees, expenses and costs; working capital; costs of fuel and of fuel supply resources and related facilities; interest on bonds during the period of construction and for such reasonable period thereafter as may be determined by the issuing authority<\/span>; establishment of reserves; and all other expenditures of the issuing authority<\/span> incidental, necessary or convenient to the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, betterment or extension of any project<\/span> and the placing of the project<\/span> in operation.\n\t\t“Governmental unit<\/span>” means any incorporated city<\/span> or town<\/span> in the Commonwealth owning on January 1, 1979, a system or facilities for the generation, transmission or distribution of electric power and energy for public and private uses and engaged in the generation or retail distribution of electricity; any incorporated city<\/span> in the Commonwealth which on January 1, 1979, has a population of 200,000 or more; or any county<\/span> or incorporated city<\/span> or town<\/span> in the Commonwealth which after January 1, 1979, is authorized to participate in an authority<\/span> pursuant to an act of the General Assembly.\n\t\t“Project<\/span>” means any system of facilities for the generation, transmission, transformation, supply, or distribution of electric power and energy by any means whatsoever, including fuel and fuel supply resources and other related facilities, any interest therein and any right to output, capacity or services thereof, but does not include facilities for the distribution of electric energy for retail sale unless the facilities are owned by an authority<\/span> created by a governmental unit<\/span> that is exempt from the referendum<\/span> requirement of \u00a7 15.2-5403<\/a>, and the distribution is limited to retail sales within the geographic area that was served as of January 1, 2006, by the governmental unit<\/span> that is the sole member of such authority<\/span>.\n\t\t“Unit” means any governmental unit<\/span>; any electric authority<\/span>; any investor-owned electric power company; any electric cooperative association or corporation; the Commonwealth or any other state; or any department, institution, commission, public instrumentality or political subdivision of the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 15.2-5402)\n\nWherever used in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears in the\ncontext:\n\t\t“Authority” means a political subdivision and a body politic and\ncorporate created, organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of this\nchapter, or if the authority is abolished, the board, body, commission,\ndepartment or officer succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to whom\nthe powers given by this chapter shall be given by law.\n\t\t“Bonds” or “revenue bonds” means bonds, notes and\nother evidences of indebtedness of an authority issued by the authority pursuant\nto the provisions of this chapter.\n\t\t“Cost” or “cost of a project” means, but shall not be\nlimited to, the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement,\nenlargement, betterment or extension of any project, including the cost of\nstudies, plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and revenues\nrelating thereto, the cost of labor and materials; the cost of land, land\nrights, rights-of-way and easements, water rights, fees, permits, approvals,\nlicenses, certificates, franchises, and the preparation of applications for and\nsecuring the same; administrative, legal, engineering and inspection expenses;\nfinancing fees, expenses and costs; working capital; costs of fuel and of fuel\nsupply resources and related facilities; interest on bonds during the period of\nconstruction and for such reasonable period thereafter as may be determined by\nthe issuing authority; establishment of reserves; and all other expenditures of\nthe issuing authority incidental, necessary or convenient to the acquisition,\nconstruction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, betterment or extension\nof any project and the placing of the project in operation.\n\t\t“Governmental unit” means any incorporated city or town in the\nCommonwealth owning on January 1, 1979, a system or facilities for the\ngeneration, transmission or distribution of electric power and energy for public\nand private uses and engaged in the generation or retail distribution of\nelectricity; any incorporated city in the Commonwealth which on January 1, 1979,\nhas a population of 200,000 or more; or any county or incorporated city or town\nin the Commonwealth which after January 1, 1979, is authorized to participate in\nan authority pursuant to an act of the General Assembly.\n\t\t“Project” means any system of facilities for the generation,\ntransmission, transformation, supply, or distribution of electric power and\nenergy by any means whatsoever, including fuel and fuel supply resources and\nother related facilities, any interest therein and any right to output, capacity\nor services thereof, but does not include facilities for the distribution of\nelectric energy for retail sale unless the facilities are owned by an authority\ncreated by a governmental unit that is exempt from the referendum requirement of\n\u00a7 15.2-5403, and the distribution is limited to retail sales within the\ngeographic area that was served as of January 1, 2006, by the governmental unit\nthat is the sole member of such authority.\n\t\t“Unit” means any governmental unit; any electric authority; any\ninvestor-owned electric power company; any electric cooperative association or\ncorporation; the Commonwealth or any other state; or any department,\ninstitution, commission, public instrumentality or political subdivision of the\nCommonwealth, any other state, or the United States.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 416, \u00a7 15.1-1605; 1997, c. 587; 2006, cc. 929, 941.","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}}