{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-5403.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-5403.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-5403.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-5403.html"}],"law_id":79988,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79988,"structure_id":14152,"section_number":"15.2-5403","catch_line":"Creation of electric authority; referendum","history":"1979, c. 416, \u00a7 15.1-1606; 1997, c. 587; 2006, cc. 929, 941; 2024, cc. 225, 242.","full_text":"The governing body of a governmental unit may by ordinance, or the governing bodies of two or more governmental units may by concurrent ordinances or agreement authorized by ordinance of each of the respective governmental units, create an electric authority, under any appropriate name and title containing the words “electric authority.” Upon compliance with the provisions of this section and \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-5404 and 15.2-5405, the authority shall be a political subdivision of the Commonwealth and a body politic and corporate. Any such ordinance shall be adopted in accordance with applicable general or special laws or charter provisions providing for the adoption of ordinances of the particular governmental unit, and shall be published twice in a newspaper of general circulation within the governmental unit, with the first notice appearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before adoption.\n\t\tNo governmental unit shall participate as a member of such an authority unless and until such participation is authorized by a majority of the voters voting in a referendum held in the governmental unit on the question of whether or not the governmental unit should participate in the authority. The referendum shall be held as provided in \u00a7\u00a7 24.2-682 and 24.2-684. The foregoing referendum requirement shall not apply to the Town of Elkton if the Town creates an authority by an ordinance that includes articles of incorporation which comply with the provisions of \u00a7 15.2-5404 and also set forth a statement that such authority shall have only the Town as its sole member throughout its life.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":286482,"text":"The governing body of a governmental unit may by ordinance, or the governing bodies of two or more governmental units may by concurrent ordinances or agreement authorized by ordinance of each of the respective governmental units, create an electric authority, under any appropriate name and title containing the words “electric authority.” Upon compliance with the provisions of this section and \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-5404 and 15.2-5405, the authority shall be a political subdivision of the Commonwealth and a body politic and corporate. Any such ordinance shall be adopted in accordance with applicable general or special laws or charter provisions providing for the adoption of ordinances of the particular governmental unit, and shall be published twice in a newspaper of general circulation within the governmental unit, with the first notice appearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before adoption.\n\t\tNo governmental unit shall participate as a member of such an authority unless and until such participation is authorized by a majority of the voters voting in a referendum held in the governmental unit on the question of whether or not the governmental unit should participate in the authority. The referendum shall be held as provided in \u00a7\u00a7 24.2-682 and 24.2-684. The foregoing referendum requirement shall not apply to the Town of Elkton if the Town creates an authority by an ordinance that includes articles of incorporation which comply with the provisions of \u00a7 15.2-5404 and also set forth a statement that such authority shall have only the Town as its sole member throughout its life.","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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-5403\/","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 3 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>; in 2024, chapters 225<\/a> and 242<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":72529,"section_number":"15.2-5402","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5402\/"},{"id":85800,"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","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5405\/"},{"id":69588,"section_number":"15.2-5405.1","catch_line":"Applicability of personnel and procurement procedures to certain authorities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5405.1\/"},{"id":84424,"section_number":"15.2-5406","catch_line":"Rights, powers and duties of authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5406\/"},{"id":72674,"section_number":"15.2-5406.1","catch_line":"Retail distribution of electric energy limited to certain authorities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5406.1\/"},{"id":56253,"section_number":"15.2-5406.2","catch_line":"Tort claims against certain authorities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5406.2\/"},{"id":57033,"section_number":"15.2-5416","catch_line":"Rents, rates, fees and other charges","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5416\/"},{"id":68719,"section_number":"15.2-5423","catch_line":"Payments in lieu of property taxes; license tax","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5423\/"},{"id":58684,"section_number":"15.2-5423.1","catch_line":"Exemption from taxation for certain authorities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5423.1\/"},{"id":64250,"section_number":"56-1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-1\/"},{"id":77551,"section_number":"56-580","catch_line":"Transmission and distribution of electric energy","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-580\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":66895,"section_number":"15.2-5404","catch_line":"Articles of incorporation","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5404\/"},{"id":85800,"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","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5405\/"},{"id":77612,"section_number":"24.2-682","catch_line":"Times for special elections","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-682\/"},{"id":82479,"section_number":"24.2-684","catch_line":"How referendum elections called and held, and the results ascertained and certified","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-684\/"}],"permalink":{"id":159185,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79988,"identifier":"15.2-5403","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5403","url":"\/15.2-5403\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-5403\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/54\/15.2-5403","dublin_core":{"Title":"Creation of electric authority; referendum","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-5403","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The governing body<\/span> of a governmental unit<\/span> may by ordinance<\/span>, or the governing bodies of two or more governmental units<\/span> may by concurrent ordinances<\/span> or agreement authorized by ordinance<\/span> of each of the respective governmental units<\/span>, create an electric authority<\/span>, under any appropriate name and title containing the words “electric authority<\/span>.” Upon compliance with the provisions of this section and \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-5404<\/a> and 15.2-5405<\/a>, the authority<\/span> shall be a political subdivision of the Commonwealth and a body politic and corporate. Any such ordinance<\/span> shall be adopted in accordance with applicable general or special laws<\/span> or charter provisions providing for the adoption of ordinances<\/span> of the particular governmental unit<\/span>, and shall be published twice in a newspaper of general circulation within the governmental unit<\/span>, with the first notice appearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before adoption.\n\t\tNo governmental unit<\/span> shall participate as a member of such an authority<\/span> unless and until such participation is authorized by a majority of the voters<\/span> voting in a referendum<\/span> held in the governmental unit<\/span> on the question of whether or not the governmental unit<\/span> should participate in the authority<\/span>. The referendum<\/span> shall be held as provided in \u00a7\u00a7 24.2-682<\/a> and 24.2-684<\/a>. The foregoing referendum<\/span> requirement shall not apply to the Town<\/span> of Elkton if the Town<\/span> creates an authority<\/span> by an ordinance<\/span> that includes articles of incorporation which comply with the provisions of \u00a7 15.2-5404<\/a> and also set forth a statement that such authority<\/span> shall have only the Town<\/span> as its sole member throughout its life.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCREATION OF ELECTRIC AUTHORITY; REFERENDUM (\u00a7 15.2-5403)\n\nThe governing body of a governmental unit may by ordinance, or the governing\nbodies of two or more governmental units may by concurrent ordinances or\nagreement authorized by ordinance of each of the respective governmental units,\ncreate an electric authority, under any appropriate name and title containing\nthe words “electric authority.” Upon compliance with the provisions\nof this section and \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-5404 and 15.2-5405, the authority shall be a\npolitical subdivision of the Commonwealth and a body politic and corporate. Any\nsuch ordinance shall be adopted in accordance with applicable general or special\nlaws or charter provisions providing for the adoption of ordinances of the\nparticular governmental unit, and shall be published twice in a newspaper of\ngeneral circulation within the governmental unit, with the first notice\nappearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less\nthan seven days before adoption.\n\t\tNo governmental unit shall participate as a member of such an authority unless\nand until such participation is authorized by a majority of the voters voting in\na referendum held in the governmental unit on the question of whether or not the\ngovernmental unit should participate in the authority. The referendum shall be\nheld as provided in \u00a7\u00a7 24.2-682 and 24.2-684. The foregoing referendum\nrequirement shall not apply to the Town of Elkton if the Town creates an\nauthority by an ordinance that includes articles of incorporation which comply\nwith the provisions of \u00a7 15.2-5404 and also set forth a statement that such\nauthority shall have only the Town as its sole member throughout its life.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 416, \u00a7 15.1-1606; 1997, c. 587; 2006, cc. 929, 941; 2024, cc.\n225, 242.","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}}