{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-234.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-234.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-234.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-234.html"}],"law_id":87361,"edition_id":1,"section_id":87361,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-234","catch_line":"Duty to furnish adequate service at reasonable and uniform rates","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 4066; 1918, p. 675; 1924, p. 540; 1927, p. 125; 1950, p. 55; 1964, c. 195; 1970, c. 258; 1976, c. 290; 1985, cc. 2, 41; 2002, c. 833; 2011, cc. 738, 740; 2018, c. 296; 2025, cc. 499, 598.","full_text":"A\n\nIt shall be the duty of every public utility to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities at reasonable and just rates to any person, firm or corporation along its lines desiring same. Notwithstanding any other provision of law:1\n\nA telephone company shall not have the duty to extend or expand its facilities to furnish service and facilities when the person, firm or corporation has service available from one or more alternative providers of wireline or terrestrial wireless communications services at prevailing market rates; and2\n\nA telephone company may meet its duty to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities through the use of any and all available wireline and terrestrial wireless technologies; however, a telephone company, when restoring service to an existing wireline customer, shall offer the option to furnish service using wireline facilities.\n\t\t\t\tFor purposes of subdivisions 1 and 2, the Commission shall have the authority upon request of an individual, corporation, or other entity, or a telephone company, to determine whether the wireline or terrestrial wireless communications service available to the party requesting service is a reasonably adequate alternative to local exchange telephone service.\n\t\t\t\tThe use by a telephone company of wireline and terrestrial wireless technologies shall not be construed to grant any additional jurisdiction or authority to the Commission over such technologies.\n\t\t\t\tFor purposes of subdivision 1, “prevailing market rates” means rates similar to those generally available to consumers in competitive areas for the same services.B\n\nIt shall be the duty of every public utility to charge uniformly therefor all persons, corporations or municipal corporations using such service under like conditions. However, no provision of law shall be deemed to preclude voluntary rate or rate design tests or experiments, or other experiments involving the use of special rates, where such experiments have been approved by order of the Commission after notice and hearing and a finding that such experiments are necessary in order to acquire information which is or may be in furtherance of the public interest. The Commission’s final order regarding any petition filed by an investor-owned electric utility for approval of a voluntary rate or rate design test or experiment shall be entered the earlier of not more than six months after the filing of the petition or not more than three months after the date of any evidentiary hearing concerning such petition. The charge for such service shall be at the lowest rate applicable for such service in accordance with schedules filed with the Commission pursuant to § 56-236. But, subject to the provisions of § 56-232.1, nothing contained herein or in § 56-481.1 shall apply to (i) schedules of rates for any telecommunications service provided to the public by virtue of any contract with, (ii) for any service provided under or relating to a contract for telecommunications services with, or (iii) contracts for service rendered by any telephone company to, the state government or any agency thereof, or by any other public utility to any municipal corporation or to the state or federal government. The provisions hereof shall not apply to or in any way affect any proceeding pending in the State Corporation Commission on or before July 1, 1950, and shall not confer on the Commission any jurisdiction not now vested in it with respect to any such proceeding.C\n\nThe Commission may conclude that competition can effectively ensure reasonably adequate retail services in competitive exchanges and may carry out its duty to ensure that a public utility is furnishing reasonably adequate retail service in its competitive exchanges by monitoring individual customer complaints and requiring appropriate responses to such complaints.D\n\nAn electric utility formed under or subject to Chapter 9.1 (§ 56-231.15 et seq.) may meet its duty to furnish reasonably adequate service through unregulated sales of electric power directly from one or more of its affiliates to any customer located within the cooperative’s certificated service territory that contracts for electric utility services to serve a demand that is reasonably expected to exceed 90 megawatts.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":312845,"text":"It shall be the duty of every public utility to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities at reasonable and just rates to any person, firm or corporation along its lines desiring same. Notwithstanding any other provision of law:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":312846,"text":"A telephone company shall not have the duty to extend or expand its facilities to furnish service and facilities when the person, firm or corporation has service available from one or more alternative providers of wireline or terrestrial wireless communications services at prevailing market rates; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":312847,"text":"A telephone company may meet its duty to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities through the use of any and all available wireline and terrestrial wireless technologies; however, a telephone company, when restoring service to an existing wireline customer, shall offer the option to furnish service using wireline facilities.\n\t\t\t\tFor purposes of subdivisions 1 and 2, the Commission shall have the authority upon request of an individual, corporation, or other entity, or a telephone company, to determine whether the wireline or terrestrial wireless communications service available to the party requesting service is a reasonably adequate alternative to local exchange telephone service.\n\t\t\t\tThe use by a telephone company of wireline and terrestrial wireless technologies shall not be construed to grant any additional jurisdiction or authority to the Commission over such technologies.\n\t\t\t\tFor purposes of subdivision 1, “prevailing market rates” means rates similar to those generally available to consumers in competitive areas for the same services.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"B"},"3":{"id":312848,"text":"It shall be the duty of every public utility to charge uniformly therefor all persons, corporations or municipal corporations using such service under like conditions. However, no provision of law shall be deemed to preclude voluntary rate or rate design tests or experiments, or other experiments involving the use of special rates, where such experiments have been approved by order of the Commission after notice and hearing and a finding that such experiments are necessary in order to acquire information which is or may be in furtherance of the public interest. The Commission’s final order regarding any petition filed by an investor-owned electric utility for approval of a voluntary rate or rate design test or experiment shall be entered the earlier of not more than six months after the filing of the petition or not more than three months after the date of any evidentiary hearing concerning such petition. The charge for such service shall be at the lowest rate applicable for such service in accordance with schedules filed with the Commission pursuant to § 56-236. But, subject to the provisions of § 56-232.1, nothing contained herein or in § 56-481.1 shall apply to (i) schedules of rates for any telecommunications service provided to the public by virtue of any contract with, (ii) for any service provided under or relating to a contract for telecommunications services with, or (iii) contracts for service rendered by any telephone company to, the state government or any agency thereof, or by any other public utility to any municipal corporation or to the state or federal government. The provisions hereof shall not apply to or in any way affect any proceeding pending in the State Corporation Commission on or before July 1, 1950, and shall not confer on the Commission any jurisdiction not now vested in it with respect to any such proceeding.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":312849,"text":"The Commission may conclude that competition can effectively ensure reasonably adequate retail services in competitive exchanges and may carry out its duty to ensure that a public utility is furnishing reasonably adequate retail service in its competitive exchanges by monitoring individual customer complaints and requiring appropriate responses to such complaints.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"5":{"id":312850,"text":"An electric utility formed under or subject to Chapter 9.1 (§ 56-231.15 et seq.) may meet its duty to furnish reasonably adequate service through unregulated sales of electric power directly from one or more of its affiliates to any customer located within the cooperative’s certificated service territory that contracts for electric utility services to serve a demand that is reasonably expected to exceed 90 megawatts.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14465,"edition_id":1,"name":"Services, Rates, Charges, Etc","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13238,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:13","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:13","permalink":{"id":248755,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14465,"identifier":"2","token":"56\/10\/2","url":"\/56\/10\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13238,"edition_id":1,"name":"Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","permalink":{"id":248721,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13238,"identifier":"10","token":"56\/10","url":"\/56\/10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":248473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12881,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":87361,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-234","catch_line":"Duty to furnish adequate service at reasonable and uniform rates","url":"\/56-234\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-234","metadata":false},{"id":74382,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-234.1","catch_line":"Liability to customer for violation of duty to determine and charge lowest rate applicable","url":"\/56-234.1\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-234.1","metadata":false},{"id":56457,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-234.2","catch_line":"Review of rates","url":"\/56-234.2\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-234.2","metadata":false},{"id":78493,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-234.3","catch_line":"Approval of expenditures for and monitoring of new generation facilities and projected operation programs of electric utilities","url":"\/56-234.3\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-234.3","metadata":false},{"id":72152,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-234.4","catch_line":"Authority to investigate utility operations to determine efficiency","url":"\/56-234.4\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-234.4","metadata":false},{"id":84236,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-234.5","catch_line":"Required disclosure by certain officers and directors of certain utilities","url":"\/56-234.5\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-234.5","metadata":false},{"id":77453,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235","catch_line":"When Commission may fix rates, schedules, etc.; conformance with chapter","url":"\/56-235\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235","metadata":false},{"id":85095,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.1","catch_line":"Conservation of energy and capital resources","url":"\/56-235.1\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.1","metadata":false},{"id":57116,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.10","catch_line":"Recovery of eligible safety activity costs; administration; procedure","url":"\/56-235.10\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.10","metadata":false},{"id":68057,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.11","catch_line":"Retail rates of affiliated water utilities","url":"\/56-235.11\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.11","metadata":false},{"id":69890,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.12","catch_line":"Economic development programs","url":"\/56-235.12\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.12","metadata":false},{"id":80899,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.1:1","catch_line":"Rates for stand-by electric service at renewable cogeneration facilities","url":"\/56-235.1_1\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":80993,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.1:2","catch_line":"Costs of using small, women-owned, or minority-owned businesses","url":"\/56-235.1_2\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.1_2","metadata":false},{"id":62621,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.2","catch_line":"All rates, tolls, etc., to be just and reasonable to jurisdictional customers; findings and conclusions to be set forth; alternative forms of regulation for electric companies","url":"\/56-235.2\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.2","metadata":false},{"id":66652,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.3","catch_line":"Procedures for investigation of rate applications","url":"\/56-235.3\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.3","metadata":false},{"id":63163,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.4","catch_line":"Prohibition of multiple rate increases within any twelve-month period; exception","url":"\/56-235.4\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.4","metadata":false},{"id":55844,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.5","catch_line":"Telephone regulatory alternatives","url":"\/56-235.5\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.5","metadata":false},{"id":87078,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.5:1","catch_line":"Local exchange telephone service competition policy","url":"\/56-235.5_1\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.5_1","metadata":false},{"id":71641,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.6","catch_line":"Optional performance-based regulation of certain utilities","url":"\/56-235.6\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.6","metadata":false},{"id":77670,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.7","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of Commission when federal governmental facility ceases to be retail customer of electric utility","url":"\/56-235.7\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.7","metadata":false},{"id":78685,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.8","catch_line":"Retail supply choice for natural gas customers","url":"\/56-235.8\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.8","metadata":false},{"id":62516,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.9","catch_line":"Recovery of funds used for capital projects prior to a rate case for strategic natural gas facilities","url":"\/56-235.9\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.9","metadata":false},{"id":59697,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-236","catch_line":"Public utilities required to file schedules of rates and charges; rules and regulations; when detariffing of telephone services to be permitted","url":"\/56-236\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-236","metadata":false},{"id":85571,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-236.1","catch_line":"Rates to be charged churches","url":"\/56-236.1\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-236.1","metadata":false},{"id":74562,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-236.2","catch_line":"Suspension of service to sewerage system","url":"\/56-236.2\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-236.2","metadata":false},{"id":57569,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-237","catch_line":"How changes in rates effected; notice required; changes to be indicated on schedules","url":"\/56-237\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-237","metadata":false},{"id":64233,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-237.1","catch_line":"Notification of intent to seek rate change in schedules required to be filed under \u00a7 56-236","url":"\/56-237.1\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-237.1","metadata":false},{"id":67487,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-237.2","catch_line":"Public hearings on protests or objections to rate changes","url":"\/56-237.2\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-237.2","metadata":false},{"id":80068,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-238","catch_line":"Suspension of proposed rates, etc.; investigation; effectiveness of rates pending investigation and subject to bond; fixing reasonable rates, etc","url":"\/56-238\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-238","metadata":false},{"id":78378,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-239","catch_line":"Appeal from action of Commission","url":"\/56-239\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-239","metadata":false},{"id":64527,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-240","catch_line":"Proposed rates, etc., or changes thereof, not suspended effective subject to later change by Commission; refund or credit; appeal; investor-owned public utilities required to show increase complies with \u00a7 56-235.2","url":"\/56-240\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-240","metadata":false},{"id":57241,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-241","catch_line":"Rates of telephone companies","url":"\/56-241\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-241","metadata":false},{"id":83712,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-241.1","catch_line":"Flat and measured telephone rates; certain rates prohibited","url":"\/56-241.1\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-241.1","metadata":false},{"id":74999,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-241.2","catch_line":"Approval of rates for resale of telephone service","url":"\/56-241.2\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-241.2","metadata":false},{"id":72101,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-242","catch_line":"Temporary reduction of rates","url":"\/56-242\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-242","metadata":false},{"id":79154,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-243","catch_line":"Duration of such temporary reduction","url":"\/56-243\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-243","metadata":false},{"id":84025,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-244","catch_line":"Increase to make up for losses due to excessive temporary reduction","url":"\/56-244\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-244","metadata":false},{"id":67793,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-245","catch_line":"Temporary increase in rates","url":"\/56-245\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-245","metadata":false},{"id":75868,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-245.1","catch_line":"Meters to be kept in good working condition; defective meters","url":"\/56-245.1\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-245.1","metadata":false},{"id":80955,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-245.1:1","catch_line":"Customers to be notified about nuclear emergency evacuation plans","url":"\/56-245.1_1\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-245.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":61620,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-245.1:2","catch_line":"Customers to be notified of renewable power options","url":"\/56-245.1_2\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-245.1_2","metadata":false},{"id":70183,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-245.1:3","catch_line":"Disconnection suspension for utilities","url":"\/56-245.1_3\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-245.1_3","metadata":false},{"id":86241,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-245.1:4","catch_line":"Notice procedures for nonpayment; disconnecting utility service","url":"\/56-245.1_4\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-245.1_4","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":74382,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-234.1","catch_line":"Liability to customer for violation of duty to determine and charge lowest rate applicable","url":"\/56-234.1\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-234.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-234\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 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 1964, chapter 195; in 1970, chapter 258; in 1976, chapter 290; in 1985, chapters 2 and 41; in 2002, chapter 833<\/a>; in 2011, chapters 738<\/a> and 740<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 296<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 499<\/a> and 598<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":77460,"section_number":"56-231.50","catch_line":"Regulation by State Corporation Commission","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-231.50\/"},{"id":75233,"section_number":"56-232","catch_line":"Public utility and schedules defined","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-232\/"},{"id":62621,"section_number":"56-235.2","catch_line":"All rates, tolls, etc., to be just and reasonable to jurisdictional customers; findings and conclusions to be set forth; alternative forms of regulation for electric companies","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-235.2\/"},{"id":63163,"section_number":"56-235.4","catch_line":"Prohibition of multiple rate increases within any twelve-month period; exception","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-235.4\/"},{"id":77670,"section_number":"56-235.7","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of Commission when federal governmental facility ceases to be retail customer of electric utility","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-235.7\/"},{"id":81961,"section_number":"56-248.1","catch_line":"Commission to monitor fuel prices and utility fuel purchases; fuel price index","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-248.1\/"},{"id":81743,"section_number":"56-264.3","catch_line":"Cost allocation and rate design","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-264.3\/"},{"id":78934,"section_number":"56-585.1:3","catch_line":"Pilot programs for community solar development","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-585.1_3\/"},{"id":59256,"section_number":"56-589.1","catch_line":"Energy generation by public school buildings and facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-589.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":77567,"section_number":"56-231.15","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-231.15\/"},{"id":65474,"section_number":"56-232.1","catch_line":"Regulation of service by certain gas pipeline companies to municipalities","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-232.1\/"},{"id":59697,"section_number":"56-236","catch_line":"Public utilities required to file schedules of rates and charges; rules and regulations; when detariffing of telephone services to be permitted","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-236\/"},{"id":64697,"section_number":"56-481.1","catch_line":"Rates, charges, and regulations for interexchange telephone service","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-481.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":248757,"object_type":"law","relational_id":87361,"identifier":"56-234","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-234","url":"\/56-234\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-234\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-234","dublin_core":{"Title":"Duty to furnish adequate service at reasonable and uniform rates","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-234","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It shall be the duty of every public utility to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities at reasonable and just rates<\/span> to any person<\/span>, firm or corporation<\/span> along its lines desiring same. Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> A telephone company<\/span> shall not have the duty to extend or expand its facilities to furnish service and facilities when the person<\/span>, firm or corporation<\/span> has service available from one or more alternative providers of wireline or terrestrial wireless communications services at prevailing market rates<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> A telephone company<\/span> may meet its duty to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities through the use of any and all available wireline and terrestrial wireless technologies; however, a telephone company<\/span>, when restoring service to an existing wireline customer, shall offer the option to furnish service using wireline facilities.\n\t\t\t\tFor purposes of subdivisions 1 and 2, the Commission<\/span> shall have the authority upon request of an individual, corporation<\/span>, or other entity, or a telephone company<\/span>, to determine whether the wireline or terrestrial wireless communications service available to the party<\/span> requesting service is a reasonably adequate alternative to local exchange telephone service<\/span>.\n\t\t\t\tThe use by a telephone company<\/span> of wireline and terrestrial wireless technologies shall not be construed to grant any additional jurisdiction<\/span> or authority to the Commission<\/span> over such technologies.\n\t\t\t\tFor purposes of subdivision 1, “prevailing market rates<\/span>” means rates similar to those generally available to consumers in competitive areas for the same services. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It shall be the duty of every public utility to charge uniformly therefor all persons<\/span>, corporations or municipal corporations<\/span> using such service under like conditions. However, no provision of law<\/span> shall be deemed to preclude voluntary rate<\/span> or rate<\/span> design tests or experiments, or other experiments involving the use of special rates, where such experiments have been approved by order of the Commission<\/span> after notice and hearing<\/span> and a finding<\/span> that such experiments are necessary in order to acquire information which is or may be in furtherance of the public interest. The Commission<\/span>’s final order<\/span> regarding any petition<\/span> filed by an investor-owned electric utility for approval of a voluntary rate<\/span> or rate<\/span> design test or experiment shall be entered the earlier of not more than six months after the filing of the petition<\/span> or not more than three months after the date of any evidentiary hearing<\/span> concerning such petition<\/span>. The charge for such service shall be at the lowest rate<\/span> applicable for such service in accordance with schedules<\/span> filed with the Commission<\/span> pursuant to § 56-236<\/a>. But, subject to the provisions of § 56-232.1<\/a>, nothing contained herein or in § 56-481.1<\/a> shall apply to (i) schedules<\/span> of rates for any telecommunications service provided to the public by virtue of any contract<\/span> with, (ii) for any service provided under or relating to a contract<\/span> for telecommunications services with, or (iii) contracts<\/span> for service rendered by any telephone company<\/span> to, the state government or any agency thereof, or by any other public utility to any municipal corporation<\/span> or to the state or federal government. The provisions hereof shall not apply to or in any way affect any proceeding pending in the State Corporation Commission<\/span> on or before July 1, 1950, and shall not confer on the Commission<\/span> any jurisdiction<\/span> not now vested in it with respect to any such proceeding. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Commission<\/span> may conclude that competition can effectively ensure reasonably adequate retail services in competitive exchanges and may carry out its duty to ensure that a public utility is furnishing reasonably adequate retail service in its competitive exchanges by monitoring individual customer complaints and requiring appropriate responses to such complaints. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> An electric utility formed under or subject to Chapter 9.1 (§ 56-231.15<\/a> et seq.) may meet its duty to furnish reasonably adequate service through unregulated sales of electric power directly from one or more of its affiliates to any customer located within the cooperative’s certificated service territory that contracts<\/span> for electric utility services to serve a demand that is reasonably expected to exceed 90 megawatts. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDUTY TO FURNISH ADEQUATE SERVICE AT REASONABLE AND UNIFORM RATES (\u00a7 56-234)\n\nA. It shall be the duty of every public utility to furnish reasonably adequate\nservice and facilities at reasonable and just rates to any person, firm or\ncorporation along its lines desiring same. Notwithstanding any other provision\nof law:\n\n 1. A telephone company shall not have the duty to extend or expand its\n facilities to furnish service and facilities when the person, firm or\n corporation has service available from one or more alternative providers of\n wireline or terrestrial wireless communications services at prevailing market\n rates; and\n\n 2. A telephone company may meet its duty to furnish reasonably adequate\n service and facilities through the use of any and all available wireline and\n terrestrial wireless technologies; however, a telephone company, when\n restoring service to an existing wireline customer, shall offer the option to\n furnish service using wireline facilities.\n \t\t\t\tFor purposes of subdivisions 1 and 2, the Commission shall have the\n authority upon request of an individual, corporation, or other entity, or a\n telephone company, to determine whether the wireline or terrestrial wireless\n communications service available to the party requesting service is a\n reasonably adequate alternative to local exchange telephone service.\n \t\t\t\tThe use by a telephone company of wireline and terrestrial wireless\n technologies shall not be construed to grant any additional jurisdiction or\n authority to the Commission over such technologies.\n \t\t\t\tFor purposes of subdivision 1, “prevailing market rates” means\n rates similar to those generally available to consumers in competitive areas\n for the same services.\n\nB. It shall be the duty of every public utility to charge uniformly therefor all\npersons, corporations or municipal corporations using such service under like\nconditions. However, no provision of law shall be deemed to preclude voluntary\nrate or rate design tests or experiments, or other experiments involving the use\nof special rates, where such experiments have been approved by order of the\nCommission after notice and hearing and a finding that such experiments are\nnecessary in order to acquire information which is or may be in furtherance of\nthe public interest. The Commission’s final order regarding any petition\nfiled by an investor-owned electric utility for approval of a voluntary rate or\nrate design test or experiment shall be entered the earlier of not more than six\nmonths after the filing of the petition or not more than three months after the\ndate of any evidentiary hearing concerning such petition. The charge for such\nservice shall be at the lowest rate applicable for such service in accordance\nwith schedules filed with the Commission pursuant to § 56-236. But, subject\nto the provisions of § 56-232.1, nothing contained herein or in §\n56-481.1 shall apply to (i) schedules of rates for any telecommunications\nservice provided to the public by virtue of any contract with, (ii) for any\nservice provided under or relating to a contract for telecommunications services\nwith, or (iii) contracts for service rendered by any telephone company to, the\nstate government or any agency thereof, or by any other public utility to any\nmunicipal corporation or to the state or federal government. The provisions\nhereof shall not apply to or in any way affect any proceeding pending in the\nState Corporation Commission on or before July 1, 1950, and shall not confer on\nthe Commission any jurisdiction not now vested in it with respect to any such\nproceeding.\n\nC. The Commission may conclude that competition can effectively ensure\nreasonably adequate retail services in competitive exchanges and may carry out\nits duty to ensure that a public utility is furnishing reasonably adequate\nretail service in its competitive exchanges by monitoring individual customer\ncomplaints and requiring appropriate responses to such complaints.\n\nD. An electric utility formed under or subject to Chapter 9.1 (§ 56-231.15\net seq.) may meet its duty to furnish reasonably adequate service through\nunregulated sales of electric power directly from one or more of its affiliates\nto any customer located within the cooperative’s certificated service\nterritory that contracts for electric utility services to serve a demand that is\nreasonably expected to exceed 90 megawatts.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 4066; 1918, p. 675; 1924, p. 540; 1927, p. 125; 1950, p.\n55; 1964, c. 195; 1970, c. 258; 1976, c. 290; 1985, cc. 2, 41; 2002, c. 833;\n2011, cc. 738, 740; 2018, c. 296; 2025, cc. 499, 598.","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}}