{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-235.11.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-235.11.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-235.11.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-235.11.html"}],"law_id":68057,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68057,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-235.11","catch_line":"Retail rates of affiliated water utilities","history":"2017, c. 822.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t&#8220;Affiliate&#8221; of a specific water utility or a water utility &#8220;affiliated&#8221; with a specific water utility means a water utility that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the water utility specified.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Control,&#8221; including the terms &#8220;controlling,&#8221; &#8220;controlled by,&#8221; and &#8220;under common control with,&#8221; means direct or indirect possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a water utility through the ownership of an equity interest. Control shall be presumed to exist with respect to another water utility if any water utility directly or indirectly owns, controls, or holds with the power to vote 50 percent or more of the equity interest of the other water utility.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Rates&#8221; includes rates, tolls, charges, or schedules.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Subsidiary&#8221; of a specified water utility means an affiliate directly or indirectly controlled by that water utility through one or more intermediaries.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Water utility&#8221; means an investor-owned public utility authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service within a certificated service territory in the Commonwealth except any such investor-owned public utility for which the Commission has approved, after July 1, 2009, and prior to July 1, 2017, a consolidated rate structure consisting of three or more rate groups for the same class of service and in one or more subsequent orders has approved additional consolidation of such rate groups.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Water utility network&#8221; means a water utility and all other water utilities that the water utility is an affiliate of, is affiliated with, controls, is controlled by, is under common control with, or is a subsidiary of. &#8220;Water utility network&#8221; also means, with respect to a water utility that is authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service within multiple certificated service territories in the Commonwealth, all of the certificated service territories that the water utility is certificated to serve.B\n\nIn any proceeding commenced on and after July 1, 2017, to establish or approve the rates of a water utility that is in a water utility network, the Commission shall ensure that the rates of each water utility in the water utility network are not unjustly discriminatory by ensuring that equal fixed and volumetric rates are charged for each customer class of each water utility that is in the water utility network.C\n\nUpon the commencement of a proceeding described in subsection B, the Commission shall make each water utility that is a member of the applicable water utility network a party to the proceeding and may review each member water utility&#8217;s rates. In such proceeding:1\n\nThe Commission shall review the rates of each member of the applicable water utility network and order gradual adjustments to such water utility&#8217;s rates over an appropriate period in order to implement the provisions of subsection B; and2\n\nThe Commission is authorized to aggregate the revenues and costs of the water utilities that are members of the applicable water utility network.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":246430,"text":"As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t&#8220;Affiliate&#8221; of a specific water utility or a water utility &#8220;affiliated&#8221; with a specific water utility means a water utility that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the water utility specified.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Control,&#8221; including the terms &#8220;controlling,&#8221; &#8220;controlled by,&#8221; and &#8220;under common control with,&#8221; means direct or indirect possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a water utility through the ownership of an equity interest. Control shall be presumed to exist with respect to another water utility if any water utility directly or indirectly owns, controls, or holds with the power to vote 50 percent or more of the equity interest of the other water utility.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Rates&#8221; includes rates, tolls, charges, or schedules.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Subsidiary&#8221; of a specified water utility means an affiliate directly or indirectly controlled by that water utility through one or more intermediaries.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Water utility&#8221; means an investor-owned public utility authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service within a certificated service territory in the Commonwealth except any such investor-owned public utility for which the Commission has approved, after July 1, 2009, and prior to July 1, 2017, a consolidated rate structure consisting of three or more rate groups for the same class of service and in one or more subsequent orders has approved additional consolidation of such rate groups.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Water utility network&#8221; means a water utility and all other water utilities that the water utility is an affiliate of, is affiliated with, controls, is controlled by, is under common control with, or is a subsidiary of. &#8220;Water utility network&#8221; also means, with respect to a water utility that is authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service within multiple certificated service territories in the Commonwealth, all of the certificated service territories that the water utility is certificated to serve.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":246431,"text":"In any proceeding commenced on and after July 1, 2017, to establish or approve the rates of a water utility that is in a water utility network, the Commission shall ensure that the rates of each water utility in the water utility network are not unjustly discriminatory by ensuring that equal fixed and volumetric rates are charged for each customer class of each water utility that is in the water utility network.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":246432,"text":"Upon the commencement of a proceeding described in subsection B, the Commission shall make each water utility that is a member of the applicable water utility network a party to the proceeding and may review each member water utility&#8217;s rates. In such proceeding:","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C1"},"3":{"id":246433,"text":"The Commission shall review the rates of each member of the applicable water utility network and order gradual adjustments to such water utility&#8217;s rates over an appropriate period in order to implement the provisions of subsection B; and","type":"section","prefixes":["C","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"C1","prefix_anchor":"C1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"C2"},"4":{"id":246434,"text":"The Commission is authorized to aggregate the revenues and costs of the water utilities that are members of the applicable water utility network.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"C2","prefix_anchor":"C2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C1"}},"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-235.11\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2017. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?171+ful+CHAP0822\">822<\/a> 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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":63984,"section_number":"56-627","catch_line":"(Expires July 1, 2035) Filing of petition with Commission to establish or amend EIRE plan and rider; cost recovery; procedure","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-627\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":248793,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68057,"identifier":"56-235.11","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.11","url":"\/56-235.11\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-235.11\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-235.11","dublin_core":{"Title":"Retail rates of affiliated water utilities","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-235.11","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Affiliate<\/span>&#8221; of a specific water utility or a water utility &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">affiliated<\/span>&#8221; with a specific water utility means a water utility that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the water utility specified.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Control,&#8221; including the terms &#8220;controlling,&#8221; &#8220;controlled by,&#8221; and &#8220;under common control with,&#8221; means direct or indirect <span class=\"dictionary\">possession<\/span> of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a water utility through the ownership of an <span class=\"dictionary\">equity<\/span> interest. Control shall be presumed to exist with respect to another water utility if any water utility directly or indirectly owns, controls, or holds with the power to vote 50 percent or more of the <span class=\"dictionary\">equity<\/span> interest of the other water utility.\n\t\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">Rates<\/span><\/span>&#8221; includes <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span><\/span>, tolls, charges, or <span class=\"dictionary\">schedules<\/span>.\n\t\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Subsidiary<\/span>&#8221; of a specified water utility means an <span class=\"dictionary\">affiliate<\/span> directly or indirectly controlled by that water utility through one or more intermediaries.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Water utility&#8221; means an investor-owned public utility authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service within a certificated service territory in the Commonwealth except any such investor-owned public utility for which the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> has approved, after July 1, 2009, and prior to July 1, 2017, a consolidated <span class=\"dictionary\">rate<\/span> structure consisting of three or more <span class=\"dictionary\">rate<\/span> groups for the same class of service and in one or more subsequent <span class=\"dictionary\">orders<\/span> has approved additional <span class=\"dictionary\">consolidation<\/span> of such <span class=\"dictionary\">rate<\/span> groups.\n\t\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Water utility network<\/span>&#8221; means a water utility and all other water utilities that the water utility is an <span class=\"dictionary\">affiliate<\/span> of, is <span class=\"dictionary\">affiliated<\/span> with, controls, is controlled by, is under common control with, or is a <span class=\"dictionary\">subsidiary<\/span> of. &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Water utility network<\/span>&#8221; also means, with respect to a water utility that is authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service within multiple certificated service territories in the Commonwealth, all of the certificated service territories that the water utility is certificated to serve. <a id=\"paragraph-246430\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-235.11\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> In any proceeding commenced on and after July 1, 2017, to establish or approve the <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span><\/span> of a water utility that is in a <span class=\"dictionary\">water utility network<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> shall ensure that the <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span><\/span> of each water utility in the <span class=\"dictionary\">water utility network<\/span> are not unjustly discriminatory by ensuring that equal fixed and volumetric <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span><\/span> are charged for each customer class of each water utility that is in the <span class=\"dictionary\">water utility network<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-246431\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-235.11\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> Upon the commencement of a proceeding described in subsection B, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> shall make each water utility that is a member of the applicable <span class=\"dictionary\">water utility network<\/span> a <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> to the proceeding and may review each member water utility&#8217;s <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span><\/span>. In such proceeding: <a id=\"paragraph-246432\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-235.11\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C1\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> The <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> shall review the <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span><\/span> of each member of the applicable <span class=\"dictionary\">water utility network<\/span> and <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> gradual adjustments to such water utility&#8217;s <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span><\/span> over an appropriate period in <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> to implement the provisions of subsection B; and <a id=\"paragraph-246433\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-235.11\/#C1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C2\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> The <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> is authorized to aggregate the revenues and costs of the water utilities that are members of the applicable <span class=\"dictionary\">water utility network<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-246434\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-235.11\/#C2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRETAIL RATES OF AFFILIATED WATER UTILITIES (\u00a7 56-235.11)\n\nA. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t&#8220;Affiliate&#8221; of a specific water utility or a water utility\n&#8220;affiliated&#8221; with a specific water utility means a water utility\nthat directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is\ncontrolled by, or is under common control with the water utility specified.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Control,&#8221; including the terms &#8220;controlling,&#8221;\n&#8220;controlled by,&#8221; and &#8220;under common control with,&#8221; means\ndirect or indirect possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of\nthe management and policies of a water utility through the ownership of an\nequity interest. Control shall be presumed to exist with respect to another\nwater utility if any water utility directly or indirectly owns, controls, or\nholds with the power to vote 50 percent or more of the equity interest of the\nother water utility.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Rates&#8221; includes rates, tolls, charges, or schedules.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Subsidiary&#8221; of a specified water utility means an affiliate\ndirectly or indirectly controlled by that water utility through one or more\nintermediaries.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Water utility&#8221; means an investor-owned public utility authorized\nto furnish water or water and sewer service within a certificated service\nterritory in the Commonwealth except any such investor-owned public utility for\nwhich the Commission has approved, after July 1, 2009, and prior to July 1,\n2017, a consolidated rate structure consisting of three or more rate groups for\nthe same class of service and in one or more subsequent orders has approved\nadditional consolidation of such rate groups.\n\t\t\t&#8220;Water utility network&#8221; means a water utility and all other water\nutilities that the water utility is an affiliate of, is affiliated with,\ncontrols, is controlled by, is under common control with, or is a subsidiary of.\n&#8220;Water utility network&#8221; also means, with respect to a water utility\nthat is authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service within multiple\ncertificated service territories in the Commonwealth, all of the certificated\nservice territories that the water utility is certificated to serve.\n\nB. In any proceeding commenced on and after July 1, 2017, to establish or\napprove the rates of a water utility that is in a water utility network, the\nCommission shall ensure that the rates of each water utility in the water\nutility network are not unjustly discriminatory by ensuring that equal fixed and\nvolumetric rates are charged for each customer class of each water utility that\nis in the water utility network.\n\nC. Upon the commencement of a proceeding described in subsection B, the\nCommission shall make each water utility that is a member of the applicable\nwater utility network a party to the proceeding and may review each member water\nutility&#8217;s rates. In such proceeding:\n\n   1. The Commission shall review the rates of each member of the applicable\n   water utility network and order gradual adjustments to such water\n   utility&#8217;s rates over an appropriate period in order to implement the\n   provisions of subsection B; and\n\n   2. The Commission is authorized to aggregate the revenues and costs of the\n   water utilities that are members of the applicable water utility network.\n\nHISTORY: 2017, c. 822.","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}}