{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-245.1_3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-245.1_3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-245.1_3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-245.1_3.html"}],"law_id":70183,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70183,"structure_id":14465,"section_number":"56-245.1:3","catch_line":"Disconnection suspension for utilities","history":"2024, cc. 790, 824.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section, “utility” means an electric company, a natural gas supplier, or a water supplier or wastewater service provider that is subject to the regulation of the Commission.B\n\n1. No electric utility shall disconnect from service any residential customer for the nonpayment of bills or fees (i) when the forecasted temperature low is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection or (ii) when the forecasted temperature is at or above 92 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection.2\n\nNo gas utility shall disconnect from service any residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees when the forecasted temperature low is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection.3\n\nNo water or wastewater utility shall disconnect from service any residential customer when the forecasted temperature is at or above 92 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection.4\n\nTo ascertain the projected temperature as provided in this subsection, each utility shall refer to the forecasted local temperature provided by the National Weather Service where the customer to be disconnected is located.C\n\nNo utilities shall disconnect from service any residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees on Fridays, weekends, state holidays, or the day immediately preceding a state holiday.D\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to limit utilities from voluntarily suspending scheduled disconnections during other extreme weather events, emergency conditions, or circumstances in which a utility determines such suspension necessary to protect the health and safety of its customers and the reliability of utility service in the Commonwealth. Further, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit (i) a disconnection required by the conditions of subdivision A 8 of § 56-247.1, (ii) emergency disconnections for health and safety purposes, or (iii) the occurrence of an automatic service suspension associated with prepaid utility service. Any fees or expenses incurred by a utility in complying with the requirements of this section shall be recovered by the utility.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":253444,"text":"As used in this section, “utility” means an electric company, a natural gas supplier, or a water supplier or wastewater service provider that is subject to the regulation of the Commission.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":253445,"text":"1. No electric utility shall disconnect from service any residential customer for the nonpayment of bills or fees (i) when the forecasted temperature low is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection or (ii) when the forecasted temperature is at or above 92 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B2"},"2":{"id":253446,"text":"No gas utility shall disconnect from service any residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees when the forecasted temperature low is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B3"},"3":{"id":253447,"text":"No water or wastewater utility shall disconnect from service any residential customer when the forecasted temperature is at or above 92 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"4":{"id":253448,"text":"To ascertain the projected temperature as provided in this subsection, each utility shall refer to the forecasted local temperature provided by the National Weather Service where the customer to be disconnected is located.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"C"},"5":{"id":253449,"text":"No utilities shall disconnect from service any residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees on Fridays, weekends, state holidays, or the day immediately preceding a state holiday.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"D"},"6":{"id":253450,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit utilities from voluntarily suspending scheduled disconnections during other extreme weather events, emergency conditions, or circumstances in which a utility determines such suspension necessary to protect the health and safety of its customers and the reliability of utility service in the Commonwealth. Further, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit (i) a disconnection required by the conditions of subdivision A 8 of § 56-247.1, (ii) emergency disconnections for health and safety purposes, or (iii) the occurrence of an automatic service suspension associated with prepaid utility service. Any fees or expenses incurred by a utility in complying with the requirements of this section shall be recovered by the utility.","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.; 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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.; 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This law was first created in 2024. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 790<\/a> and 824<\/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":86241,"section_number":"56-245.1:4","catch_line":"Notice procedures for nonpayment; disconnecting utility service","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-245.1_4\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":70288,"section_number":"56-247.1","catch_line":"Commission to require public utilities to follow certain procedures","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-247.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":248921,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70183,"identifier":"56-245.1:3","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-245.1_3","url":"\/56-245.1_3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-245.1_3\/","token":"56\/10\/2\/56-245.1_3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Disconnection suspension for utilities","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-245.1:3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this section, “utility<\/span>” means an electric company<\/span>, a natural gas supplier, or a water supplier or wastewater service provider that is subject to the regulation of the Commission<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> 1. No electric utility<\/span> shall disconnect from service any residential customer for the nonpayment of bills or fees (i) when the forecasted temperature low is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection or (ii) when the forecasted temperature is at or above 92 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> No gas utility<\/span> shall disconnect from service any residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees when the forecasted temperature low is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> No water or wastewater utility<\/span> shall disconnect from service any residential customer when the forecasted temperature is at or above 92 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> To ascertain the projected temperature as provided in this subsection, each utility<\/span> shall refer to the forecasted local temperature provided by the National Weather Service where the customer to be disconnected is located. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> No utilities shall disconnect from service any residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees on Fridays, weekends, state holidays, or the day immediately preceding a state holiday. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit utilities from voluntarily suspending scheduled disconnections during other extreme weather events, emergency conditions, or circumstances in which a utility<\/span> determines such suspension necessary to protect the health and safety of its customers and the reliability of utility<\/span> service in the Commonwealth. Further, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit (i) a disconnection required by the conditions of subdivision A 8 of § 56-247.1<\/a>, (ii) emergency disconnections for health and safety purposes, or (iii) the occurrence of an automatic service suspension associated with prepaid utility<\/span> service. Any fees or expenses incurred by a utility<\/span> in complying with the requirements of this section shall be recovered by the utility<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDISCONNECTION SUSPENSION FOR UTILITIES (\u00a7 56-245.1:3)\n\nA. As used in this section, “utility” means an electric company, a\nnatural gas supplier, or a water supplier or wastewater service provider that is\nsubject to the regulation of the Commission.\n\nB. 1. No electric utility shall disconnect from service any residential customer\nfor the nonpayment of bills or fees (i) when the forecasted temperature low is\nat or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled\ndisconnection or (ii) when the forecasted temperature is at or above 92 degrees\nFahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection.\n\n 2. No gas utility shall disconnect from service any residential customer for\n nonpayment of bills or fees when the forecasted temperature low is at or below\n 32 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled\n disconnection.\n\n 3. No water or wastewater utility shall disconnect from service any\n residential customer when the forecasted temperature is at or above 92 degrees\n Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection.\n\n 4. To ascertain the projected temperature as provided in this subsection, each\n utility shall refer to the forecasted local temperature provided by the\n National Weather Service where the customer to be disconnected is located.\n\nC. No utilities shall disconnect from service any residential customer for\nnonpayment of bills or fees on Fridays, weekends, state holidays, or the day\nimmediately preceding a state holiday.\n\nD. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit utilities from\nvoluntarily suspending scheduled disconnections during other extreme weather\nevents, emergency conditions, or circumstances in which a utility determines\nsuch suspension necessary to protect the health and safety of its customers and\nthe reliability of utility service in the Commonwealth. Further, nothing in this\nsection shall be construed to prohibit (i) a disconnection required by the\nconditions of subdivision A 8 of § 56-247.1, (ii) emergency disconnections\nfor health and safety purposes, or (iii) the occurrence of an automatic service\nsuspension associated with prepaid utility service. Any fees or expenses\nincurred by a utility in complying with the requirements of this section shall\nbe recovered by the utility.\n\nHISTORY: 2024, cc. 790, 824.","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}}