{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-250.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-250.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-250.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-250.html"}],"law_id":83780,"edition_id":1,"section_id":83780,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-250","catch_line":"Commission may authorize action by public utility in time of emergency or shortage; plans","history":"1920, p. 232; Michie Code 1942, \u00a7 4072a; 1974, c. 478; 1975, c. 358.","full_text":"1\n\nWhenever it shall appear by satisfactory evidence that any public utility furnishing in this State power, heat, light or water cannot supply all of its customers the usual requirements of each by reason of strikes, accidents, want of fuel, or for any other reason, the Commission may authorize such public utility to take such action as, in the opinion of the Commission, will minimize adverse impact on the public health and safety and facilitate restoration of normal service to all customers at the earliest time practicable.2\n\nTo facilitate implementation of this section, the Commission may require any such public utility to file, as a part of the rules and regulations referred to in § 56-236, its plan for curtailment of service in such a condition of emergency or shortage. Such plans shall be considered and shall take effect in the manner provided in this chapter for the schedules of rates and charges and rules and regulations of public utilities.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":300324,"text":"Whenever it shall appear by satisfactory evidence that any public utility furnishing in this State power, heat, light or water cannot supply all of its customers the usual requirements of each by reason of strikes, accidents, want of fuel, or for any other reason, the Commission may authorize such public utility to take such action as, in the opinion of the Commission, will minimize adverse impact on the public health and safety and facilitate restoration of normal service to all customers at the earliest time practicable.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"next_prefix":"2"},"1":{"id":300325,"text":"To facilitate implementation of this section, the Commission may require any such public utility to file, as a part of the rules and regulations referred to in § 56-236, its plan for curtailment of service in such a condition of emergency or shortage. Such plans shall be considered and shall take effect in the manner provided in this chapter for the schedules of rates and charges and rules and regulations of public utilities.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13254,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Commission in Relation to Service","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13238,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","permalink":{"id":248939,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13254,"identifier":"3","token":"56\/10\/3","url":"\/56\/10\/3\/","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":54253,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-246","catch_line":"Tests and equipment therefor","url":"\/56-246\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-246","metadata":false},{"id":86344,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-247","catch_line":"Commission may change regulations, measurements, practices, services, or acts","url":"\/56-247\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-247","metadata":false},{"id":70288,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-247.1","catch_line":"Commission to require public utilities to follow certain procedures","url":"\/56-247.1\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-247.1","metadata":false},{"id":62920,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-248","catch_line":"Commission to prescribe standard units of products or service","url":"\/56-248\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-248","metadata":false},{"id":81961,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-248.1","catch_line":"Commission to monitor fuel prices and utility fuel purchases; fuel price index","url":"\/56-248.1\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-248.1","metadata":false},{"id":69021,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249","catch_line":"Reports by utilities","url":"\/56-249\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249","metadata":false},{"id":80480,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.1","catch_line":"Commission may require transfer of gas, water or electricity by one utility to another; compensation","url":"\/56-249.1\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.1","metadata":false},{"id":61474,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.2","catch_line":"Certain records to be maintained","url":"\/56-249.2\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.2","metadata":false},{"id":74508,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.3","catch_line":"Certain electric utilities to file reports in relation to fuel transactions, fuel purchases, fuel adjustment clauses, etc","url":"\/56-249.3\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.3","metadata":false},{"id":87031,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.4","catch_line":"How reports shall be filed; reports open to public; rules and regulations","url":"\/56-249.4\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.4","metadata":false},{"id":74048,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.5","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-249.5\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.5","metadata":false},{"id":55635,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.6","catch_line":"Recovery of fuel and purchased power costs","url":"\/56-249.6\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.6","metadata":false},{"id":55979,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.6:1","catch_line":"Financing for certain deferred fuel costs; Phase I Utilities.","url":"\/56-249.6_1\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.6_1","metadata":false},{"id":74921,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.6:2","catch_line":"Financing for certain deferred fuel costs; Phase II Utilities","url":"\/56-249.6_2\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.6_2","metadata":false},{"id":82532,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.7","catch_line":"Certain directors and officers of utility to file shareholder information","url":"\/56-249.7\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.7","metadata":false},{"id":55267,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.8","catch_line":"Financing for certain securitized asset costs; Phase I Utility","url":"\/56-249.8\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.8","metadata":false},{"id":83780,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-250","catch_line":"Commission may authorize action by public utility in time of emergency or shortage; plans","url":"\/56-250\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-250","metadata":false},{"id":71285,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-251","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-251\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-251","metadata":false},{"id":63602,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-253","catch_line":"Existing remedies retained","url":"\/56-253\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-253","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55267,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-249.8","catch_line":"Financing for certain securitized asset costs; Phase I Utility","url":"\/56-249.8\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-249.8","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":71285,"structure_id":13254,"section_number":"56-251","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-251\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-251","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-250\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1974, chapter 478; in 1975, chapter 358.<\/p>","references":[{"id":59777,"section_number":"56-265.13:7","catch_line":"Regulation by State Corporation Commission","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-265.13_7\/"}],"refers_to":[{"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\/"}],"permalink":{"id":249005,"object_type":"law","relational_id":83780,"identifier":"56-250","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-250","url":"\/56-250\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-250\/","token":"56\/10\/3\/56-250","dublin_core":{"Title":"Commission may authorize action by public utility in time of emergency or shortage; plans","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-250","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Whenever it shall appear by satisfactory evidence<\/span> that any public utility furnishing in this State power, heat, light or water cannot supply all of its customers the usual requirements of each by reason of strikes, accidents, want of fuel, or for any other reason, the Commission<\/span> may authorize such public utility to take such action as, in the opinion<\/span> of the Commission<\/span>, will minimize adverse impact on the public health and safety and facilitate restoration of normal service to all customers at the earliest time practicable. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> To facilitate implementation of this section, the Commission<\/span> may require any such public utility to file, as a part of the rules and regulations referred to in § 56-236<\/a>, its plan for curtailment of service in such a condition of emergency or shortage. Such plans shall be considered and shall take effect in the manner provided in this chapter for the schedules<\/span> of rates<\/span> and charges and rules and regulations of public utilities. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOMMISSION MAY AUTHORIZE ACTION BY PUBLIC UTILITY IN TIME OF EMERGENCY OR\nSHORTAGE; PLANS (\u00a7 56-250)\n\n1. Whenever it shall appear by satisfactory evidence that any public utility\nfurnishing in this State power, heat, light or water cannot supply all of its\ncustomers the usual requirements of each by reason of strikes, accidents, want\nof fuel, or for any other reason, the Commission may authorize such public\nutility to take such action as, in the opinion of the Commission, will minimize\nadverse impact on the public health and safety and facilitate restoration of\nnormal service to all customers at the earliest time practicable.\n\n2. To facilitate implementation of this section, the Commission may require any\nsuch public utility to file, as a part of the rules and regulations referred to\nin § 56-236, its plan for curtailment of service in such a condition of\nemergency or shortage. Such plans shall be considered and shall take effect in\nthe manner provided in this chapter for the schedules of rates and charges and\nrules and regulations of public utilities.\n\nHISTORY: 1920, p. 232; Michie Code 1942, \u00a7 4072a; 1974, c. 478; 1975, c. 358.","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}}