{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-265.13_6.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-265.13_6.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-265.13_6.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-265.13_6.html"}],"law_id":71074,"edition_id":1,"section_id":71074,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:6","catch_line":"Public hearing on application; prohibition of multiple rate increases within any 12-month period","history":"1986, c. 323; 1990, cc. 410, 431; 1994, c. 313; 1996, c. 15; 2003, c. 385.","full_text":"A\n\nUpon application to the Commission by at least 25 percent of all customers affected by a rate change or by 250 affected customers, whichever number is lesser, or by the small water or sewer utility itself, or by the Commission, upon its own motion, a hearing shall be held after at least 30 days’ notice to the small water or sewer utility and to its customers. The Commission may order such improvements or changes in service, measurements, practices, acts, rates, charges, fees, and rules and regulations of such utility as are just and reasonable.\n\t\t\tWhen a hearing is ordered, the Commission shall have the authority to suspend such rates, charges, fees, and rules and regulations for no more than 60 days or to declare them to be interim, or both. Interim rates, fees, and charges shall be subject to refund with interest until such time as the Commission has made its final determination in the proceeding. Upon completion of the hearing and decision, the Commission may order such public utility to refund, with interest at a rate set by the Commission, the portion of such rates, charges, or fees found not justified by its decision.B\n\nA small water or sewer utility shall not implement an increase in the utility’s rates or charges more than once within any 12-month period. This limitation shall not prohibit applications for increases in rates or charges pursuant to § 56-245.C\n\nIf the change in rates, fees, and charges results in an increase of 50 percent or greater of the small water or sewer utility’s annual revenues, the small water or sewer utility shall file the financial data required by the Commission’s rules under this chapter simultaneously with providing notice of such change as prescribed by subsection B of § 56-265.13:5, and, if a hearing is ordered, the Commission shall expedite the hearing on the change in rates, fees, and charges. The Commission shall also direct that the funds produced by the increase in rates, fees, and charges shall be held in escrow by the small water or sewer utility until the Commission has rendered its decision, at which time the funds held in escrow shall either be released to the small water or sewer utility or refunded to its customers. The Commission may, however, allow the funds held in escrow to be used as necessary to comply with environmental or health laws or regulations or to allow the small water or sewer utility to provide adequate service to its customers.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":256284,"text":"Upon application to the Commission by at least 25 percent of all customers affected by a rate change or by 250 affected customers, whichever number is lesser, or by the small water or sewer utility itself, or by the Commission, upon its own motion, a hearing shall be held after at least 30 days’ notice to the small water or sewer utility and to its customers. The Commission may order such improvements or changes in service, measurements, practices, acts, rates, charges, fees, and rules and regulations of such utility as are just and reasonable.\n\t\t\tWhen a hearing is ordered, the Commission shall have the authority to suspend such rates, charges, fees, and rules and regulations for no more than 60 days or to declare them to be interim, or both. Interim rates, fees, and charges shall be subject to refund with interest until such time as the Commission has made its final determination in the proceeding. Upon completion of the hearing and decision, the Commission may order such public utility to refund, with interest at a rate set by the Commission, the portion of such rates, charges, or fees found not justified by its decision.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":256285,"text":"A small water or sewer utility shall not implement an increase in the utility’s rates or charges more than once within any 12-month period. This limitation shall not prohibit applications for increases in rates or charges pursuant to § 56-245.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":256286,"text":"If the change in rates, fees, and charges results in an increase of 50 percent or greater of the small water or sewer utility’s annual revenues, the small water or sewer utility shall file the financial data required by the Commission’s rules under this chapter simultaneously with providing notice of such change as prescribed by subsection B of § 56-265.13:5, and, if a hearing is ordered, the Commission shall expedite the hearing on the change in rates, fees, and charges. The Commission shall also direct that the funds produced by the increase in rates, fees, and charges shall be held in escrow by the small water or sewer utility until the Commission has rendered its decision, at which time the funds held in escrow shall either be released to the small water or sewer utility or refunded to its customers. The Commission may, however, allow the funds held in escrow to be used as necessary to comply with environmental or health laws or regulations or to allow the small water or sewer utility to provide adequate service to its customers.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15641,"edition_id":1,"name":"Small Water or Sewer Public Utility Act","identifier":"10.2:1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:57:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:57:17","permalink":{"id":249227,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15641,"identifier":"10.2:1","token":"56\/10.2%3A1","url":"\/56\/10.2%3A1\/","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":62103,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:1","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/56-265.13_1\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_1","metadata":false},{"id":61814,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:2","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-265.13_2\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_2","metadata":false},{"id":70343,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:3","catch_line":"Applicability of chapter","url":"\/56-265.13_3\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_3","metadata":false},{"id":80748,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:4","catch_line":"Rates and services","url":"\/56-265.13_4\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_4","metadata":false},{"id":65971,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:5","catch_line":"Notice of rate changes","url":"\/56-265.13_5\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_5","metadata":false},{"id":71074,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:6","catch_line":"Public hearing on application; prohibition of multiple rate increases within any 12-month period","url":"\/56-265.13_6\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_6","metadata":false},{"id":71631,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:6.1","catch_line":"Appointment of receiver; penalty","url":"\/56-265.13_6.1\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_6.1","metadata":false},{"id":59777,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:7","catch_line":"Regulation by State Corporation Commission","url":"\/56-265.13_7\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_7","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":65971,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:5","catch_line":"Notice of rate changes","url":"\/56-265.13_5\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_5","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":71631,"structure_id":15641,"section_number":"56-265.13:6.1","catch_line":"Appointment of receiver; penalty","url":"\/56-265.13_6.1\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_6.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-265.13:6\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1986. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 323 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1986 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1990, chapters 410 and 431; in 1994, chapter 313<\/a>; in 1996, chapter 15<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 385<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":80748,"section_number":"56-265.13:4","catch_line":"Rates and services","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-265.13_4\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":65971,"section_number":"56-265.13:5","catch_line":"Notice of rate changes","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-265.13_5\/"}],"permalink":{"id":249249,"object_type":"law","relational_id":71074,"identifier":"56-265.13:6","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_6","url":"\/56-265.13_6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-265.13_6\/","token":"56\/10.2%3A1\/56-265.13_6","dublin_core":{"Title":"Public hearing on application; prohibition of multiple rate increases within any 12-month period","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-265.13:6","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Upon application to the Commission<\/span> by at least 25 percent of all customers affected by a rate<\/span> change or by 250 affected customers, whichever number is lesser, or by the small water or sewer utility itself, or by the Commission<\/span>, upon its own motion<\/span>, a hearing<\/span> shall be held after at least 30 days’ notice to the small water or sewer utility and to its customers. The Commission<\/span> may order<\/span> such improvements or changes in service<\/span>, measurements, practices, acts, rates<\/span>, charges, fees, and rules and regulations of such utility as are just and reasonable.\n\t\t\tWhen a hearing<\/span> is ordered, the Commission<\/span> shall have the authority to suspend such rates<\/span>, charges, fees, and rules and regulations for no more than 60 days or to declare them to be interim, or both. Interim rates<\/span>, fees, and charges shall be subject to refund with interest until such time as the Commission<\/span> has made its final determination in the proceeding. Upon completion of the hearing<\/span> and decision, the Commission<\/span> may order<\/span> such public utility to refund, with interest at a rate<\/span> set by the Commission<\/span>, the portion of such rates<\/span>, charges, or fees found not justified by its decision. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A small water or sewer utility shall not implement an increase in the utility’s rates<\/span> or charges more than once within any 12-month period. This limitation shall not prohibit applications for increases in rates<\/span> or charges pursuant to § 56-245<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If the change in rates<\/span>, fees, and charges results in an increase of 50 percent or greater of the small water or sewer utility’s annual revenues, the small water or sewer utility shall file the financial data required by the Commission<\/span>’s rules under this chapter simultaneously with providing notice of such change as prescribed by subsection B of § 56-265.13:5<\/a>, and, if a hearing<\/span> is ordered, the Commission<\/span> shall expedite the hearing<\/span> on the change in rates<\/span>, fees, and charges. The Commission<\/span> shall also direct that the funds produced by the increase in rates<\/span>, fees, and charges shall be held in escrow by the small water or sewer utility until the Commission<\/span> has rendered its decision, at which time the funds held in escrow shall either be released to the small water or sewer utility or refunded to its customers. The Commission<\/span> may, however, allow the funds held in escrow to be used as necessary to comply with environmental or health laws<\/span> or regulations or to allow the small water or sewer utility to provide adequate service<\/span> to its customers. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPUBLIC HEARING ON APPLICATION; PROHIBITION OF MULTIPLE RATE INCREASES WITHIN ANY\n12-MONTH PERIOD (\u00a7 56-265.13:6)\n\nA. Upon application to the Commission by at least 25 percent of all customers\naffected by a rate change or by 250 affected customers, whichever number is\nlesser, or by the small water or sewer utility itself, or by the Commission,\nupon its own motion, a hearing shall be held after at least 30 days’\nnotice to the small water or sewer utility and to its customers. The Commission\nmay order such improvements or changes in service, measurements, practices,\nacts, rates, charges, fees, and rules and regulations of such utility as are\njust and reasonable.\n\t\t\tWhen a hearing is ordered, the Commission shall have the authority to suspend\nsuch rates, charges, fees, and rules and regulations for no more than 60 days or\nto declare them to be interim, or both. Interim rates, fees, and charges shall\nbe subject to refund with interest until such time as the Commission has made\nits final determination in the proceeding. Upon completion of the hearing and\ndecision, the Commission may order such public utility to refund, with interest\nat a rate set by the Commission, the portion of such rates, charges, or fees\nfound not justified by its decision.\n\nB. A small water or sewer utility shall not implement an increase in the\nutility’s rates or charges more than once within any 12-month period. This\nlimitation shall not prohibit applications for increases in rates or charges\npursuant to § 56-245.\n\nC. If the change in rates, fees, and charges results in an increase of 50\npercent or greater of the small water or sewer utility’s annual revenues,\nthe small water or sewer utility shall file the financial data required by the\nCommission’s rules under this chapter simultaneously with providing notice\nof such change as prescribed by subsection B of § 56-265.13:5, and, if a\nhearing is ordered, the Commission shall expedite the hearing on the change in\nrates, fees, and charges. The Commission shall also direct that the funds\nproduced by the increase in rates, fees, and charges shall be held in escrow by\nthe small water or sewer utility until the Commission has rendered its decision,\nat which time the funds held in escrow shall either be released to the small\nwater or sewer utility or refunded to its customers. The Commission may,\nhowever, allow the funds held in escrow to be used as necessary to comply with\nenvironmental or health laws or regulations or to allow the small water or sewer\nutility to provide adequate service to its customers.\n\nHISTORY: 1986, c. 323; 1990, cc. 410, 431; 1994, c. 313; 1996, c. 15; 2003, c.\n385.","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}}