{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-466.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-466.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-466.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-466.2.html"}],"law_id":84760,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84760,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-466.2","catch_line":"Undergrounding existing overhead distribution lines; relocation of facilities of cable operator","history":"2017, c. 583; 2018, c. 296.","full_text":"When an investor-owned incumbent electric utility proposes to improve electric service reliability pursuant to clause (iv) of subdivision A 6 of \u00a7 56-585.1 by installing new underground facilities to replace the utility’s existing overhead distribution tap lines, if the utility owns the poles from which the existing overhead distribution tap lines are to be relocated and any cable operator of a cable television system, as those terms are defined in \u00a7 15.2-2108.19, has also attached its facilities to such poles, the utility shall provide written notice to the cable operator of the utility’s intention to relocate the overhead distribution tap lines not less than 90 days prior to relocating the utility’s overhead distribution lines. The cable operator shall notify the utility within 45 days of the notice of relocation whether the cable operator will relocate its facilities underground or request to remain overhead in accordance with the provisions set forth herein. If the cable operator elects to relocate its facilities underground, in such notice the cable operator may request that the utility use commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate a common shared underground easement for the facilities to be located underground of the utility and the cable operator. The cable operator shall be responsible to negotiate any additional easements that it may require. If the cable operator elects to relocate its facilities underground, the cable operator may participate with the utility in a joint relocation of the overhead lines to underground or may engage its own contractors to undertake its relocation work if it deems it appropriate to do so. The utility shall not abandon or remove the poles that the utility owns until the cable operator completes the relocation or removal of its facilities or 90 days after the completion of the relocation of the utility overhead distribution lines, whichever first occurs. If the cable operator does not elect to relocate its facilities underground and requests to maintain its facilities overhead, the utility may either (i) convey such poles “as-is” and “where-is” to the cable operator at its depreciated cost less the estimated cost of removal, provided that the cable operator may legally retain the poles that the utility intends to abandon and assumes all liability for the poles conveyed or (ii) retain ownership of its poles and allow the cable operator’s existing overhead facilities to remain attached, in which case the utility shall maintain the pole in accordance with prudent utility standards, provided that the cable operator shall continue to pay its pole attachment fees and otherwise comply with its contractual obligations pursuant to the applicable pole attachment agreement. In all cases, the cable operator shall be responsible for all costs related to the relocation or maintenance of its facilities.\n\t\tIn instances in which an investor-owned incumbent electric utility continues to own and maintain its utility poles after the overhead distribution lines of the utility formerly on such poles have been placed underground pursuant to the foregoing provisions, then for purposes of any agreement or ordinance with respect to a cable franchise under \u00a7 15.2-2108.20 or 15.2-2108.21, the utility shall not be deemed to have converted to underground.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":303714,"text":"When an investor-owned incumbent electric utility proposes to improve electric service reliability pursuant to clause (iv) of subdivision A 6 of \u00a7 56-585.1 by installing new underground facilities to replace the utility’s existing overhead distribution tap lines, if the utility owns the poles from which the existing overhead distribution tap lines are to be relocated and any cable operator of a cable television system, as those terms are defined in \u00a7 15.2-2108.19, has also attached its facilities to such poles, the utility shall provide written notice to the cable operator of the utility’s intention to relocate the overhead distribution tap lines not less than 90 days prior to relocating the utility’s overhead distribution lines. The cable operator shall notify the utility within 45 days of the notice of relocation whether the cable operator will relocate its facilities underground or request to remain overhead in accordance with the provisions set forth herein. If the cable operator elects to relocate its facilities underground, in such notice the cable operator may request that the utility use commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate a common shared underground easement for the facilities to be located underground of the utility and the cable operator. The cable operator shall be responsible to negotiate any additional easements that it may require. If the cable operator elects to relocate its facilities underground, the cable operator may participate with the utility in a joint relocation of the overhead lines to underground or may engage its own contractors to undertake its relocation work if it deems it appropriate to do so. The utility shall not abandon or remove the poles that the utility owns until the cable operator completes the relocation or removal of its facilities or 90 days after the completion of the relocation of the utility overhead distribution lines, whichever first occurs. If the cable operator does not elect to relocate its facilities underground and requests to maintain its facilities overhead, the utility may either (i) convey such poles “as-is” and “where-is” to the cable operator at its depreciated cost less the estimated cost of removal, provided that the cable operator may legally retain the poles that the utility intends to abandon and assumes all liability for the poles conveyed or (ii) retain ownership of its poles and allow the cable operator’s existing overhead facilities to remain attached, in which case the utility shall maintain the pole in accordance with prudent utility standards, provided that the cable operator shall continue to pay its pole attachment fees and otherwise comply with its contractual obligations pursuant to the applicable pole attachment agreement. In all cases, the cable operator shall be responsible for all costs related to the relocation or maintenance of its facilities.\n\t\tIn instances in which an investor-owned incumbent electric utility continues to own and maintain its utility poles after the overhead distribution lines of the utility formerly on such poles have been placed underground pursuant to the foregoing provisions, then for purposes of any agreement or ordinance with respect to a cable franchise under \u00a7 15.2-2108.20 or 15.2-2108.21, the utility shall not be deemed to have converted to underground.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15083,"edition_id":1,"name":"Erection of Lines; Rights-Of-Way; Eminent Domain, Etc","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13123,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:04","permalink":{"id":249829,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15083,"identifier":"1","token":"56\/15\/1","url":"\/56\/15\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13123,"edition_id":1,"name":"Telegraph and Telephone Companies","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:19","permalink":{"id":249827,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13123,"identifier":"15","token":"56\/15","url":"\/56\/15\/","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":84023,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-458","catch_line":"Right to erect lines parallel to railroads; occupation of roads, streets, etc.; location of same","url":"\/56-458\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-458","metadata":false},{"id":84616,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-458.1","catch_line":"Relocation of lines or works of certain public utilities acquired by Commonwealth Transportation Board","url":"\/56-458.1\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-458.1","metadata":false},{"id":76256,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-459","catch_line":"Removal of old line not required by this chapter","url":"\/56-459\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-459","metadata":false},{"id":57498,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-460","catch_line":"How consent of appropriate authorities obtained; terms of use","url":"\/56-460\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-460","metadata":false},{"id":80107,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-461","catch_line":"Cost to Commonwealth in connection with construction of line to be paid by company","url":"\/56-461\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-461","metadata":false},{"id":59741,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-462","catch_line":"Franchise to occupy parks, streets, etc.; imposition of terms, conditions, etc., as to use of streets, etc., and construction thereon","url":"\/56-462\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-462","metadata":false},{"id":65189,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-463","catch_line":"Company may contract for right-of-way, etc","url":"\/56-463\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-463","metadata":false},{"id":74298,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-464","catch_line":"Right of eminent domain","url":"\/56-464\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-464","metadata":false},{"id":58616,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-465","catch_line":"Preceding sections subject to repeal or change at pleasure","url":"\/56-465\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-465","metadata":false},{"id":87026,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-466","catch_line":"Location of posts, poles, cables and conduits; height of wires, etc","url":"\/56-466\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466","metadata":false},{"id":67753,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-466.1","catch_line":"Pole attachments; cable television systems and telecommunications service providers","url":"\/56-466.1\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466.1","metadata":false},{"id":84760,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-466.2","catch_line":"Undergrounding existing overhead distribution lines; relocation of facilities of cable operator","url":"\/56-466.2\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466.2","metadata":false},{"id":73627,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-467","catch_line":"Restoring condition of ground","url":"\/56-467\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-467","metadata":false},{"id":81178,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-468","catch_line":"Endangering life or limb by stringing wires across other works","url":"\/56-468\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-468","metadata":false},{"id":75664,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-468.1","catch_line":"(Contingent expiration -- see Editor's note) Public Rights-of-Way Use Fee","url":"\/56-468.1\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-468.1","metadata":false},{"id":72971,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-468.2","catch_line":"Reimbursement for relocation costs","url":"\/56-468.2\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-468.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":67753,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-466.1","catch_line":"Pole attachments; cable television systems and telecommunications service providers","url":"\/56-466.1\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":73627,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-467","catch_line":"Restoring condition of ground","url":"\/56-467\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-467","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-466.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2017. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 583<\/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. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2018, chapter 296<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":62043,"section_number":"15.2-2108.19","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2108.19\/"},{"id":70700,"section_number":"15.2-2108.20","catch_line":"Authority to grant negotiated cable franchises and regulate cable systems","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2108.20\/"},{"id":78140,"section_number":"15.2-2108.21","catch_line":"Ordinance cable franchises","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2108.21\/"},{"id":67687,"section_number":"56-585.1","catch_line":"Generation, distribution, and transmission rates after capped rates terminate or expire","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-585.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":249875,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84760,"identifier":"56-466.2","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466.2","url":"\/56-466.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-466.2\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Undergrounding existing overhead distribution lines; relocation of facilities of cable operator","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-466.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

When an investor-owned incumbent electric utility proposes to improve electric service reliability pursuant to clause (iv) of subdivision A 6 of \u00a7 56-585.1<\/a> by installing new underground facilities to replace the utility’s existing overhead distribution tap lines, if the utility owns the poles from which the existing overhead distribution tap lines are to be relocated and any cable operator of a cable television system, as those terms are defined in \u00a7 15.2-2108.19<\/a>, has also attached its facilities to such poles, the utility shall provide written notice to the cable operator of the utility’s intention to relocate the overhead distribution tap lines not less than 90 days prior to relocating the utility’s overhead distribution lines. The cable operator shall notify the utility within 45 days of the notice of relocation whether the cable operator will relocate its facilities underground or request to remain overhead in accordance with the provisions set forth herein. If the cable operator elects to relocate its facilities underground, in such notice the cable operator may request that the utility use commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate a common shared underground easement for the facilities to be located underground of the utility and the cable operator. The cable operator shall be responsible to negotiate any additional easements that it may require. If the cable operator elects to relocate its facilities underground, the cable operator may participate with the utility in a joint relocation of the overhead lines to underground or may engage its own contractors to undertake its relocation work if it deems it appropriate to do so. The utility shall not abandon or remove the poles that the utility owns until the cable operator completes the relocation or removal of its facilities or 90 days after the completion of the relocation of the utility overhead distribution lines, whichever first occurs. If the cable operator does not elect to relocate its facilities underground and requests to maintain its facilities overhead, the utility may either (i) convey such poles “as-is” and “where-is” to the cable operator at its depreciated cost less the estimated cost of removal, provided that the cable operator may legally retain the poles that the utility intends to abandon and assumes all liability for the poles conveyed or (ii) retain ownership of its poles and allow the cable operator’s existing overhead facilities to remain attached, in which case the utility shall maintain the pole in accordance with prudent utility standards, provided that the cable operator shall continue to pay its pole attachment<\/span> fees and otherwise comply with its contractual obligations pursuant to the applicable pole attachment<\/span> agreement. In all cases, the cable operator shall be responsible for all costs related to the relocation or maintenance of its facilities.\n\t\tIn instances in which an investor-owned incumbent electric utility continues to own and maintain its utility poles after the overhead distribution lines of the utility formerly on such poles have been placed underground pursuant to the foregoing provisions, then for purposes of any agreement or ordinance<\/span> with respect to a cable franchise under \u00a7 15.2-2108.20<\/a> or 15.2-2108.21<\/a>, the utility shall not be deemed to have converted to underground.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUNDERGROUNDING EXISTING OVERHEAD DISTRIBUTION LINES; RELOCATION OF FACILITIES OF\nCABLE OPERATOR (\u00a7 56-466.2)\n\nWhen an investor-owned incumbent electric utility proposes to improve electric\nservice reliability pursuant to clause (iv) of subdivision A 6 of \u00a7 56-585.1 by\ninstalling new underground facilities to replace the utility’s existing\noverhead distribution tap lines, if the utility owns the poles from which the\nexisting overhead distribution tap lines are to be relocated and any cable\noperator of a cable television system, as those terms are defined in \u00a7\n15.2-2108.19, has also attached its facilities to such poles, the utility shall\nprovide written notice to the cable operator of the utility’s intention to\nrelocate the overhead distribution tap lines not less than 90 days prior to\nrelocating the utility’s overhead distribution lines. The cable operator\nshall notify the utility within 45 days of the notice of relocation whether the\ncable operator will relocate its facilities underground or request to remain\noverhead in accordance with the provisions set forth herein. If the cable\noperator elects to relocate its facilities underground, in such notice the cable\noperator may request that the utility use commercially reasonable efforts to\nnegotiate a common shared underground easement for the facilities to be located\nunderground of the utility and the cable operator. The cable operator shall be\nresponsible to negotiate any additional easements that it may require. If the\ncable operator elects to relocate its facilities underground, the cable operator\nmay participate with the utility in a joint relocation of the overhead lines to\nunderground or may engage its own contractors to undertake its relocation work\nif it deems it appropriate to do so. The utility shall not abandon or remove the\npoles that the utility owns until the cable operator completes the relocation or\nremoval of its facilities or 90 days after the completion of the relocation of\nthe utility overhead distribution lines, whichever first occurs. If the cable\noperator does not elect to relocate its facilities underground and requests to\nmaintain its facilities overhead, the utility may either (i) convey such poles\n“as-is” and “where-is” to the cable operator at its\ndepreciated cost less the estimated cost of removal, provided that the cable\noperator may legally retain the poles that the utility intends to abandon and\nassumes all liability for the poles conveyed or (ii) retain ownership of its\npoles and allow the cable operator’s existing overhead facilities to\nremain attached, in which case the utility shall maintain the pole in accordance\nwith prudent utility standards, provided that the cable operator shall continue\nto pay its pole attachment fees and otherwise comply with its contractual\nobligations pursuant to the applicable pole attachment agreement. In all cases,\nthe cable operator shall be responsible for all costs related to the relocation\nor maintenance of its facilities.\n\t\tIn instances in which an investor-owned incumbent electric utility continues\nto own and maintain its utility poles after the overhead distribution lines of\nthe utility formerly on such poles have been placed underground pursuant to the\nforegoing provisions, then for purposes of any agreement or ordinance with\nrespect to a cable franchise under \u00a7 15.2-2108.20 or 15.2-2108.21, the utility\nshall not be deemed to have converted to underground.\n\nHISTORY: 2017, c. 583; 2018, c. 296.","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}}