{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-578.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-578.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-578.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-578.html"}],"law_id":66769,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66769,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-578","catch_line":"Nondiscriminatory access to transmission and distribution system","history":"1999, c. 411; 2007, cc. 888, 933.","full_text":"A\n\nAll distributors shall have the obligation to connect any retail customer, including those using distributed generation, located within its service territory to those facilities of the distributor that are used for delivery of retail electric energy, subject to Commission rules and regulations and approved tariff provisions relating to connection of service.B\n\nExcept as otherwise provided in this chapter, every distributor shall provide distribution service within its service territory on a basis which is just, reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory to suppliers of electric energy, including distributed generation, as the Commission may determine. The distribution services provided to each supplier of electric energy shall be comparable in quality to those provided by the distribution utility to itself or to any affiliate.C\n\nThe Commission shall establish interconnection standards to ensure transmission and distribution safety and reliability, which standards shall not be inconsistent with nationally recognized standards acceptable to the Commission. In adopting standards pursuant to this subsection, the Commission shall seek to prevent barriers to new technology and shall not make compliance unduly burdensome and expensive. The Commission shall determine questions about the ability of specific equipment to meet interconnection standards.D\n\nThe Commission shall consider developing expedited permitting processes for small generation facilities of fifty megawatts or less. The Commission shall also consider developing a standardized permitting process and interconnection arrangements for those power systems less than 500 kilowatts which have demonstrated approval from a nationally recognized testing laboratory acceptable to the Commission.E\n\nUpon the separation and deregulation of the generation function and services of incumbent electric utilities, the Commission shall retain jurisdiction over utilities&#8217; electric transmission function and services, to the extent not preempted by federal law. Nothing in this section shall impair the Commission&#8217;s authority under &#xA7;&#xA7; 56-46.1, 56-46.2, and 56-265.2 with respect to the construction of electric transmission facilities.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":242165,"text":"All distributors shall have the obligation to connect any retail customer, including those using distributed generation, located within its service territory to those facilities of the distributor that are used for delivery of retail electric energy, subject to Commission rules and regulations and approved tariff provisions relating to connection of service.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":242166,"text":"Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every distributor shall provide distribution service within its service territory on a basis which is just, reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory to suppliers of electric energy, including distributed generation, as the Commission may determine. The distribution services provided to each supplier of electric energy shall be comparable in quality to those provided by the distribution utility to itself or to any affiliate.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":242167,"text":"The Commission shall establish interconnection standards to ensure transmission and distribution safety and reliability, which standards shall not be inconsistent with nationally recognized standards acceptable to the Commission. In adopting standards pursuant to this subsection, the Commission shall seek to prevent barriers to new technology and shall not make compliance unduly burdensome and expensive. The Commission shall determine questions about the ability of specific equipment to meet interconnection standards.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":242168,"text":"The Commission shall consider developing expedited permitting processes for small generation facilities of fifty megawatts or less. The Commission shall also consider developing a standardized permitting process and interconnection arrangements for those power systems less than 500 kilowatts which have demonstrated approval from a nationally recognized testing laboratory acceptable to the Commission.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":242169,"text":"Upon the separation and deregulation of the generation function and services of incumbent electric utilities, the Commission shall retain jurisdiction over utilities&#8217; electric transmission function and services, to the extent not preempted by federal law. Nothing in this section shall impair the Commission&#8217;s authority under &#xA7;&#xA7; 56-46.1, 56-46.2, and 56-265.2 with respect to the construction of electric transmission facilities.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13084,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act","identifier":"23","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:15","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:15","permalink":{"id":250597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13084,"identifier":"23","token":"56\/23","url":"\/56\/23\/","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":62210,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-576","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-576\/","token":"56\/23\/56-576","metadata":false},{"id":79838,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-577","catch_line":"Schedule for transition to retail competition; Commission authority; exemptions; pilot programs","url":"\/56-577\/","token":"56\/23\/56-577","metadata":false},{"id":69790,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-577.1","catch_line":"Electric utilities; retail competition; pilot program","url":"\/56-577.1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-577.1","metadata":false},{"id":66769,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-578","catch_line":"Nondiscriminatory access to transmission and distribution system","url":"\/56-578\/","token":"56\/23\/56-578","metadata":false},{"id":76158,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-579","catch_line":"Regional transmission entities","url":"\/56-579\/","token":"56\/23\/56-579","metadata":false},{"id":77551,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-580","catch_line":"Transmission and distribution of electric energy","url":"\/56-580\/","token":"56\/23\/56-580","metadata":false},{"id":76009,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-581","catch_line":"Regulation of rates subject to Commission's jurisdiction","url":"\/56-581\/","token":"56\/23\/56-581","metadata":false},{"id":70038,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-581.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-581.1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-581.1","metadata":false},{"id":75586,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-582","catch_line":"Rate caps","url":"\/56-582\/","token":"56\/23\/56-582","metadata":false},{"id":60164,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-583","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-583\/","token":"56\/23\/56-583","metadata":false},{"id":60319,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-584","catch_line":"Stranded costs","url":"\/56-584\/","token":"56\/23\/56-584","metadata":false},{"id":66252,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585","catch_line":"Default service","url":"\/56-585\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585","metadata":false},{"id":67687,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1","catch_line":"Generation, distribution, and transmission rates after capped rates terminate or expire","url":"\/56-585.1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1","metadata":false},{"id":75688,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:1","catch_line":"Transitional Rate Period: review of rates, terms and conditions for utility generation facilities","url":"\/56-585.1_1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":86211,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:10","catch_line":"Program for electric infrastructure serving business parks","url":"\/56-585.1_10\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_10","metadata":false},{"id":82389,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:11","catch_line":"Development of offshore wind capacity","url":"\/56-585.1_11\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_11","metadata":false},{"id":82816,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:12","catch_line":"Multi-family shared solar program","url":"\/56-585.1_12\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_12","metadata":false},{"id":84410,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:13","catch_line":"Recovery of costs associated with investment in transportation electrification","url":"\/56-585.1_13\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_13","metadata":false},{"id":68074,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:14","catch_line":"(Effective until December 31, 2029) Recovery of development costs associated with small modular reactor","url":"\/56-585.1_14\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_14","metadata":false},{"id":86919,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:15","catch_line":"(Effective until July 1, 2034) Recovery of development costs associated with small modular nuclear facility","url":"\/56-585.1_15\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_15","metadata":false},{"id":54669,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:16","catch_line":"Virtual power plant pilot program","url":"\/56-585.1_16\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_16","metadata":false},{"id":68837,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:2","catch_line":"Pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization","url":"\/56-585.1_2\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_2","metadata":false},{"id":78934,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:3","catch_line":"Pilot programs for community solar development","url":"\/56-585.1_3\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_3","metadata":false},{"id":86978,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:4","catch_line":"Development of solar and wind generation and energy storage capacity in the Commonwealth","url":"\/56-585.1_4\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_4","metadata":false},{"id":75808,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:5","catch_line":"Pilot program for underground transmission lines","url":"\/56-585.1_5\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_5","metadata":false},{"id":73594,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:6","catch_line":"Pilot Programs to deploy electric power storage batteries","url":"\/56-585.1_6\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_6","metadata":false},{"id":73105,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:7","catch_line":"Pilot program for electric generation by public schools","url":"\/56-585.1_7\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_7","metadata":false},{"id":83744,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:8","catch_line":"Pilot program for municipal net energy metering","url":"\/56-585.1_8\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_8","metadata":false},{"id":78790,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:9","catch_line":"Provision of broadband capacity to unserved areas of the Commonwealth","url":"\/56-585.1_9\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_9","metadata":false},{"id":56958,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-585.2\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.2","metadata":false},{"id":87343,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.3","catch_line":"Regulation of cooperative rates after rate caps","url":"\/56-585.3\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.3","metadata":false},{"id":80324,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.4","catch_line":"Net energy metering transition provisions for electric cooperatives","url":"\/56-585.4\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.4","metadata":false},{"id":81665,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.5","catch_line":"Generation of electricity from renewable and zero carbon sources","url":"\/56-585.5\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.5","metadata":false},{"id":57139,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.6","catch_line":"Universal service fee; Percentage of Income Payment Program and Fund","url":"\/56-585.6\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.6","metadata":false},{"id":63065,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.7","catch_line":"On-bill tariff program; electric cooperatives","url":"\/56-585.7\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.7","metadata":false},{"id":84206,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.8","catch_line":"Biennial rate reviews","url":"\/56-585.8\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.8","metadata":false},{"id":78391,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-586","catch_line":"Emergency service provider","url":"\/56-586\/","token":"56\/23\/56-586","metadata":false},{"id":60930,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-586.1","catch_line":"Electric energy emergencies","url":"\/56-586.1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-586.1","metadata":false},{"id":63919,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-587","catch_line":"Licensure of retail electric energy suppliers and persons providing other competitive services","url":"\/56-587\/","token":"56\/23\/56-587","metadata":false},{"id":69085,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-588","catch_line":"Licensing of aggregators","url":"\/56-588\/","token":"56\/23\/56-588","metadata":false},{"id":57502,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-589","catch_line":"Municipal and state aggregation","url":"\/56-589\/","token":"56\/23\/56-589","metadata":false},{"id":59256,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-589.1","catch_line":"Energy generation by public school buildings and facilities","url":"\/56-589.1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-589.1","metadata":false},{"id":86105,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-590","catch_line":"Divestiture, functional separation and other corporate relationships","url":"\/56-590\/","token":"56\/23\/56-590","metadata":false},{"id":67461,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-591","catch_line":"Application of antitrust laws","url":"\/56-591\/","token":"56\/23\/56-591","metadata":false},{"id":85339,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-592","catch_line":"Consumer education and marketing practices","url":"\/56-592\/","token":"56\/23\/56-592","metadata":false},{"id":75703,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-592.1","catch_line":"Consumer education program; scope and funding","url":"\/56-592.1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-592.1","metadata":false},{"id":77066,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-593","catch_line":"Retail customers' private right of action; marketing practices","url":"\/56-593\/","token":"56\/23\/56-593","metadata":false},{"id":76060,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-594","catch_line":"Net energy metering provisions","url":"\/56-594\/","token":"56\/23\/56-594","metadata":false},{"id":74615,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-594.01","catch_line":"Net energy metering provisions for electric cooperative service territories","url":"\/56-594.01\/","token":"56\/23\/56-594.01","metadata":false},{"id":56626,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-594.01:1","catch_line":"Local facilities usage charges; electric cooperatives","url":"\/56-594.01_1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-594.01_1","metadata":false},{"id":66346,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-594.02","catch_line":"Solar-powered or wind-powered electricity generation; power purchase agreements; pilot programs","url":"\/56-594.02\/","token":"56\/23\/56-594.02","metadata":false},{"id":82596,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-594.1","catch_line":"Interconnection by farms","url":"\/56-594.1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-594.1","metadata":false},{"id":78424,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-594.2","catch_line":"Small agricultural generators","url":"\/56-594.2\/","token":"56\/23\/56-594.2","metadata":false},{"id":54132,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-594.3","catch_line":"Shared solar programs; Phase II Utility","url":"\/56-594.3\/","token":"56\/23\/56-594.3","metadata":false},{"id":80234,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-594.4","catch_line":"Shared solar programs; Phase I Utility","url":"\/56-594.4\/","token":"56\/23\/56-594.4","metadata":false},{"id":77419,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-595","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-595\/","token":"56\/23\/56-595","metadata":false},{"id":69517,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-596","catch_line":"Consideration of economic development; report","url":"\/56-596\/","token":"56\/23\/56-596","metadata":false},{"id":82462,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-596.1","catch_line":"New generating facilities utilizing energy derived from sunlight and from wind; report","url":"\/56-596.1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-596.1","metadata":false},{"id":57383,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-596.2","catch_line":"Energy efficiency policy and programs; financial assistance for low-income customers","url":"\/56-596.2\/","token":"56\/23\/56-596.2","metadata":false},{"id":80361,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-596.2:1","catch_line":"Incentives for energy conservation measures and solar energy equipment","url":"\/56-596.2_1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-596.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":70146,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-596.2:2","catch_line":"(Expires January 1, 2031) Energy efficiency savings targets for certain customers","url":"\/56-596.2_2\/","token":"56\/23\/56-596.2_2","metadata":false},{"id":71672,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-596.3","catch_line":"Electric generation, transmission, and distribution; report","url":"\/56-596.3\/","token":"56\/23\/56-596.3","metadata":false},{"id":54473,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-596.4","catch_line":"Electric utilities; local reliability data","url":"\/56-596.4\/","token":"56\/23\/56-596.4","metadata":false},{"id":75595,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-596.5","catch_line":"Rate increases in certain months prohibited; Phase I Utility","url":"\/56-596.5\/","token":"56\/23\/56-596.5","metadata":false},{"id":80765,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-596.6","catch_line":"Distribution cost sharing program","url":"\/56-596.6\/","token":"56\/23\/56-596.6","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":69790,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-577.1","catch_line":"Electric utilities; retail competition; pilot program","url":"\/56-577.1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-577.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":76158,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-579","catch_line":"Regional transmission entities","url":"\/56-579\/","token":"56\/23\/56-579","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-578\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1999. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?991+ful+CHAP0411\">411<\/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 2007, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?071+ful+CHAP0888\">888<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?071+ful+CHAP0933\">933<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82596,"section_number":"56-594.1","catch_line":"Interconnection by farms","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-594.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":75556,"section_number":"56-265.2","catch_line":"Certificate of convenience and necessity required for acquisition, etc., of new facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-265.2\/"},{"id":71170,"section_number":"56-46.1","catch_line":"Commission to consider environmental, economic, and improvements in service reliability factors in approving construction of electrical utility facilities; approval required for construction of certain electrical transmission lines; notice and hearings","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-46.1\/"},{"id":62247,"section_number":"56-46.2","catch_line":"Construction of electrical transmission lines","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-46.2\/"}],"permalink":{"id":250611,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66769,"identifier":"56-578","token":"56\/23\/56-578","url":"\/56-578\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-578\/","token":"56\/23\/56-578","dublin_core":{"Title":"Nondiscriminatory access to transmission and distribution system","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-578","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> All <span class=\"dictionary\">distributors<\/span> shall have the obligation to connect any <span class=\"dictionary\">retail customer<\/span>, including those using distributed generation, located within its service territory to those facilities of the <span class=\"dictionary\">distributor<\/span> that are used for delivery of <span class=\"dictionary\">retail electric energy<\/span>, subject to <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> rules and regulations and approved tariff provisions relating to connection of service. <a id=\"paragraph-242165\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-578\/#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> Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every <span class=\"dictionary\">distributor<\/span> shall provide distribution service within its service territory on a basis which is just, reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory to <span class=\"dictionary\">suppliers<\/span> of electric energy, including distributed generation, as the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> may determine. The distribution services provided to each <span class=\"dictionary\">supplier<\/span> of electric energy shall be comparable in quality to those provided by the distribution utility to itself or to any <span class=\"dictionary\">affiliate<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-242166\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-578\/#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> The <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> shall establish interconnection standards to ensure transmission and distribution safety and reliability, which standards shall not be inconsistent with nationally recognized standards acceptable to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span>. In adopting standards pursuant to this subsection, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> shall seek to prevent barriers to new technology and shall not make compliance unduly burdensome and expensive. The <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> shall determine questions about the ability of specific equipment to meet interconnection standards. <a id=\"paragraph-242167\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-578\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> The <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> shall consider developing expedited permitting processes for small generation facilities of fifty megawatts or less. The <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> shall also consider developing a standardized permitting process and interconnection arrangements for those power systems less than 500 kilowatts which have demonstrated approval from a nationally recognized testing laboratory acceptable to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-242168\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-578\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"E\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">E.<\/span> Upon the separation and deregulation of the generation function and services of incumbent electric utilities, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> shall retain <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> over utilities&#8217; electric transmission function and services, to the extent not preempted by federal <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>. Nothing in this section shall impair the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span>&#8217;s authority under &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Commission to consider environmental, economic, and improvements in service reliability factors in approving construction of electrical utility facilities; approval required for construction of certain electrical transmission lines; notice and hearings\" href=\"\/56-46.1\/\">56-46.1<\/a>, <a class=\"law\" title=\"Construction of electrical transmission lines\" href=\"\/56-46.2\/\">56-46.2<\/a>, and <a class=\"law\" title=\"Certificate of convenience and necessity required for acquisition, etc., of new facilities\" href=\"\/56-265.2\/\">56-265.2<\/a> with respect to the construction of electric transmission facilities. <a id=\"paragraph-242169\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-578\/#E\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nNONDISCRIMINATORY ACCESS TO TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (\u00a7 56-578)\n\nA. All distributors shall have the obligation to connect any retail customer,\nincluding those using distributed generation, located within its service\nterritory to those facilities of the distributor that are used for delivery of\nretail electric energy, subject to Commission rules and regulations and approved\ntariff provisions relating to connection of service.\n\nB. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every distributor shall provide\ndistribution service within its service territory on a basis which is just,\nreasonable, and not unduly discriminatory to suppliers of electric energy,\nincluding distributed generation, as the Commission may determine. The\ndistribution services provided to each supplier of electric energy shall be\ncomparable in quality to those provided by the distribution utility to itself or\nto any affiliate.\n\nC. The Commission shall establish interconnection standards to ensure\ntransmission and distribution safety and reliability, which standards shall not\nbe inconsistent with nationally recognized standards acceptable to the\nCommission. In adopting standards pursuant to this subsection, the Commission\nshall seek to prevent barriers to new technology and shall not make compliance\nunduly burdensome and expensive. The Commission shall determine questions about\nthe ability of specific equipment to meet interconnection standards.\n\nD. The Commission shall consider developing expedited permitting processes for\nsmall generation facilities of fifty megawatts or less. The Commission shall\nalso consider developing a standardized permitting process and interconnection\narrangements for those power systems less than 500 kilowatts which have\ndemonstrated approval from a nationally recognized testing laboratory acceptable\nto the Commission.\n\nE. Upon the separation and deregulation of the generation function and services\nof incumbent electric utilities, the Commission shall retain jurisdiction over\nutilities&#8217; electric transmission function and services, to the extent not\npreempted by federal law. Nothing in this section shall impair the\nCommission&#8217;s authority under &#xA7;&#xA7; 56-46.1, 56-46.2, and 56-265.2\nwith respect to the construction of electric transmission facilities.\n\nHISTORY: 1999, c. 411; 2007, cc. 888, 933.","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}}