{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-585.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-585.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-585.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-585.html"}],"law_id":66252,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66252,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585","catch_line":"Default service","history":"1999, c. 411; 2000, c. 991; 2001, c. 748; 2003, c. 885; 2004, c. 827; 2007, cc. 888, 933.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, (i) determine the components of default service and (ii) establish one or more programs making such services available to retail customers requiring them during the availability throughout the Commonwealth of customer choice for all retail customers as established pursuant to § 56-577. For purposes of this chapter, “default service” means service made available under this section to retail customers who (i) do not affirmatively select a supplier, (ii) are unable to obtain service from an alternative supplier, or (iii) have contracted with an alternative supplier who fails to perform. Availability of default service shall expire upon the expiration or termination of capped rates.B\n\nA distributor shall have the obligation and right to be the supplier of default services in its certificated service territory, and shall do so, in a safe and reliable manner, at rates determined pursuant to subsection C; however, the Commission may not require a distributor, or affiliate thereof, to provide any such services outside the territory in which such distributor provides service.C\n\nUntil the expiration or termination of capped rates, the rates for default service shall equal the capped rates established pursuant to subdivision A 2 of § 56-582.D\n\nA distribution electric cooperative, or one or more affiliates thereof, shall have the obligation and right to be the supplier of default services in its certificated service territory. A distribution electric cooperative’s rates for such default services shall be the capped rate for the duration of the capped rate period. Subsections B and C shall not apply to a distribution electric cooperative or its rates. Such default services, for the purposes of this subsection, shall include the supply of electric energy.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":240626,"text":"The Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, (i) determine the components of default service and (ii) establish one or more programs making such services available to retail customers requiring them during the availability throughout the Commonwealth of customer choice for all retail customers as established pursuant to § 56-577. For purposes of this chapter, “default service” means service made available under this section to retail customers who (i) do not affirmatively select a supplier, (ii) are unable to obtain service from an alternative supplier, or (iii) have contracted with an alternative supplier who fails to perform. Availability of default service shall expire upon the expiration or termination of capped rates.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":240627,"text":"A distributor shall have the obligation and right to be the supplier of default services in its certificated service territory, and shall do so, in a safe and reliable manner, at rates determined pursuant to subsection C; however, the Commission may not require a distributor, or affiliate thereof, to provide any such services outside the territory in which such distributor provides service.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":240628,"text":"Until the expiration or termination of capped rates, the rates for default service shall equal the capped rates established pursuant to subdivision A 2 of § 56-582.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":240629,"text":"A distribution electric cooperative, or one or more affiliates thereof, shall have the obligation and right to be the supplier of default services in its certificated service territory. A distribution electric cooperative’s rates for such default services shall be the capped rate for the duration of the capped rate period. Subsections B and C shall not apply to a distribution electric cooperative or its rates. Such default services, for the purposes of this subsection, shall include the supply of electric energy.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"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 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costs","url":"\/56-584\/","token":"56\/23\/56-584","metadata":false},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-585\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1999. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 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 5 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 2000, chapter 991<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 748<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 885<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 827<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 888<\/a> and 933<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":62210,"section_number":"56-576","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-576\/"},{"id":79838,"section_number":"56-577","catch_line":"Schedule for transition to retail competition; Commission authority; exemptions; pilot programs","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-577\/"},{"id":76009,"section_number":"56-581","catch_line":"Regulation of rates subject to Commission's jurisdiction","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-581\/"},{"id":86211,"section_number":"56-585.1:10","catch_line":"Program for electric infrastructure serving business parks","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-585.1_10\/"},{"id":86105,"section_number":"56-590","catch_line":"Divestiture, functional separation and other corporate relationships","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-590\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":79838,"section_number":"56-577","catch_line":"Schedule for transition to retail competition; Commission authority; exemptions; pilot programs","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-577\/"}],"permalink":{"id":250643,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66252,"identifier":"56-585","token":"56\/23\/56-585","url":"\/56-585\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-585\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585","dublin_core":{"Title":"Default service","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-585","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Commission<\/span> shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing<\/span>, (i) determine the components of default service<\/span> and (ii) establish one or more programs making such services available to retail customers<\/span> requiring them during the availability throughout the Commonwealth of customer choice<\/span> for all retail customers<\/span> as established pursuant to § 56-577<\/a>. For purposes of this chapter, “default service<\/span>” means service made available under this section to retail customers<\/span> who (i) do not affirmatively select a supplier<\/span>, (ii) are unable to obtain service from an alternative supplier<\/span>, or (iii) have contracted with an alternative supplier<\/span> who fails to perform. Availability of default service<\/span> shall expire upon the expiration or termination of capped rates<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A distributor<\/span> shall have the obligation and right to be the supplier<\/span> of default services<\/span> in its certificated service territory, and shall do so, in a safe and reliable manner, at rates<\/span> determined pursuant to subsection C; however, the Commission<\/span> may not require a distributor<\/span>, or affiliate<\/span> thereof, to provide any such services outside the territory in which such distributor<\/span> provides service. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Until the expiration or termination of capped rates<\/span>, the rates<\/span> for default service<\/span> shall equal the capped rates<\/span> established pursuant to subdivision A 2 of § 56-582<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> A distribution electric cooperative<\/span>, or one or more affiliates<\/span> thereof, shall have the obligation and right to be the supplier<\/span> of default services<\/span> in its certificated service territory. A distribution electric cooperative<\/span>’s rates<\/span> for such default services<\/span> shall be the capped rate<\/span> for the duration of the capped rate<\/span> period. Subsections B and C shall not apply to a distribution electric cooperative<\/span> or its rates<\/span>. Such default services<\/span>, for the purposes of this subsection, shall include the supply<\/span> of electric energy. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFAULT SERVICE (\u00a7 56-585)\n\nA. The Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, (i) determine\nthe components of default service and (ii) establish one or more programs making\nsuch services available to retail customers requiring them during the\navailability throughout the Commonwealth of customer choice for all retail\ncustomers as established pursuant to § 56-577. For purposes of this\nchapter, “default service” means service made available under this\nsection to retail customers who (i) do not affirmatively select a supplier, (ii)\nare unable to obtain service from an alternative supplier, or (iii) have\ncontracted with an alternative supplier who fails to perform. Availability of\ndefault service shall expire upon the expiration or termination of capped rates.\n\nB. A distributor shall have the obligation and right to be the supplier of\ndefault services in its certificated service territory, and shall do so, in a\nsafe and reliable manner, at rates determined pursuant to subsection C; however,\nthe Commission may not require a distributor, or affiliate thereof, to provide\nany such services outside the territory in which such distributor provides\nservice.\n\nC. Until the expiration or termination of capped rates, the rates for default\nservice shall equal the capped rates established pursuant to subdivision A 2 of\n§ 56-582.\n\nD. A distribution electric cooperative, or one or more affiliates thereof, shall\nhave the obligation and right to be the supplier of default services in its\ncertificated service territory. A distribution electric cooperative’s\nrates for such default services shall be the capped rate for the duration of the\ncapped rate period. Subsections B and C shall not apply to a distribution\nelectric cooperative or its rates. Such default services, for the purposes of\nthis subsection, shall include the supply of electric energy.\n\nHISTORY: 1999, c. 411; 2000, c. 991; 2001, c. 748; 2003, c. 885; 2004, c. 827;\n2007, 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}}