{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-596.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-596.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-596.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-596.5.html"}],"law_id":75595,"edition_id":1,"section_id":75595,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-596.5","catch_line":"Rate increases in certain months prohibited; Phase I Utility","history":"2025, cc. 497, 597.","full_text":"A\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the rates for electric generation and distribution services by a Phase I Utility, as defined in subdivision A 1 of &#xA7; 56-585.1, shall not be increased during the months of November through February.B\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, during the months of November through February, no new rate adjustment clause shall be applied to a Phase I Utility&#8217;s residential customers&#8217; bills and no existing rate adjustment clause applicable to such customers&#8217; bills shall be increased. The Commission&#8217;s final order regarding any petition for a rate adjustment clause that results in an increase to residential customer rates, including any petition filed pursuant to subdivision A 4, 5, or 6 of &#xA7; 56-585.1 or &#xA7; 56-585.1:15, 56-585.5, or 56-585.6, issued between September 1 and December 31 shall direct that the applicable rate adjustment clause be applied to customers&#8217; bills beginning on March 1 of the following year.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":271536,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the rates for electric generation and distribution services by a Phase I Utility, as defined in subdivision A 1 of &#xA7; 56-585.1, shall not be increased during the months of November through February.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":271537,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the months of November through February, no new rate adjustment clause shall be applied to a Phase I Utility&#8217;s residential customers&#8217; bills and no existing rate adjustment clause applicable to such customers&#8217; bills shall be increased. The Commission&#8217;s final order regarding any petition for a rate adjustment clause that results in an increase to residential customer rates, including any petition filed pursuant to subdivision A 4, 5, or 6 of &#xA7; 56-585.1 or &#xA7; 56-585.1:15, 56-585.5, or 56-585.6, issued between September 1 and December 31 shall direct that the applicable rate adjustment clause be applied to customers&#8217; bills beginning on March 1 of the following year.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-596.5\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2025. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?251+ful+CHAP0497\">497<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?251+ful+CHAP0597\">597<\/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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79461,"section_number":"58.1-322.03","catch_line":"Virginia taxable income; deductions","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-322.03\/"},{"id":56970,"section_number":"58.1-402","catch_line":"Virginia taxable income","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-402\/"}],"refers_to":[{"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\/"},{"id":86919,"section_number":"56-585.1:15","catch_line":"(Effective until July 1, 2034) Recovery of development costs associated with small modular nuclear facility","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-585.1_15\/"},{"id":81665,"section_number":"56-585.5","catch_line":"Generation of electricity from renewable and zero carbon sources","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-585.5\/"},{"id":57139,"section_number":"56-585.6","catch_line":"Universal service fee; Percentage of Income Payment Program and Fund","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-585.6\/"}],"permalink":{"id":250851,"object_type":"law","relational_id":75595,"identifier":"56-596.5","token":"56\/23\/56-596.5","url":"\/56-596.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-596.5\/","token":"56\/23\/56-596.5","dublin_core":{"Title":"Rate increases in certain months prohibited; Phase I Utility","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-596.5","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span> for electric generation and distribution services by a Phase I Utility, as defined in subdivision A 1 of &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Generation, distribution, and transmission rates after capped rates terminate or expire\" href=\"\/56-585.1\/\">56-585.1<\/a>, shall not be increased during the months of November through February. <a id=\"paragraph-271536\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-596.5\/#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> Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>, during the months of November through February, no new <span class=\"dictionary\">rate<\/span> adjustment clause shall be applied to a Phase I Utility&#8217;s residential customers&#8217; bills and no existing <span class=\"dictionary\">rate<\/span> adjustment clause applicable to such customers&#8217; bills shall be increased. The <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span>&#8217;s <span class=\"dictionary\">final order<\/span> regarding any <span class=\"dictionary\">petition<\/span> for a <span class=\"dictionary\">rate<\/span> adjustment clause that results in an increase to residential customer <span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span>, including any <span class=\"dictionary\">petition<\/span> filed pursuant to subdivision A 4, 5, or 6 of &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Generation, distribution, and transmission rates after capped rates terminate or expire\" href=\"\/56-585.1\/\">56-585.1<\/a> or &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"(Effective until July 1, 2034) Recovery of development costs associated with small modular nuclear facility\" href=\"\/56-585.1_15\/\">56-585.1:15<\/a>, <a class=\"law\" title=\"Generation of electricity from renewable and zero carbon sources\" href=\"\/56-585.5\/\">56-585.5<\/a>, or <a class=\"law\" title=\"Universal service fee; Percentage of Income Payment Program and Fund\" href=\"\/56-585.6\/\">56-585.6<\/a>, issued between September 1 and December 31 shall direct that the applicable <span class=\"dictionary\">rate<\/span> adjustment clause be applied to customers&#8217; bills beginning on March 1 of the following year. <a id=\"paragraph-271537\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/56-596.5\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRATE INCREASES IN CERTAIN MONTHS PROHIBITED; PHASE I UTILITY (\u00a7 56-596.5)\n\nA. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the rates for electric generation\nand distribution services by a Phase I Utility, as defined in subdivision A 1 of\n&#xA7; 56-585.1, shall not be increased during the months of November through\nFebruary.\n\nB. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the months of November\nthrough February, no new rate adjustment clause shall be applied to a Phase I\nUtility&#8217;s residential customers&#8217; bills and no existing rate\nadjustment clause applicable to such customers&#8217; bills shall be increased.\nThe Commission&#8217;s final order regarding any petition for a rate adjustment\nclause that results in an increase to residential customer rates, including any\npetition filed pursuant to subdivision A 4, 5, or 6 of &#xA7; 56-585.1 or &#xA7;\n56-585.1:15, 56-585.5, or 56-585.6, issued between September 1 and December 31\nshall direct that the applicable rate adjustment clause be applied to\ncustomers&#8217; bills beginning on March 1 of the following year.\n\nHISTORY: 2025, cc. 497, 597.","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}}