<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84775</law_id><section_number>56-231.17</section_number><catch_line>Articles of incorporation</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="56">Public Service Companies</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9.1">Utility Consumer Services Cooperatives and Utility Aggregation Cooperatives</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Utility Consumer Services Cooperatives Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The articles of incorporation mentioned in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Organization; purpose" href="/56-231.16/">56-231.16</a> shall be entitled and endorsed &#x201C;Articles of Incorporation of the&#x2026;&#x2026;.. Electric <span class="dictionary">Cooperative</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;Articles of Incorporation of the&#x2026;&#x2026;.. Utility Consumer Services <span class="dictionary">Cooperative</span>&#x201D; (the blank space being filled in with the distinguishing part of the name of the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>) and shall state: <a id="paragraph-303759" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.17/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The name of the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>, which name need not contain the word &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">corporation</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;incorporated&#x201D; but shall be such as to distinguish it from any other <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>. <a id="paragraph-303760" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.17/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To the extent it conducts regulated electric distribution operations, a reasonable designation of the territory in which such operations are principally to be conducted. <a id="paragraph-303761" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.17/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The location of its principal office and post office address thereof. <a id="paragraph-303762" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.17/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The maximum number of directors, which shall be not less than five. <a id="paragraph-303763" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.17/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The names and post office addresses of the directors who are to manage the affairs of the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span> for the first year of its existence, or until their successors are chosen. <a id="paragraph-303764" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.17/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The period, if any, limited for the duration of the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>. <a id="paragraph-303765" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.17/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> The terms and conditions upon which <span class="dictionary">persons</span> shall be admitted to membership in the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>, and in the case of a <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span> incorporating with capital stock, a statement of the maximum and minimum amount of the capital stock of the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span> and its division into shares. <a id="paragraph-303766" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.17/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> In the case of a <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span> incorporating on or after July 1, 1999, the registered office and registered agent of the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>. <a id="paragraph-303767" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.17/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The articles of incorporation may also contain any provision not inconsistent with <span class="dictionary">law</span> or the provisions of Chapters 9 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title" href="/13.1-601/">13.1-601</a> et seq.) and 10 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title" href="/13.1-801/">13.1-801</a> et seq.) of Title 13.1 which the incorporators may choose to insert for the regulation of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>; and any provision as to the plan of financial organization, or relating to the internal regulation or government of the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>, its directors and <span class="dictionary">members</span>; provided, however, that subsections D through G of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Special kinds of business" href="/13.1-620/">13.1-620</a> and subdivision 1 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Purposes" href="/13.1-825/">13.1-825</a> shall not apply to any <span class="dictionary">affiliate</span> or subsidiary of a <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>. <a id="paragraph-303768" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.17/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1999, c. 874.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
