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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72128</law_id><section_number>56-231.23</section_number><catch_line>General powers granted</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><p>Each <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span> formed under this article shall have power to do any and all lawful acts or things including, but not limited to the power:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To produce, generate, gather, store, transport, transmit, distribute, buy and sell <span class="dictionary">energy</span> and <span class="dictionary">energy</span>-related products. <a id="paragraph-259877" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To sue and be sued. <a id="paragraph-259878" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> To have a seal and alter the same at pleasure. <a id="paragraph-259879" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> To <span class="dictionary">acquire</span>, hold and dispose of property, real and personal, tangible and intangible, or interests therein and to pay therefor in cash or property or on credit, and to secure and procure payment of all or any part of the purchase price thereof on such terms and conditions as the <span class="dictionary">board</span> shall determine. <a id="paragraph-259880" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> To render service and to <span class="dictionary">acquire</span>, own, operate, maintain and <span class="dictionary">improve</span> a <span class="dictionary">system</span> or <span class="dictionary">systems</span>. <a id="paragraph-259881" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> To accept gifts or grants of money or of property, real or personal, from any <span class="dictionary">person</span>, <span class="dictionary">municipality</span> or <span class="dictionary">federal agency</span> and to accept voluntary or uncompensated services. <a id="paragraph-259882" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> To sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise encumber or dispose of all or any parts of its property, as hereinafter provided. <a id="paragraph-259883" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> To <span class="dictionary">contract</span> debts, borrow money and to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> or assume the payment of <span class="dictionary">bonds</span>, and other <span class="dictionary">obligations</span>. <a id="paragraph-259884" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> To fix, maintain and collect reasonable fees, rents, tolls and other charges for service rendered. <a id="paragraph-259885" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> To exercise, with respect to its providing regulated utility service, all the powers set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Powers" href="/56-49/">56-49</a>, including the power of eminent domain as prescribed for other <span class="dictionary">public service corporations</span> by general <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-259886" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> To assist its <span class="dictionary">members</span> and nonmember customers, by loans or otherwise, in the acquisition by them of such installation and wiring, and the obtaining of such machinery, equipment and appliances, as will enable them to secure the greatest benefit from the use of <span class="dictionary">utility services</span> supplied by the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>. <a id="paragraph-259887" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="12"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> To <span class="dictionary">issue</span> nonassessable nonvoting common and preferred capital stock or similar securities and pay dividends thereon. <a id="paragraph-259888" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="13"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> To become a <span class="dictionary">member</span> or stockholder in one or more other <span class="dictionary">cooperatives</span> or corporations created to engage in any business not prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, including, but not limited to, other types of <span class="dictionary">public service company</span> business. <a id="paragraph-259889" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="14"><p><span class="prefix-number">14.</span> To perform any and all of the foregoing acts and do any and all of the foregoing things under, through or by means of its own officers, agents and employees, or by <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> with any <span class="dictionary">person</span>, <span class="dictionary">federal agency</span> or <span class="dictionary">municipality</span>. <a id="paragraph-259890" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-231.23/#14"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1999, c. 874; 2000, cc. 944, 999.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
