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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64233</law_id><section_number>56-237.1</section_number><catch_line>Notification of intent to seek rate change in schedules required to be filed under &#xA7; 56-236</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>56-237</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="56">Public Service Companies</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="10">Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Services, Rates, Charges, Etc</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Every public utility, other than a public utility providing water or sewer service, that indicates upon existing required <span class="dictionary">schedules</span>, or upon new <span class="dictionary">schedules</span> required to be filed in lieu thereof, changes in <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules and regulations, shall cause to have published, once a week for four successive weeks, in one or more newspapers in circulation in its franchise area and approved by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, a notice of its intention to change its <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules and regulations. Every public utility providing water or sewer service that indicates upon existing required <span class="dictionary">schedules</span>, or upon new <span class="dictionary">schedules</span> required to be filed in lieu thereof, changes in <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules and regulations, shall cause to have published at least once in one or more newspapers in circulation in its franchise area and approved by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, a notice of its intention to change its <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules and regulations. The last such publication shall appear no less than 30 days prior to the time any changed <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules and regulations shall take effect. This notice shall be in such form and contain such information as prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>. <a id="paragraph-233840" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-237.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Every public utility that indicates upon existing required <span class="dictionary">schedules</span>, or upon new <span class="dictionary">schedules</span> required to be filed in lieu thereof, changes in <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules, and regulations shall <span class="dictionary">mail</span> to each of its customers who receive periodic statements of charges by <span class="dictionary">mail</span> or send electronically to each of its customers who receive periodic statements of charges electronically, along with its periodic invoice, bill, or other statement advising the customer of its charges, a notice of its intention to change its <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules, and regulations. This notice shall be mailed or sent electronically no less than 30 days prior to the time any such changed <span class="dictionary">rate</span>, toll, charge, rule, and regulation shall take effect. This notice shall be in such form and contain such information as prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>. <a id="paragraph-233841" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-237.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Except for public utilities providing water or sewer service, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may dispense with either or both of the requirements contained in subsections A and B if either or both such requirements are not necessary to provide adequate notice to all of the public utilities&#x2019; customers. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may prescribe additional requirements for notification to a public utility&#x2019;s customers of its intention to change its <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules, and regulations. <a id="paragraph-233842" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-237.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1976, c. 763; 2011, cc. 738, 740; 2016, cc. 191, 283.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
