<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80068</law_id><section_number>56-238</section_number><catch_line>Suspension of proposed rates, etc.; investigation; effectiveness of rates pending investigation and subject to bond; fixing reasonable rates, etc</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="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><p>The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, either upon complaint or on its own <span class="dictionary">motion</span>, may suspend the enforcement of any or all of the proposed <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules or regulations for <span class="dictionary">schedules</span> required to be filed under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Public utilities required to file schedules of rates and charges; rules and regulations; when detariffing of telephone services to be permitted" href="/56-236/">56-236</a> of any public utility, except an investor-owned electric public utility, for a period not exceeding 150 days, or if the public utility is an investor-owned water utility not subject to Chapter 10.2:1 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Short title" href="/56-265.13_1/">56-265.13:1</a> et seq.) for a period not exceeding 180 days, from the date of filing, and the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall suspend the enforcement of all of the proposed <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules or regulations of an investor-owned electric public utility until the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">final order</span> in the proceeding, during which times the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall investigate the reasonableness or justice of such proposed <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules and regulations and thereupon fix and order substituted therefor such <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules and regulations as shall be just and reasonable. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">final order</span> in such a proceeding involving an investor-owned electric public utility that is filed after January 1, 2010, shall be entered not more than nine months after the date of filing, at which time the suspension period shall expire, and any revisions in <span class="dictionary">rates</span> or credits so ordered shall take effect not more than 60 days after the date of the order. Notice of the suspension of any such proposed <span class="dictionary">rate</span>, toll, charge, rule or regulation shall be given by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to the public utility, prior to the expiration of the 30 days&#x2019; notice to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> and the public heretofore provided for. If the proceeding has not been concluded and an order made at the expiration of the suspension period, after notice to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> by the public utility making the filing, the proposed <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls, charges, rules or regulations shall go into effect. Where increased <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls or charges are thus made effective, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall, by order, require the public utility to furnish a <span class="dictionary">bond</span>, to be approved by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, to refund any amounts ordered by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, to keep accurate accounts in detail of all amounts received by reason of such increase, and upon completion of the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and decision, to order such public utility to refund, with interest at a <span class="dictionary">rate</span> set by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, the portion of such increased <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, tolls or charges by its decision found not justified. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall prescribe all necessary rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this section on or before September 1, 1980. This section shall not apply to proceedings conducted pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Temporary increase in rates" href="/56-245/">56-245</a> or <a class="law" title="Recovery of fuel and purchased power costs" href="/56-249.6/">56-249.6</a>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 4066; 1918, p. 674; 1924, p. 539; 1927, p. 123; 1980, c. 446; 2010, cc. 1, 2; 2011, cc. 738, 740; 2017, c. 619.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
