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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81570</law_id><section_number>56-521</section_number><catch_line>Restoring possession to utility</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="17">State Operation of Public Utilities</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Whenever the authorized representatives of any such utility shall notify the Governor, in writing, stating that the utility is in position to and can and will resume operations and render normal public service, and shall satisfy the Governor, or his designated agent of the correctness of such statement, the Governor, or such agent, upon the request of the utility management, shall restore to the <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the utility its properties and facilities. In the event that the Governor or such agent for any reason refuses such restoration of <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, the utility shall have the right to have a rule issued by the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> in the City of Richmond, or the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> thereof in vacation, to show cause why such <span class="dictionary">possession</span> should not be restored. The rule shall provide for 10 days&#x2019; notice to the Governor or such agent before cause is required to be shown. The decision of such <span class="dictionary">court</span>, or the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> thereof in vacation, on such question shall be final as to conditions then existing, but shall not be a bar to subsequent requests by the utility for restoration of <span class="dictionary">possession</span>. Nothing in this section shall be construed as denying to the Governor the right to restore <span class="dictionary">possession</span> at any time when, in his <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>, the public interest so requires.</p></section></text><history>1952, c. 696; 2005, c. 681.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
