                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

APPEALS IN RATE CASES (§ 56-8.2)

Any public service corporation which is required by law to file a schedule of
rates with the Commission, or the Commonwealth, or any other party in interest
or party aggrieved may appeal to the Supreme Court from any final decision or
order of the Commission concerning such rates. Upon the granting of such appeal,
the Supreme Court may award or refuse a writ of supersedeas, and, if a writ of
supersedeas be awarded, it may suspend the operation of the action appealed from
in whole or in part. Alternatively, the Supreme Court in its discretion may
authorize putting into effect of the schedule of rates so filed and suspended by
the Commission or the schedule of rates existing at the time of the filing of
the schedule upon which the investigation and hearing have been had, or require
the inauguration of the schedule of rates as ordered by the Commission, until
the final disposition of the appeal. But, prior to the final reversal by the
Supreme Court of the order appealed to the Supreme Court, no action of the
Commission prescribing or affecting rates or charges shall be delayed, or
suspended in its operation, by reason of any appeal by the party whose rates or
charges are affected, or by reason of any proceeding resulting from such appeal
until a suspending bond payable to the Commonwealth has been executed and filed
with the Commission with such conditions, in such penalty, and with such surety
thereon as the Commission, subject to review by the Supreme Court, may deem
sufficient. In any appeal from action of the Commission prescribing or affecting
the rates or charges of a public service corporation, such bond, or if no bond
is required, the order of the Supreme Court, shall expressly provide for the
prompt refunding to the parties entitled thereto of all charges which may have
been collected or received, pending the appeal, in excess of those fixed, or
authorized by the final decision on appeal, with interest from the date of the
collection thereon. But no bond shall be required of the Commonwealth. Any bond
required under this section shall be enforced in the name of the Commonwealth
before the Commission or before any court having jurisdiction, and the process
and proceedings thereon shall be as provided by law upon bonds of like character
required to be taken by courts of record of this Commonwealth.

HISTORY: 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 227.