{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/56-265.4_7.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/56-265.4_7.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/56-265.4_7.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/56-265.4_7.html"}],"law_id":370293,"edition_id":2,"section_id":370293,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.4:7","catch_line":"Discontinuing natural gas service; municipal corporation","history":"2022, Sp. Sess. I, c. 17.","full_text":"A\n\nNo municipal corporation that provides natural gas service shall discontinue such service to any residential, commercial, or industrial customer prior to satisfying the following requirements:\n\n1\n\nProvide at least three years’ notice, both by bill insert and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the municipal corporation provides service, of the municipal corporation’s intention to discontinue service;\n\n2\n\nFor two years following the publication of notice required by subdivision 1, attempt to negotiate the sale of its system facilities and associated rights such that service to its customers remains uninterrupted; and\n\n3\n\nIf such sale as described in subdivision 2 is not accomplished within two years following the publication of notice required by subdivision 1, the municipal corporation may offer its system facilities and associated rights by auction to the highest bidder.\n\nB\n\nA municipal corporation that is seeking to discontinue natural gas service shall advise its customers by bill insert of its progress in effecting a sale of its system facilities and associated rights at least once annually following the publication of the notice required by subdivision A 1. Copies of the initial publication of such notice and of all subsequent bill inserts relating to discontinuing service and sale of system facilities by a municipal corporation shall be provided to the Commission at the time they are made.\n\nC\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to limit the rights of a municipal corporation that provides natural gas service from discontinuing service to a particular customer as the result of nonpayment of fees for services provided or any cause otherwise permitted by law or regulation.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1381452,"text":"No municipal corporation that provides natural gas service shall discontinue such service to any residential, commercial, or industrial customer prior to satisfying the following requirements:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":1381453,"text":"Provide at least three years’ notice, both by bill insert and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the municipal corporation provides service, of the municipal corporation’s intention to discontinue service;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":1381454,"text":"For two years following the publication of notice required by subdivision 1, attempt to negotiate the sale of its system facilities and associated rights such that service to its customers remains uninterrupted; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":1381455,"text":"If such sale as described in subdivision 2 is not accomplished within two years following the publication of notice required by subdivision 1, the municipal corporation may offer its system facilities and associated rights by auction to the highest bidder.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"B"},"4":{"id":1381456,"text":"A municipal corporation that is seeking to discontinue natural gas service shall advise its customers by bill insert of its progress in effecting a sale of its system facilities and associated rights at least once annually following the publication of the notice required by subdivision A 1. Copies of the initial publication of such notice and of all subsequent bill inserts relating to discontinuing service and sale of system facilities by a municipal corporation shall be provided to the Commission at the time they are made.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"C"},"5":{"id":1381457,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the rights of a municipal corporation that provides natural gas service from discontinuing service to a particular customer as the result of nonpayment of fees for services provided or any cause otherwise permitted by law or regulation.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52729,"edition_id":2,"name":"Utility Facilities Act","identifier":"10.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":52702,"metadata":{"child_laws":19,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:03:46","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:36","permalink":{"id":1476129,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52729,"identifier":"10.1","token":"56\/10.1","url":"\/56\/10.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52702,"edition_id":2,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":121,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":710,"child_structures":93},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:03:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:34","permalink":{"id":1475475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52702,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":370239,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-265.1\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.1","metadata":false},{"id":370265,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.2","catch_line":"Certificate of convenience and necessity required for acquisition, etc., of new facilities","url":"\/56-265.2\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.2","metadata":false},{"id":370280,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.2:1","catch_line":"Approval by Commission required for construction of certain gas pipelines and related facilities; notice and hearing","url":"\/56-265.2_1\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":370281,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.3","catch_line":"Certificate to furnish public utility service; allotment of territory transfers, leases or amendments","url":"\/56-265.3\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.3","metadata":false},{"id":370285,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.3:1","catch_line":"Certificates to furnish water and sewer service","url":"\/56-265.3_1\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.3_1","metadata":false},{"id":370286,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.4","catch_line":"Certificate to operate in territory of another certificate holder","url":"\/56-265.4\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4","metadata":false},{"id":370287,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.4:1","catch_line":"Furnishing of electric public utility service or provision of facilities therefor by municipal corporations and other governmental bodies","url":"\/56-265.4_1\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":370288,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.4:2","catch_line":"Extension of service by cities and towns into annexed areas","url":"\/56-265.4_2\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4_2","metadata":false},{"id":370289,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.4:3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.4_3\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4_3","metadata":false},{"id":370290,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.4:4","catch_line":"Certificate to operate as a telephone utility","url":"\/56-265.4_4\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4_4","metadata":false},{"id":370291,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.4:5","catch_line":"Furnishing gas service to commercial and industrial customers in an area not certificated for public utility gas service","url":"\/56-265.4_5\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4_5","metadata":false},{"id":370292,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.4:6","catch_line":"Furnishing non-utility gas service","url":"\/56-265.4_6\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4_6","metadata":false},{"id":370293,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.4:7","catch_line":"Discontinuing natural gas service; municipal corporation","url":"\/56-265.4_7\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4_7","metadata":false},{"id":370294,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.5","catch_line":"Effective date of certificates","url":"\/56-265.5\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.5","metadata":false},{"id":370295,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.6","catch_line":"Penalties for misrepresentations, violations of law, regulations or terms of certificates","url":"\/56-265.6\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.6","metadata":false},{"id":370296,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.7","catch_line":"Appeal from order of revocations, etc","url":"\/56-265.7\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.7","metadata":false},{"id":370297,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.8","catch_line":"Proceedings before Commission on or before July 1, 1950","url":"\/56-265.8\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.8","metadata":false},{"id":370298,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.8:1","catch_line":"Inspection and approval of certain installations not regulated pursuant to this chapter","url":"\/56-265.8_1\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.8_1","metadata":false},{"id":370299,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.9","catch_line":"Title of chapter","url":"\/56-265.9\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":370292,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.4:6","catch_line":"Furnishing non-utility gas service","url":"\/56-265.4_6\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4_6","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":370294,"structure_id":52729,"section_number":"56-265.5","catch_line":"Effective date of certificates","url":"\/56-265.5\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.5","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-265.4:7\/","history_text":false,"references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1476179,"object_type":"law","relational_id":370293,"identifier":"56-265.4:7","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4_7","url":"\/56-265.4_7\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-265.4_7\/","token":"56\/10.1\/56-265.4_7","dublin_core":{"Title":"Discontinuing natural gas service; municipal corporation","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-265.4:7","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> No municipal corporation<\/span> that provides natural gas service shall discontinue such service to any residential, commercial, or industrial customer prior to satisfying the following requirements: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Provide at least three years’ notice, both by bill insert and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the municipal corporation<\/span> provides service, of the municipal corporation<\/span>’s intention to discontinue service; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> For two years following the publication of notice required by subdivision 1, attempt to negotiate the sale of its system facilities and associated rights such that service to its customers remains uninterrupted; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> If such sale as described in subdivision 2 is not accomplished within two years following the publication of notice required by subdivision 1, the municipal corporation<\/span> may offer its system facilities and associated rights by auction to the highest bidder. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A municipal corporation<\/span> that is seeking to discontinue natural gas service shall advise its customers by bill insert of its progress in effecting a sale of its system facilities and associated rights at least once annually following the publication of the notice required by subdivision A 1. Copies of the initial publication of such notice and of all subsequent bill inserts relating to discontinuing service and sale of system facilities by a municipal corporation<\/span> shall be provided to the Commission<\/span> at the time they are made. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the rights of a municipal corporation<\/span> that provides natural gas service from discontinuing service to a particular customer as the result of nonpayment of fees for services provided or any cause otherwise permitted by law<\/span> or regulation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDISCONTINUING NATURAL GAS SERVICE; MUNICIPAL CORPORATION (\u00a7 56-265.4:7)\n\nA. No municipal corporation that provides natural gas service shall discontinue\nsuch service to any residential, commercial, or industrial customer prior to\nsatisfying the following requirements:\n\n 1. Provide at least three years’ notice, both by bill insert and by\n publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the\n municipal corporation provides service, of the municipal corporation’s\n intention to discontinue service;\n\n 2. For two years following the publication of notice required by subdivision\n 1, attempt to negotiate the sale of its system facilities and associated\n rights such that service to its customers remains uninterrupted; and\n\n 3. If such sale as described in subdivision 2 is not accomplished within two\n years following the publication of notice required by subdivision 1, the\n municipal corporation may offer its system facilities and associated rights by\n auction to the highest bidder.\n\nB. A municipal corporation that is seeking to discontinue natural gas service\nshall advise its customers by bill insert of its progress in effecting a sale of\nits system facilities and associated rights at least once annually following the\npublication of the notice required by subdivision A 1. Copies of the initial\npublication of such notice and of all subsequent bill inserts relating to\ndiscontinuing service and sale of system facilities by a municipal corporation\nshall be provided to the Commission at the time they are made.\n\nC. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the rights of a municipal\ncorporation that provides natural gas service from discontinuing service to a\nparticular customer as the result of nonpayment of fees for services provided or\nany cause otherwise permitted by law or regulation.\n\nHISTORY: 2022, Sp. Sess. I, c. 17.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}