Virginia 2017 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 1014 — Water public utilities; rate increases.

Last action — Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2017 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

25 added · 78 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill SB 1014 establishes a new rule that prevents water utilities from increasing customer rates through surcharges for infrastructure replacement unless specifically approved by the Commission. Previously, there was a section in the bill that has now been removed, but the essential principle remains the same. This change is significant because it aims to protect consumers from unexpected rate hikes while ensuring that any increases are carefully regulated and justified.

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SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version 17102150D SENATE BILL NO.
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version 17104659D SENATE BILL NO.
1014 Offered January 11, 2017 Prefiled January 4, 2017 A BILL to amend and reenact § 56-265.13:4 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 56-262.1, relating to water public utilities;
1014 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor on January 30, 2017) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Ebbin) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 56-262.1, relating to water public utilities;
---------- Patron-- Ebbin ---------- Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor ---------- Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
That § 56-265.13:4 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 56-262.1 as follows:
That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 56-262.1 as follows:
§ 56-265.13:4.
Rates and services.
A.
A small water or sewer utility shall be required to furnish reasonably adequate services and facilities, subject to the regulation of the Commission.
The charges made by any small water or sewer utility for any service rendered shall be (i) uniform as to all persons or corporations using such service under like conditions and (ii) nondiscriminatory, reasonable and just.
Every charge for service found to be otherwise shall be unlawful.
Reasonable and just charges for service within the meaning of this section shall be the lowest charges as shall produce sufficient revenues to pay all lawful and necessary expenses incident to:
1.
The operation of the system, including maintenance costs, operating charges, and interest charges on bonds or other obligations;
2.
The providing for the liquidation of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness and the attraction of capital;
3.
The providing of adequate funds to be used as working capital, as well as reasonable reserves and funds for making replacements, which may be escrowed and used only as working capital if the Commission so directs as a result of a proceeding conducted pursuant to § 56-265.13:6;
4.
The providing for the payment of taxes that may be assessed against the small water or sewer utility or its property;
and 5.
Compensation of owners of the utility for their capital or property invested in the system, if any, and for their time and other resources expended in the operation of the system not otherwise recovered under subdivisions 1 through 4 of this section.
B.
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary:
1.
The Commission shall not authorize a small water utility to increase the approved rates, fees, or charges that the utility is authorized by the Commission to charge its customers for service through the use of a surcharge for non-revenue-generating infrastructure replacement or similar surcharge pursuant to which the utility utilizes an automatic rate adjustment feature to increase its rates, fees, or charges;
and 2.
The rates, fees, and charges that the Commission has approved for a small water utility to charge its customers for service shall not be authorized to increase above the amounts thereof that have been specified in an order of the Commission unless the Commission specifically increases such amounts in an order entered by the Commission following a hearing conducted as provided in § 56-265.13:6.
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Action History

  1. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

  2. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102150D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 1014?
SB 1014 is sponsored by Adam P. Ebbin.
What is the current status of SB 1014?
This bill died with 2017 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 1014?
Track SB 1014 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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