CHAPTER 250
An Act to amend and reenact § 56-245.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to certain utilities; notice procedures for nonpayment.
[H 1002]
Approved April 6, 2026
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 56-245.1:4 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 56-245.1:4 . Notice procedures for nonpayment; disconnecting utility service.
A. Each utility subject to the provisions of As used in this section, "utility" has the same meaning as provided in § 56-245.1:3 .
B. Each utility shall provide to each of its residential customers a copy of its disconnection for nonpayment policy (i) at any time a new residential account is established, (ii) when any disconnection for nonpayment of bills or fees is scheduled by including a copy of the policy with such notice, or (iii) by publishing the disconnection policy on the utility's website. Each such utility shall provide all required notices in notices required under this subsection in English and , Spanish , and, for customers residing in a locality that is required to provide voting or election materials in another language pursuant to § 24.2-128 , in any such other language . Such required notices shall include information regarding payment plans and state, federal, or utility energy assistance programs.
B. C. Each utility subject to the provisions of this section shall deliver notice of nonpayment of bills or fees to its residential customers prior to disconnection by using at least two of the following methods: (i) mail, (ii) email, (iii) text message, (iv) phone call, or (v) door hanger.
C. Utility disconnections D. No utility shall disconnect a residential customer due to the nonpayment of bills or fees are prohibited for residential customers until the customer's account is 60 days in arrears and the utility has made reasonable efforts to offer bill payment assistance, arrange a payment plan, or provide information to the customer for other bill payment assistance or energy savings programs . After each missed payment, the utility shall provide notice pursuant to subsection B C and make contact with the customer and offer bill payment assistance, arrange a payment plan, or provide information to the customer for other bill payment assistance or energy savings programs.