CHAPTER 746
An Act to amend and reenact § 56-234 of the Code of Virginia, relating to electric utilities; duty to furnish adequate service; delay in provision of service.
[S 423]
Approved April 13, 2026
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 56-234 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 56-234 . Duty to furnish adequate service at reasonable and uniform rates.
A. It shall be the duty of every public utility to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities at reasonable and just rates to any person, firm or corporation along its lines desiring same. Notwithstanding any other provision of law:
1. A telephone company shall not have the duty to extend or expand its facilities to furnish service and facilities when the person, firm or corporation has service available from one or more alternative providers of wireline or terrestrial wireless communications services at prevailing market rates; and
2. A telephone company may meet its duty to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities through the use of any and all available wireline and terrestrial wireless technologies; however, a telephone company, when restoring service to an existing wireline customer, shall offer the option to furnish service using wireline facilities.
For purposes of subdivisions 1 and 2, the Commission shall have the authority upon request of an individual, corporation, or other entity, or a telephone company, to determine whether the wireline or terrestrial wireless communications service available to the party requesting service is a reasonably adequate alternative to local exchange telephone service.