Code of Virginia
Chapter 23 - Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act
§ 56-592. Consumer education and marketing practices

A. The Commission shall develop an electric energy consumer education program designed to provide the following information to retail customers:
1. Information regarding energy conservation, energy efficiency, demand-side management, demand response, and renewable energy;
2. Information concerning demand-side management and demand response programs offered in the Commonwealth to retail customers;
3. Information regarding the matters described in subdivisions 1 and 2 that are specifically designed for the industrial, commercial, residential, and government sectors; and
4. Such other information as the Commission may deem necessary and appropriate in the public interest.
B. The Commission shall complete the development of the consumer education program described in subsection A, and report its findings and recommendations to the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation as frequently as may be required by such Commission concerning:
1. The scope of such recommended program consistent with the requirements of subsection A;
2. Materials and media required to effectuate any such program;
3. State agency and nongovernmental entity participation;
4. Program duration;
5. Funding requirements and mechanisms for any such program; and
6. Such other findings and recommendations the Commission deems appropriate in the public interest.
C. The Commission shall develop regulations governing marketing practices by public service companies, licensed suppliers, aggregators or any other providers of services made competitive by this chapter, including regulations to prevent unauthorized switching of suppliers, unauthorized charges, and improper solicitation activities. The Commission shall also establish standards for marketing information to be furnished by licensed suppliers, aggregators or any other providers of services made competitive by this chapter, which information shall include standards concerning:
1. Pricing and other key contract terms and conditions;
2. To the extent feasible, fuel mix and emissions data on at least an annualized basis;
3. Customer's rights of cancellation following execution of any contract;
4. Toll-free telephone number for customer assistance; and
5. Such other and further marketing information as the Commission may deem necessary and appropriate in the public interest.
D. The Commission shall also establish standards for billing information to be furnished by public service companies, suppliers, aggregators or any other providers of services made competitive by this chapter. Such billing information standards shall require that billing formation:
1. Distinguishes between charges for regulated services and unregulated services;
2. Is presented in a format that complies with standards to be established by the Commission;
3. Discloses, to the extent feasible, fuel mix and emissions data on at least an annualized basis; and
4. Includes such other billing information as the Commission deems necessary and appropriate in the public interest.
E. The Commission shall establish or maintain a complaint bureau for the purpose of receiving, reviewing and investigating complaints by retail customers against public service companies, licensed suppliers, aggregators and other providers of any services made competitive under this chapter. Upon the request of any interested person or the Attorney General, or upon its own motion, the Commission shall be authorized to inquire into possible violations of this chapter and to enjoin or punish any violations thereof pursuant to its authority under this chapter, this title, and under Title 12.1. The Attorney General shall have a right to participate in such proceedings consistent with the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure.
F. The Commission shall establish reasonable limits on customer security deposits required by public service companies, suppliers, aggregators or any other persons providing competitive services pursuant to this chapter.
1999, c. 411; 2003, c. 885; 2008, c. 883.

Structure Code of Virginia

Code of Virginia

Title 56 - Public Service Companies

Chapter 23 - Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act

§ 56-576. Definitions

§ 56-577. Schedule for transition to retail competition; Commission authority; exemptions; pilot programs

§ 56-577.1. Electric utilities; retail competition; pilot program

§ 56-578. Nondiscriminatory access to transmission and distribution system

§ 56-579. Regional transmission entities

§ 56-580. Transmission and distribution of electric energy

§ 56-581. Regulation of rates subject to Commission's jurisdiction

§ 56-581.1. Repealed

§ 56-582. Rate caps

§ 56-583. Repealed

§ 56-584. Stranded costs

§ 56-585. Default service

§ 56-585.1. Generation, distribution, and transmission rates after capped rates terminate or expire

§ 56-585.1:1. Transitional Rate Period: review of rates, terms and conditions for utility generation facilities

§ 56-585.1:2. Pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization

§ 56-585.1:3. Pilot programs for community solar development

§ 56-585.1:4. Development of solar and wind generation and energy storage capacity in the Commonwealth

§ 56-585.1:5. Pilot program for underground transmission lines

§ 56-585.1:6. Pilot Programs to deploy electric power storage batteries

§ 56-585.1:7. Pilot program for electric generation by public schools

§ 56-585.1:8. Pilot program for municipal net energy metering

§ 56-585.1:9. Provision of broadband capacity to unserved areas of the Commonwealth

§ 56-585.1:10. (Expires December 31, 2023) Pilot program for transmission facilities serving business parks

§ 56-585.1:11. Development of offshore wind capacity

§ 56-585.1:12. Multi-family shared solar program

§ 56-585.1:13. Recovery of costs associated with investment in transportation electification

§ 56-585.2. Repealed

§ 56-585.3. Regulation of cooperative rates after rate caps

§ 56-585.4. Net energy metering transition provisions for electric cooperatives

§ 56-585.5. Generation of electricity from renewable and zero carbon sources

§ 56-585.6. Universal service fee; Percentage of Income Payment Program and Fund

§ 56-585.7. On-bill tariff program; electric cooperatives

§ 56-586. Emergency service provider

§ 56-586.1. Electric energy emergencies

§ 56-587. Licensure of retail electric energy suppliers and persons providing other competitive services

§ 56-588. Licensing of aggregators

§ 56-589. Municipal and state aggregation

§ 56-589.1. Energy generation by public school buildings and facilities

§ 56-590. Divestiture, functional separation and other corporate relationships

§ 56-591. Application of antitrust laws

§ 56-592. Consumer education and marketing practices

§ 56-592.1. Consumer education program; scope and funding

§ 56-593. Retail customers' private right of action; marketing practices

§ 56-594. Net energy metering provisions

§ 56-594.01. Net energy metering provisions for electric cooperative service territories

§ 56-594.01:1. Local facilities usage charges; electric cooperatives

§ 56-594.02. Solar-powered or wind-powered electricity generation; power purchase agreements; pilot programs

§ 56-594.1. Interconnection by farms

§ 56-594.2. Small agricultural generators

§ 56-594.3. Shared solar programs

§ 56-595. Repealed

§ 56-596. Consideration of economic development; report

§ 56-596.1. New generating facilities utilizing energy derived from sunlight and from wind; report

§ 56-596.2. Energy efficiency programs; financial assistance for low-income customers

§ 56-596.2:1. Incentives for energy conservation measures and solar energy equipment

§ 56-596.3. Electric generation, transmission, and distribution; report

§ 56-596.4. Electric utilities; local reliability data