CHAPTER 308

AN ACT to amend and reenact § 56-282 of the Code of 1950,
relating to definition of public utility so as to broaden the

same.
[ H 508 J
Approved April 4, 1950

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 56-232 of the Code of 1950 be amended and re-
enacted as follows:

§ 56-232. Public utility defined—The term “public util-
ity” as used in §§ 56-233 to 56-240 and 56-246 to 56-249 shall
mean and embrace every corporation (other than a municipal-
ity), company, individual, or association of individuals, their
lessees, trustees, or receivers, appointed by any court whatsoever,
that now or hereafter may own, manage or control any plant
or equipment or any part of a plant or equipment within the
State for the conveyance of telephone messages or for the
production, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of heat, light,
power, water, or sewerage facilities, either directly or indirectly,
to or for the public, unless otherwise provided by Charter.

But the term “public utility” as herein defined, shall not be
construed to include any hotel or corporation whose principal
business is the operation of a hotel and which may supply heat,
light, water, telephone service, or power to a limited number
of patrons out of its temporary surplus, nor to individual plants
which furnish lights or electrical current or other power to
inhabitants of towns or territory adjacent thereto in which
operatives or employees of such plants live, provided no public
utility operates in such town or territory.