CHAPTER 43

AN ACT to amend Sections 56-232 and 56-234 of the Code of Vir-
ginia of 1950 so as to provide for regulation of certain con-
tracts between public utilities.

[S 39]

Approved February 23, 1950

Be it enacted by the Géneral Assembly of Virginia:
1. That Sections 56-232 and 56-234 of the Code of Virginia of 195t
be amended to read as follows:

§ 56-2382. Public Utility Defined.—The term “public utility” as
used in §§ 56-233 to 56-240 and 56-246 to 56-249 shall mean and
embrace every corporation (other than a municipality), company,
individual, or association of individuals or cooperative, 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 con.
veyance of telephone messages or for the production, transmission,
delivery, or furnishing of heat, light, power, or water, either directly
or indirectly, to or for the public.

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.

The term “schedules” as used in Sections 56-284 through 56-245
shall include schedules of rates and charges for service to the public
and also contracts for rates and charges in sales at wholesale to
other public utilitics or for divisions of rates between public utilt-
ties, but shall not include contracts with municipal corporations or
the Federal or State goRernmenr, or any contract erecuted prior
to the effective date hereof.

§ 56-234. Duty to Furnish Adequate Service at Reasonable and
Uniform Rates.—It shall be the duty of every public utility to fur-
nish reasonably adequate service and facilities at reasonable and
just rates to any person, firm or corporation along its lines desiring
same, * and to charge uniformly therefor all persons or corporations
using such products under like conditions, But nothing herein con-
tained shall be construed as applicable to schedules of rates, or
contracts for service rendered by any such company, to any munici-
pal corporation or to the State or Federal government. The pro-
tisions hereof shall not apply to or in any way affect any proceed-
ing pending in State Corporation Commission on or before the
effective date hereof and shall not confer on said commission any
jurisdiction not now vested in it with respect to any such pro-
reeding.