Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the Division of Public Utility Regulation include:

• reviewing rate applications filed by investor-owned utilities and member-owned cooperatives and preparing testimony for rate cases before the Commission;
• monitoring utility construction projects and reviewing applications for construction of transmission lines 138 kilovolts and above, electric generating units, and intra-state natural gas pipelines;
• monitoring distribution system performance of electric utilities;
• reviewing rates and costs, and enforcing general regulations and service standards;
• certifying competitive local exchange and interexchange carrier telephone service providers;
• managing communications company interconnection agreements;
• investigating consumer complaints regarding electric, natural gas, water and sewer utilities, and communications companies* under the SCC's jurisdiction, and
• providing expert technical assistance and public policy recommendations relative to the Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act.

The Division of Public Utility Regulation operates within Virginia's laws and regulations. Specifically, Title 56 of the Code of Virginia, addresses Public Service Companies and provides the framework under which the Division functions. In addition to statutory provisions, the Division of Public Utility Regulation works within regulations established through the Virginia Administrative Code.