Section 10. Applicability

A. This chapter applies to any small investor-owned public utility (other than a cooperative) as defined by Chapter 19 (§ 56-531 et seq.) of Title 56 of the Code of Virginia. This company shall be referred to as a "small telephone company " or "applicant."

B. A small telephone company should perform its own tariff justification analysis in-house prior to changing rates, tolls, charges, fees, rules, or regulations, collectively referred to as "tariffs." As a part of its in-house tariff justification, a small telephone company should consider whether the tariff change is necessary and whether the change is dictated by the cost of providing the tariffed service. All tariff changes of a small telephone company must be "just and reasonable" as that standard is defined in § 56-235.2 of the Code of Virginia.

C. This chapter applies when any small telephone company subject to Chapter 19 (§ 56-531 et seq.) of Title 56 of the Code of Virginia changes any rate, toll, charge, fee, rule, or regulation applicable to any customer or customers and this change results in increased rates paid by that customer or customers. Changes not increasing customer rates may be done in the traditional manner without application of this chapter.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 18, Issue 04, eff. October 17, 2001.

Statutory Authority

§ 12.1-13 of the Code of Virginia.