2006 Code of Virginia § 30-205 - (Expires July 1, 2008) Powers and duties of the Commission

30-205. (Expires July 1, 2008) Powers and duties of the Commission.

The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

1. Monitor the work of the State Corporation Commission in implementingChapter 23 ( 56-576 et seq.) of Title 56, receiving such reports as theCommission may be required to make pursuant thereto, including reviews,analyses, and impact on consumers of electric utility restructuring programsin other states;

2. Determine whether, and on what basis, incumbent electric utilities shouldbe permitted to discount capped generation rates established pursuant to 56-582;

3. Monitor, after the commencement of customer choice and with the assistanceof the State Corporation Commission and the Office of Attorney General, theincumbent electric utilities, suppliers, and retail customers, whether therecovery of stranded costs, as provided in 56-584, has resulted or islikely to result in the overrecovery or underrecovery of just and reasonablenet stranded costs;

4. Examine (i) utility worker protection during the transition to retailcompetition, (ii) generation, transmission and distribution systemsreliability concerns, and (iii) energy assistance programs for low-incomehouseholds;

5. Evaluate and assess the implications of the scheduled expiration of thecapped rates established pursuant to 56-582;

6. Establish one or more subcommittees, composed of its membership, personswith expertise in the matters under consideration by the Commission, or both,to meet at the direction of the chairman of the Commission, for any purposewithin the scope of the duties prescribed to the Commission by this section,provided that such persons who are not members of the Commission shall servewithout compensation but shall be entitled to be reimbursed from fundsappropriated or otherwise available to the Commission for reasonable andnecessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties; and

7. Report annually to the General Assembly and the Governor on the progressof each stage of the phase-in of retail competition and offer suchrecommendations as may be appropriate for legislative and administrativeconsideration in order to maintain the Commonwealth's position as a low-costelectricity market and ensure that residential customers and small businesscustomers benefit from competition.

(2003, c. 885; 2006, c. 812.)