GENERALLY

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 28, art. V, div. 1

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-585 Weather normalization clause.

Sec. 28-585. - Weather normalization clause. (a) The accounting system of the gas utility shall include a weather normalization clause for adjustment of revenues that are greater than or less than the revenues required to cover authorized expenses and the authorized rate of return, because of colder or warmer than normal weather. (b) The Director shall calculate a proposed weather normalization clause adjustment for each fiscal year and shall forward such calculated adjustment to the Chief Administrative Officer. Such adjustments shall be subject to the approval of the City Council. The director shall record any weather normalization clause adjustment approved by the City Council as an accounts receivable or accounts payable for the gas utility with a corresponding adjustment to gas utility revenues for the purpose of complying with generally accepted accounting principles. (c) The Director shall adopt regulations to implement the requirements of this section in a manner comparable to implementation of other weather normalization clauses in the gas utility industry. (Code 1993, § 29-4; Code 2004, § 106-122; Code 2015, § 28-106; Code 2020, § 28-106; Ord. No. 2004-360-330, § 1, 12-13-2004)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-586 Limitation of City liability for failure of gas supply.

Sec. 28-586. - Limitation of City liability for failure of gas supply. The City shall not be liable to any consumer or other person for damages which may be occasioned to such consumer or person or the property thereof because of the failure of the supply of gas in reaching the premises of such consumer in whole or in part. (Code 1993, § 29-17; Code 2004, § 106-123; Code 2015, § 28-107; Code 2020, § 28-107)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-587 Billing and payment of estimated costs for construction, alteration or repair of mains, connections or meters.

Sec. 28-587. - Billing and payment of estimated costs for construction, alteration or repair of mains, connections or meters. Upon the application of owners or occupants of premises for the construction, installation, extension, enlargement, alteration or repair of any gas main, service connection or meter for which owners or occupants of premises are required by this article to pay, the Director shall calculate the estimated cost of such construction, installation, extension, enlargement, alteration or repair and of the restoration of paving disturbed on account thereof, which shall include the estimated cost of materials furnished and other expenses incurred by the City in performing such work using the construction schedule developed by the Director. The Director shall bill the estimated costs to the owner or occupant, and the owner or occupant so billed shall pay the City the billed amount. The owner or occupant may elect to make installment payments as specified in the rules and regulations. (Code 1993, § 29-19; Code 2004, § 106-124; Code 2015, § 28-108; Code 2020, § 28-108)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-588 Permit required for addition or alteration of fixture, appliance or equipment.

Sec. 28-588. - Permit required for addition or alteration of fixture, appliance or equipment. No plumber or other person shall make any addition to or alteration of any fixture, appliance or equipment connected directly or indirectly with the gas distribution system without first having received a written permit from the Director to do so. (Code 1993, § 29-23; Code 2004, § 106-125; Code 2015, § 28-109; Code 2020, § 28-109)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-589 Construction or extension of mains or services; incentive programs.

Sec. 28-589. - Construction or extension of mains or services; incentive programs. (a) The Director shall determine when gas mains or services are to be constructed or extended within or without the corporate City limits. Upon application of an owner or occupant for such an extension, the estimated net revenue reasonably expected to accrue to the City from such construction in each specific instance and the estimated cost of making the extension shall be calculated by the Director using the construction schedule developed by the Director. The Director annually shall determine construction costs and annually shall develop and publish a schedule of fees. The Director shall review market conditions at least annually and establish a period of time for the calculation of estimated revenue. If the estimated net revenue for such period is equal to or exceeds the estimated cost of the extension, the extension may be made at the expense of the City. If the estimated net revenue is less than the estimated cost of the extension, the Director may enter into an agreement to construct the extension, provided that the owner or occupant of premises to be served thereby shall deposit with the Director a sum of money equal to the amount by which the estimated cost of such construction or extension exceeds the estimated net revenue reasonably to be expected during the applicable period. Such sums shall be paid into and held in a special account of the gas utility, upon the terms and conditions in this Chapter. The Director shall bill the fee to the owner or occupant, and the owner or occupant so billed shall pay the City the billed amount. The Director may receive installment payments as specified in the rules and regulations. (b) The Director may extend gas mains or services in areas where, in the Director's opinion, potential development will provide future profitable gas sales and where the requirements set forth in Subsection (a) of this section are not applicable due to the method of development of the property. The Director may enter into agreements to construct such extensions in order to protect the utility's revenue requirements. (c) The Director may implement an incentive rebate program for energy audits, the installation of energy efficient natural gas equipment, insulation and other conservation measures. All existing gas utility customers who are located on existing gas mains shall be eligible for the program. The incentive rebate program shall be contingent on the availability of funding. The Director shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the incentive rebate program in accordance with this subsection. (d) The Director shall implement a gas air conditioning incentive program for the installation and operation of gas air conditioning equipment. Pursuant to the program, the Director may enter into agreements to make capital contributions toward the initial installation of gas air conditioning equipment or the initial conversion of air conditioning equipment to gas fuel. The Director may recover capital contributions made pursuant to the program through surcharges to the customer's gas utility bill. The program's capital contributions shall be funded from monies budgeted for gas main extensions. The Director shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the program in accordance with this subsection. Such rules and regulations and any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall meet the following requirements: (1) The gas air conditioning incentive program shall be implemented in a manner to safeguard the program's cost justification and shall result in a reasonable rate of return to the gas utility over the life of the gas air conditioning equipment. (2) The gas air conditioning incentive program shall be implemented in a manner to minimize the potential for placing private businesses at an undue competitive disadvantage. (3) The capital contributions advanced by the gas utility pursuant to the gas air conditioning incentive program shall be adequately secured. (4) The gas air conditioning incentive program shall be implemented in a nondiscriminatory manner. (e) The Director shall implement a load management incentive program to retain or obtain loads that promote more efficient use of gas supply and distribution of resources. Pursuant to the program, the Director may enter into agreements to make capital contributions toward the initial installation of efficient gas fired heating or air conditioning equipment or the conversion of existing gas fired heating or air conditioning equipment to more efficient gas fired heating or air conditioning equipment, in applications serving multifamily residential facilities. The Director shall enter into any such agreement only if the Director documents and certifies that the incentive is required in order to retain or obtain the targeted load. The program's capital contributions shall be funded from monies budgeted for gas main extensions. The Director shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the program in accordance with this subsection. Such rules and regulations shall establish the maximum capital expenditures allowed per qualifying multifamily residential facility and per dwelling unit and shall meet the following requirements: (1) The load management incentive program shall be implemented in a manner to safeguard the program's cost justification and shall result in a reasonable rate of return to the gas utility over the life of the gas equipment. (2) The load management incentive program shall be implemented in a manner to improve the gas utility's load factor, to prevent a deterioration of the gas utility's load factor, or to absorb unused capacity or maintain existing loads for the purpose of reducing unit costs. (3) The capital contributions advanced by the gas utility pursuant to the load management incentive program shall be adequately secured. (4) The load management incentive program shall be implemented in a manner to minimize the potential for placing private businesses at an undue competitive disadvantage. (5) The load management incentive program shall apply only to equipment that has energy efficiency ratings which meet or exceed Federal and State standards. (Code 1993, § 29-26; Code 2004, § 106-126; Code 2015, § 28-110; Code 2020, § 28-110; Ord. No. 2010-225-210, § 1, 11-22-2010; Ord. No. 2014-16-25, § 1, 2-24-2014)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-590 Credit for money paid by customers hooked onto extension.

Sec. 28-590. - Credit for money paid by customers hooked onto extension. For such period as may have been calculated and determined as applicable for a particular extension of gas mains or services, after the installation of the extension, the party with whom the contract has been executed shall annually receive credit for all sums paid to the City for gas used by the original and any other customers that may during such period hook onto the extension in excess of the estimated gross revenue. Such credit shall be refunded to the applicant for such extension. No refund shall exceed in the aggregate the sum held in such special account, and the City shall not pay interest on such funds or any part thereof. (Code 1993, § 29-27; Code 2004, § 106-127; Code 2015, § 28-111; Code 2020, § 28-111)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-591 Disposition of excess revenues from extensions.

Sec. 28-591. - Disposition of excess revenues from extensions. If, upon the expiration of the applicable period of extension, there remains a credit balance of funds in excess of sums so returned or to be returned in accordance with the agreement applicable to such extension, such balance and any interest that may have accrued thereon shall become the absolute property of the City and shall then be paid into the Gas Renewal Fund. (Code 1993, § 29-28; Code 2004, § 106-128; Code 2015, § 28-112; Code 2020, § 28-112)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-592 Records of distribution systems, mains, facilities and connections.

Sec. 28-592. - Records of distribution systems, mains, facilities and connections. The Director shall keep on file suitable records showing the size and location of the gas distribution systems, mains, facilities and equipment, and of all service connections. (Code 1993, § 29-42; Code 2004, § 106-129; Code 2015, § 28-113; Code 2020, § 28-113)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-593 Construction of distribution systems.

Sec. 28-593. - Construction of distribution systems. The Director shall construct mains for the transmission and distribution of gas and shall make extensions, replacements and enlargements of the systems as they become necessary and as funds for such purposes are made available. (Code 1993, § 29-43; Code 2004, § 106-130; Code 2015, § 28-114; Code 2020, § 28-114)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-594 Sale of gas.

Sec. 28-594. - Sale of gas. The Director is authorized to sell and deliver gas to consumers within and without the corporate City limits at rates prescribed by the City Council therefor and in accordance with and subject to this article and other applicable laws and ordinances and rules and regulations lawfully made and promulgated by the Director pertaining thereto. (Code 1993, § 29-44; Code 2004, § 106-131; Code 2015, § 28-115; Code 2020, § 28-115)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 28-595 Discontinuance of service.

Sec. 28-595. - Discontinuance of service. The Director may at any time cut off the supply of gas through mains or connections thereto within or without the corporate City limits when such action is deemed necessary. (Code 1993, § 29-47; Code 2004, § 106-132; Code 2015, § 28-116; Code 2020, § 28-116)

Source: City of Richmond, Virginia, Code (2026 recodification) and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH28UT_ARTVGAUT_DIV1GEFetched: 11/8/2026