The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
(Cite as: 24 V.S.A. § 5152)
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§ 5152. Disconnections prohibited; state of emergency
(a) Notwithstanding this chapter or any provision of law to the contrary, a municipality;
a person who is permitted as a public water system pursuant to 10 V.S.A. chapter 56
and who provides another person water as a part of the operation of that public water
system; or a company engaged in the collecting, sale, and distribution of water for
domestic, industrial, business, or fire protection purposes that is regulated by the
Public Utility Commission under 30 V.S.A. § 203(3) shall be prohibited from disconnecting any person from services during a declared
state of emergency under 20 V.S.A. chapter 1, provided that:
(1) the state of emergency is declared in response to an all-hazards event that will cause
financial hardship and the inability of ratepayers to pay for water or sewer services;
and
(2) the all-hazards event does not require the water or sewer service provider to disconnect
services to protect the health and safety of the public.
(b) A person or company that is subject to subsection (a) of this section may temporarily
disconnect water or sewer services during the declared state of emergency when the
temporary disconnection is necessary for the maintenance or repair of the water or
sewer system.
(c)(1) A violation of subsection (a) of this section by a municipality or a person who is
permitted as a public water system pursuant to 10 V.S.A. chapter 56 may be enforced
by the Agency of Natural Resources pursuant to 10 V.S.A. chapter 201.
(2) A violation of subsection (a) of this section by a company engaged in the collecting,
sale, and distribution of water for domestic, industrial, business, or fire protection
purposes that is regulated by the Public Utility Commission under 30 V.S.A. § 203(3) may be enforced by the Public Utility Commission pursuant to 30 V.S.A. § 30.
(d) A ratepayer shall remain obligated for any amounts due to a water or sewer service
provider subject to this section. The ratepayer shall have a minimum of 90 days after
the end of the declared state of emergency to pay the amounts due. (Added 2021, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 11, eff. July 1, 2022.)