Overview
The main body of laws establishing the Department of Public Service's (and Public Utility Commission's) authority is Title 30 Vermont Statutes Annotated. Additionally, the Public Utility Commission Rules establish the foundation for much of utility regulation in Vermont. Various federal laws and regulations play a significant role in regulating utilities. In some cases, these laws preempt state regulation and govern the way utilities operate within the states. In other instances, there is shared jurisdiction over utilities and both state and federal law apply.
State Statutes
The main body of laws establishing regulatory authortiy for the Department of Public Service and the Public Utility Commission is found in Title 30 Vermont Statutes Annotated. Title 30 and all Vermont statutes may be accessed through either of the following links:
- The Vermont Legislature's webpage Vermont Statutes Online posts the complete text of statutes by Title. This resource is most helpful if you know the section of the statutes you are seeking.
- The legislature also provides access to Vermont statutes through a searchable database provided by Lexis-Nexis. The Vermont Statutes Annotated and Court Rules at Lexis-Nexis is useful for finding statutes when you have a subject but not a citation.
State Rules (Vermont Public Utility Commission Rules)
The Public Utility Commission Rules establish the foundation for much of utility regulation in Vermont. Public water supply regulations can be found in Title 10 Vermont Statutes, Chapter 56 - Public Water Supply.