Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced that Governor Spanberger's declaration of a state of emergency due to prolonged, severe drought has triggered Virginia's anti-price gouging statutes, making it unlawful to charge unconscionable prices for necessary goods and services. A price is unconscionable if it grossly exceeds the price charged during the ten days immediately prior to the emergency. No entity was charged or fined; the release is a consumer advisory explaining how to report suspected price gouging to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section.
No remedies were imposed on any entity. The release announces that consumer protections under the Anti-Price Gouging Act are now active statewide and directs consumers to report suspected price gouging to the OAG Consumer Protection Section, except gasoline and motor fuel price complaints, which are handled by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Although this action concerns consumer protection rather than privacy, it signals that Virginia's Anti-Price Gouging Act is actively enforceable through the Virginia Consumer Protection Act whenever a state of emergency is declared. In-house teams at companies selling essential goods and services (grocery, fuel, lodging, building supplies, agribusiness) should review customer-facing pricing terms, supply and vendor agreements, and any contracts containing automatic price escalation, surge pricing, or emergency surcharge clauses to confirm they cannot produce prices that grossly exceed the ten-day pre-emergency baseline during a declared emergency. Force majeure clauses should be checked to ensure they do not authorize price increases during emergencies, and supply agreements should include representations that pricing during declared emergencies complies with applicable state anti-price gouging laws. Companies with Virginia operations should also ensure consumer complaint-handling procedures route pricing complaints to legal for assessment.
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No respondent entity (consumer advisory announcement)
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3117-attorney-general-jones-announces-price-gouging-protections-in-effect-amid-prolonged-and-severe-drought-conditions-across-the-commonwealth
Virginia Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection/
"Attorney General Jones Announces Price Gouging Protections in Effect Amid Prolonged and Severe Drought Conditions Across the Commonwealth"
"September 17, 2026"
"Governor Spanberger's declaration of a state of emergency triggered Virginia's anti-price gouging statutes."
"unconscionable prices" for "necessary goods and services" following a declared state of emergency"
"whether the post-disaster price grossly exceeds the price charged for the same good or services during the ten days"
"Violations of Virginia's Anti-Price Gouging Act are enforceable by the Office of the Attorney General through the Virginia Consumer Protection Act."
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