HOUSE RESOLUTION 11

(BY Delegate Dillon)

[Introduced February 12, 2024; referred to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Rules]

To urge and request that the Public Service Commission establish a framework that supports responsible competition between West Virginia Electrical Utilities.

Whereas, Electrical utility rates in West Virginia are increasing at an alarming rate;

Whereas, Consumers of electrical utilities in West Virginia have expressed widespread dissatisfaction with both rising rates and interruptions to service;

Whereas, An energy-rich state such as West Virginia should afford its citizens the lowest cost of electricity with the highest reliability;

Whereas, The public electrical utilities in West Virginia hold de facto monopolies in vast geographical areas; and

Whereas, Market competition is the best path to provide last rate relief to West Virginia consumers; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates:

That the West Virginia House of Delegates requests that the Public Service Commission establish a framework to achieve the following key objectives:

Market-based competition between multiple, concurrent operators of electrical utilities within the same given geographical regions of West Virginia, with consumer receiving relevant information prior to choosing an electrical supplier, to include:

Means of electrical production, including source of energy, process used in generation process, and management process of waste products;

Disclosure of federal/state/local subsidies received by producer toward support of production;

Statement of environmental management;

Utility customer service rate options, billing schedule, terms, and conditions;

Ensure that qualifications for prospective electrical utility operators include provisions for at least 20% reserve capacity beyond anticipated daily peak to provide robustness and flexibility to the grid in times of disaster and/or other disturbances;

Separate and distinct territories for maintenance of electrical grid infrastructure which shall be separate, unrelated entities from the electrical utility operators; and

Electrical utility operators shall contract with maintenance operators and factor such costs into the final rates offered to consumers; and, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates:

That the House of Delegates of the Legislature of West Virginia does hereby urge and request that the Public Service Commission establish a framework that supports responsible competition between West Virginia electrical utilities; and be it

Further Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Public Service Commission.