§24-2B-1. Temporary suspension of rate increases.
Pursuant to the findings contained in subsections (h) and
(i) of section one, article one of this chapter and in order to
permit the public service commission to implement the provisions
of Enrolled Committee Substitute for S.B. 117 enacted by the
Legislature during the regular session thereof in the year one
thousand nine hundred eighty-three and notwithstanding any other
provision of this chapter, upon the effective date of this
article, the commission shall authorize no increase of rates
charged by any utility for natural gas to any customer of any
class for a period of twelve months. With respect to cases for
rate increases which are pending before the commission on the
effective date of this section, such cases may be suspended by
the commission and held in abeyance by the commission during the
pendency of the period of suspension mandated by this section or
any such cases may proceed to completion and the commission may
rule thereon upon the same to the same extent as if this section
had not been enacted, all within the sound discretion of the
commission.
The commission may authorize such gas rate increases during
the period of suspension of rate increases mandated by this
section as it may deem proper by reason of increased costs of
purchased gas. The commission may consider in determining
whether to authorize such rate increases the purchase and use of
West Virginia gas by such utilities if such gas were available at
a cheaper rate than other gas actually purchased by such
utilities.