Bill Text: WV HB2881 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to utility rate increases
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-01-20 - To House Technology and Infrastructure [HB2881 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2023-HB2881-Introduced.html
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2023 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 2881
By Delegate E. Pritt
[Introduced January 20, 2023; Referred to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Finance]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §24-2I-1, relating to requiring all public and private utility systems that are granted rate increases to set aside 5% of these funds for repairs and improvements to the physical utility infrastructure; establishing limitations on the use of these funds; prohibiting passing this cost on to the consumers.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
Article 2I. infrastructure improvement fund.
§24-2I-1. Infrastructure Improvement Fund; rate increases; requirements; limitations.
(a) As a condition of all future utility rate increases, if an increase is granted to a private or public utility system by the West Virginia Public Service Commission, 5% of all individually billed new percentage increase charges on all existing or future customer accounts must be set aside by the utility into an "infrastructure improvement" fund;
(1) This fund cannot be used for routine maintenance;
(2) This fund must be used for physical utility infrastructure (i.e., water lines, electrical transmission lines, treatments facilities, power generation substations, power plants themselves, etc.);
(b) This cost cannot be passed on to the consumer through any category of fees or through future rate increases;
(c) This fund can only be utilized for new utility infrastructure improvement projects.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create an infrastructure fund that will be made from 5% from every rate increase granted to public and private utilities that is to be used for infrastructure repairs and improvements.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
