SB 48 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to powers and duties of PSC

This bill (SB 48) prohibits West Virginia's Public Service Commission (PSC) from approving new electric utility rates or fee increases that would take effect between November 20 of any year and April 1 of the following year. It directly affects electric utilities requiring PSC approval for rate changes, preventing them from implementing new winter rates during this period. The key mechanism is a seasonal restriction on rate approval timing, aiming to limit rate changes during colder months when energy demand typically rises. The bill amends existing statutes governing the PSC's rate-setting authority to enforce this specific timeframe.

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 3, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify that the Public Service Commission cannot approve new rates or fee increases for electric utilities to take effect between November 20 and April 1. The text was also reorganized to explicitly list the Commission's powers and limitations, and procedural rules for rate changes were updated to include specific timelines and notice requirements.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's restrictions on rate timing was clarified to explicitly cover both new rates and rate increases, and the Commission's general authority was restructured to clearly separate powers from prohibitions.

REQUIREMENT

The bill's purpose was expanded to explicitly prohibit the Commission from approving any new rate or fee increase for electric utilities to take effect between November 20 and April 1, not just those not in effect by November 20.

Procedural requirements for changing rates were updated to include specific deadlines for decisions (three months) and clarified rules for suspending rates pending hearings.

ENFORCEMENT

The Commission's authority was reorganized into a clear list of what it may do versus what it may not do, including a specific prohibition on enforcing, originating, or establishing rates for certain municipal utilities.

TECHNICAL

Several sections were renumbered and restructured to improve readability, and some language regarding interest rates and bond conditions was simplified.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

To Finance

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors