SB 669 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to general powers of PSC

SB 669 clarifies when West Virginia's Public Service Commission (PSC) can approve utility rate increases and requires a biennial review of these increases. It directly affects utilities, particularly small municipal water/sewer systems serving fewer than 4,500 customers or with under $3 million in annual revenue, and their wholesale/resale customers. Key provisions include: a 30-day window for customers to file rate complaints after municipal changes, a 120-day resolution deadline for the PSC, and a requirement that rate increases must be supported by evidence showing costs are fairly matched to benefits received by customers. The bill also restricts the PSC from ordering refunds for rates collected during complaint proceedings unless specific refund conditions apply.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Last action Mar 5, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Committee Substitute → sb669 sfa willis 2-23 _1 adopted.htm · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to replace the existing text of subsection (e) with a new version that imposes stricter requirements on the Public Service Commission. The change mandates that the commission cannot approve rate increases for retail West Virginia customers unless it finds the costs are proportionate to or less than the benefits received. Additionally, the commission must now publicly publish and provide a written, quantitative justification for any approved rate increase.

Scope change

The scope of the Public Service Commission's authority to approve rate increases was narrowed by adding a specific 'benefit-cost' test and a mandatory public justification requirement.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that the commission must find costs to retail ratepayers are proportionate to or less than benefits before approving any rate increase.

Added a new requirement that the commission must publicly publish and provide a written, quantitative justification for any approved rate increase.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2026

How they voted

33–0

Passed

Total votes 33

Feb 24, 2026

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican31

31 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

To House Energy and Public Works

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 210)

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment adopted (Voice vote)

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported do pass

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Committee substitute reported, but first to Judiciary

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

To Economic Development

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

To Economic Development then Judiciary

upper

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors