HB 4110, the WV Energy Efficiency Jobs Creation Act, requires West Virginia's electric utilities to develop and implement energy efficiency programs aimed at reducing electricity consumption. Utilities must achieve specific, incremental savings targets - starting at 0.5% of 2020 sales by 2027 and reaching 5% by 2031 - through cost-effective programs approved by the Public Service Commission. The bill also creates a "self-directed" option for eligible residential and business customers to manage their own energy efficiency plans, with requirements to meet minimum goals and repay avoided charges if they fail to do so. The Public Service Commission oversees program approval, ensures cost recovery for utilities, and mandates annual reporting to track progress toward state energy efficiency goals.
SB 461 would require West Virginia's Public Service Commission (PSC) to obtain legislative approval before implementing any rate increases for utility companies. This affects electric, gas, and water providers seeking to raise customer rates, as they would need to submit proposals to the state legislature for approval. The bill changes the current process by adding a legislative step - requiring PSC rate adjustment recommendations to be formally approved by the Legislature before taking effect. It does not alter the PSC's authority to propose rate changes but shifts final approval to the Legislature. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
SB 79 creates a tax credit for West Virginia businesses that invest in road or highway infrastructure projects or coal production and processing facilities. Eligible taxpayers - such as corporations and consolidated groups subject to the state's severance tax - can claim the credit based on qualified expenditures like labor, materials, equipment, and real property costs for these projects. Businesses must apply for certification before claiming the credit for road projects, and unused credits can be carried forward to future tax years. The credit is transferable to business successors, and failure to maintain required records may trigger penalties.
SB 82 imposes a $3 tax per megawatt-hour on electricity produced from wind and solar sources for sale or trade in West Virginia, starting January 1, 2027. It applies to commercial producers at the point of interconnection with transmission lines, with exemptions for government facilities, personal consumption under 500 kWh daily, and new installations for the first three years of operation. Producers must report annual output by February 1 and pay taxes by the same date, facing penalties of up to 25% for late payment plus 12-18% annual interest. Revenue collected will be distributed to West Virginia counties based on the number of compliant volunteer fire departments, with counties then allocating funds directly to those departments.
HB 4035 provides a 35% tax credit against West Virginia's business and occupation tax for coal-fired electric power plants that spend on pollution control equipment. It directly affects coal-fired power plants operating in West Virginia (excluding those exempt from the tax), covering costs for installing, repairing, or maintaining equipment to meet environmental regulations like air/water pollution controls or carbon capture. The credit cannot reduce a plant's tax bill by more than 50% in a single year, and unused portions can be carried forward for up to five years. This bill aims to offset compliance costs while supporting continued operation of coal plants serving West Virginia residents.
SB 686 modifies West Virginia's coal law to allow mining operations when some co-owners of coal land consent, even if others do not. It states that operators mining with consent from at least one co-owner are not committing "waste" or "trespass," and nonconsenting co-owners (including unknown or unlocatable owners) must receive a royalty payment based on their ownership share. The bill creates a new "Unknown and Unlocatable Coal Interest Owners Fund" managed by the State Treasurer to hold royalties from unlocated owners, with funds later transferred to the Special Reclamation Fund. This directly affects coal operators, surface owners, and all co-owners of coal estates, streamlining mining operations while ensuring nonconsenting owners receive compensation.
HB 4838 increases annual registration fees for alternative fuel vehicles in West Virginia. It raises fees to $400 yearly for hydrogen/natural gas vehicles, $200 for plug-in hybrids, and $400 for fully electric vehicles - doubling current rates. These fees apply in addition to standard registration costs and directly affect owners of these vehicle types. The bill modifies Section 17A-10-3c of the West Virginia Code to implement these changes.
HB 4385 would cap annual rate increases by West Virginia utility companies (like electricity and gas providers) at a maximum of 5% per year. The bill requires all proposed rate hikes by public utilities to stay within this 5% limit, effective July 1, 2026. This directly affects utility companies and their customers by limiting how much rates can rise annually. The provision applies to all future rate increase requests, replacing any higher proposed increases with the 5% maximum.
SB 76 would exempt coal sold to coal-fired power plants located within West Virginia from the state's 5% severance tax. This directly affects coal producers who sell thermal coal (used for electricity generation) to in-state power plants, reducing their tax burden on these specific sales. The bill amends existing law to create this exemption, removing the tax that would otherwise apply to coal sold for electricity generation at facilities operating in West Virginia. The change would provide immediate tax savings for coal producers supplying local power plants, without altering other severance tax rates or provisions.
HB 4991, the West Virginia First Energy Act, requires coal-fired power plants in the state to maintain a minimum 69% operational utilization rate (measured annually) and hold at least a 30-day coal supply based on average usage. It restricts utilities from retiring or reducing coal or natural-gas plants without Public Service Commission approval, which requires proof the change won’t raise rates, increase market volatility, or harm grid reliability. The bill also prohibits cost recovery for new wind or solar projects and bans power-purchase agreements for intermittent energy unless existing coal/gas capacity meets specific replacement standards. These provisions aim to stabilize electricity rates, preserve coal industry jobs, and prioritize in-state dispatchable power sources over out-of-state or weather-dependent generation.
