This bill proposes the addition of a new section, 24-2-17a, to the Code of West Virginia, 1931, which mandates that all public, private, and investor-owned utility providers must send text notifications to customers regarding utility outages. The text messages must inform customers that service has been interrupted, provide an estimated length of the outage in 30-minute increments, and specify the areas affected by the outage using city, county, and state lines.

The requirement for these notifications is set to take effect on July 1, 2025. This legislation aims to enhance communication between utility providers and customers during outages, ensuring that individuals are promptly informed about service interruptions and their expected duration.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 24-2-17a