The bill introduced on February 26, 2025, aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by establishing the Public Electrical Savings Act. It modifies Section 24-2-1, which outlines the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission (PSC) over various public utilities. Key changes include the insertion of provisions that clarify the exemption of certain onsite energy facilities from being classified as public services, provided they meet specific conditions. These conditions include limits on the size of the energy facilities for residential, commercial, and industrial customers, as well as requirements for power purchase agreements (PPAs) to ensure cost-effectiveness and provisions for onsite power storage.

Additionally, the bill introduces new regulations regarding the oversight of PPAs, including the requirement for public entities to guarantee lower costs than those offered by local utilities and to limit the duration of such agreements to five years. The PSC is granted authority to inspect meters related to these agreements and to establish rules for their interconnections. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the regulatory framework surrounding onsite energy generation while ensuring consumer protection and promoting the use of renewable energy sources.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 24-2-1