The bill introduced on February 26, 2025, aims to amend and reenact section 24-2-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, to establish the Public Electrical Savings Act. This legislation expands the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission (PSC) to include regulations surrounding onsite energy facilities designed to meet the electrical needs of retail electric customers. Key provisions include stipulations that power purchase agreements (PPAs) must be in a specified font size, limit the total capacity of such agreements to three percent of a utility's peak demand, and set individual customer generator limits based on customer type. Additionally, the PSC is granted authority to inspect meters related to these agreements and to ensure that public entities entering into PPAs provide cost guarantees and provisions for onsite power storage.

The bill also includes several deletions and insertions to clarify the definitions and regulations surrounding these energy facilities. Notably, it specifies that no public entity can enter into a PPA exceeding five years in duration and mandates that such agreements include provisions for backup power storage capable of sustaining the facility for at least 48 hours during outages. The legislation emphasizes the importance of local governance in regulating municipal power systems, stating that the PSC will not have jurisdiction over the rates, fees, and charges set by these systems. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the regulatory framework for onsite energy generation while ensuring consumer protections and promoting energy savings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 24-2-1