This bill proposes the establishment of a Utility Continuity Rate Credit Program for public and private entities that own, lease, or oversee water supply or electrical supply utilities in West Virginia, effective July 1, 2025. It introduces new sections in the Code of West Virginia, specifically defining terms such as "Continuity Credit," "qualifying outage," and "water outage." The bill outlines the conditions under which utility customers can receive a continuity credit, including experiencing a qualifying outage, being a customer at the time of the outage, making a qualifying purchase, and submitting an application within specified timeframes. The credit is set at 50% of the qualifying purchase, capped at $2,500, and amortized over 24 months.

Additionally, the bill mandates that municipalities, counties, and the Public Service Commission develop policies and application forms to implement the program. It also stipulates that utility providers cannot use the requirements of this program as a justification for raising rates. The Public Service Commission is tasked with overseeing the program and ensuring compliance with the established rules. Overall, the bill aims to provide financial relief to customers affected by utility outages while ensuring accountability from utility providers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-19-23, 16-13A-26, 24-2-22