This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to redefine the authority of the Public Service Commission (PSC) concerning electric utilities. It establishes that the PSC's jurisdiction is limited to hearing requests for rate adjustments from public electric utilities and making recommendations to the Legislature regarding these requests. Furthermore, the bill mandates that any adjustments to rates for public electric utilities must be approved through a specific bill by the Legislature, thereby increasing legislative oversight over utility rate changes.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions that aim to enhance the transparency and accountability of the PSC's operations. It requires the PSC to provide annual reports to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, detailing its activities, policy decisions, and the balance of supply and demand for utility services. The changes reflect a legislative intent to ensure that the regulation of electric utilities is conducted with greater public involvement and legislative scrutiny, particularly in light of rising utility rates and the need for fair pricing practices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 24-1-1