This bill aims to amend and reenact section 24-1-7 of the Code of West Virginia and introduce a new article, 24-9-1, which focuses on the regulation of data centers. The bill stipulates that the rules and regulations set forth by the Public Service Commission will now be subject to legislative rule-making review procedures, ensuring greater oversight and transparency. It also includes provisions that require all rules and regulations to be promulgated in accordance with the established legislative procedures, while maintaining that previously established rules remain effective until modified or repealed.

Additionally, the bill provides legislative findings that highlight concerns regarding the transparency of energy deals made by utilities for data centers operated by major companies like Amazon and Google, which could potentially lead to inflated electricity rates for consumers. It defines a "data center" and establishes that all new technology services, including data centers, must propose rules in line with the legislative rule-making process. This legislative oversight aims to ensure that the expansion of data centers does not adversely affect consumers or the energy market.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 24-1-7, 24-9-1