The proposed bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing a new article titled "Securing West Virginia Baseload Coal Generation and Ratepayer Protection Act." It establishes operational capacity requirements for electric utility generators, mandating that all electric generating units operate at an optimum capacity factor of 69% until 2040. Additionally, the bill requires that each electric generating unit maintain a 45-day base fuel supply on-site to ensure reliability. The West Virginia Public Service Commission is tasked with promulgating rules to implement these requirements and oversee the actions of power-generating utilities.

Furthermore, the bill outlines specific actions that power-generating utilities must undertake, including submitting supplemental information to their Integrated Resource Plans within 90 days of the bill's effective date. This information must detail plans for maintaining and upgrading existing plants to ensure they operate effectively through 2040. The Public Service Commission is also directed to evaluate capacity auctions, assess existing coal generation plants, and establish criteria for the economic dispatch of coal-fired power plants to ensure they operate in a manner that benefits state ratepayers. The bill prohibits utilities from using funds secured under certain provisions to cease operations or decommission any electric generating units without prior approval from the Public Service Commission.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 24-9-1, 24-9-2, 24-9-3, 24-9-4