The "Energy Freedom and Fairness Act" seeks to amend the Code of West Virginia by creating a competitive retail market for electric power specifically for non-residential customers with a demand exceeding one megawatt, effective January 1, 2027. The bill empowers these customers to choose their electric power suppliers from competitive service providers or the wholesale market. It includes provisions for the Public Service Commission to set load capacity allowances, manage a subscription queue for customers, and ensure transparency in utility rates. Additionally, electric utilities are required to provide detailed billing information to facilitate customer comparisons in the competitive market.

To ensure fair practices, the bill mandates that competitive service providers obtain licenses from the commission, which will oversee their operations to prevent unreasonable cost shifts to non-participating ratepayers. The commission is also responsible for ensuring that the act's implementation does not negatively impact customers who remain with the incumbent utility. The legislation emphasizes the need for reliable transmission and distribution services while allowing large electricity users the flexibility to procure their own power. Furthermore, the commission must initiate a stakeholder input process within six months of the bill's effective date and submit an annual report to the Governor and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance detailing the competitive bid process and market participation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 24-9-1, 24-9-2, 24-9-3, 24-9-4, 24-9-5, 24-9-6, 24-9-7, 24-9-8, 24-9-9