The proposed bill introduces the "Energy Economic Load Dispatch Act" to amend the Code of West Virginia by adding new articles that establish operational impact standards for the Public Service Commission (PSC). Key provisions include requirements for utilities to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity, which will now necessitate compliance with the True Cost Economic Load Dispatch. This compliance is essential for receiving, retaining, or expanding such certificates and gives the PSC the authority to condition, suspend, or revoke them for non-compliance. Additionally, the bill mandates that integrated resource plans submitted by utilities must include resource adequacy and reliability planning, thereby providing the PSC with a statutory standard for review.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a statutory presumption that costs incurred by utilities that do not comply with the True Cost Economic Load Dispatch are considered imprudent and cannot be recovered from customers. It also outlines how the PSC's authority in certification, siting, and permitting will be impacted, requiring compliance with existing laws and denying approvals based on non-compliant dispatch outcomes. The PSC is tasked with implementing these standards in its decision-making processes under Chapter 24 of the code, ensuring that utilities adhere to the new operational impact requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 24-2J-1, 24-2J-2, 24-2J-3, 24-2J-4, 24-2J-5, 24-2J-6