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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill Establishes Electric Choice and Competition Act for Large Non-Residential Customers
Last action · February 17, 2026: To House Energy and Public WorksSponsors: Chris Anders and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
Effective January 1, 2027, West Virginia non-residential electric customers with peak demand exceeding one megawatt are permitted to purchase power directly from competitive suppliers or the wholesale market. The legislation requires the Public Service Commission to establish utility load capacity allowances, implement a subscription queue, and enforce competitive service provider licensing rules.
Non-residential retail customers with over one megawatt of demand gain the option to procure power from third-party suppliers, while electric utilities must adjust billing transparency and operate under commission oversight to prevent cost shifting to residential and non-participating ratepayers.
- Public service commissions in various states regulate intrastate utility rates, service standards, and market rules for electricity distribution. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Non-residential retail customers
Eligible non-residential customers with demand over one megawatt gain the option to purchase electric power from third-party suppliers and participate in aggregation programs.
Electric utilities
Electric utilities must comply with new customer notice periods for returning to utility supply, provide detailed line-item billing transparency, and adhere to commission capacity allowances.
Competitive service providers
Entities providing electric power supply to retail customers must be licensed by the commission, pay an annual fee of $10,000, and maintain a $1 million surety bond.
Ratepayers
Non-participating ratepayers are protected by commission oversight designed to prevent the unreasonable shifting of costs resulting from retail competition.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which businesses are eligible to purchase power from a competitive supplier under this bill?
Can a customer who switches to a competitive supplier return to standard utility service later?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Energy and Public Works
- Feb 17, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Energy and Public Works then Judiciary
- Feb 17, 2026HouseIntroducedFiled for introduction
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Transition to Retail Electric Competition
The bill represents a structural shift for West Virginia's energy sector by opening power procurement to non-residential customers with over one megawatt of demand.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 80)
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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