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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill HB 4195 places a temporary two-year cap on electrical utility rates
Last action · January 14, 2026: To House Energy and Public WorksSponsor: Evan Hansen
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What This Bill Proposed
West Virginia HB 4195 requires the Public Service Commission to cap electric utility generation and distribution rates at current levels until July 1, 2027. The bill applies to incumbent electric utilities providing service within the state, protecting customers from further rate increases except for fuel and purchased power cost recoveries.
Residential and commercial electric consumers face frozen generation and distribution prices for two years, while utilities are restricted from adjusting baseline charges outside of fuel and power procurement costs.
- The Public Service Commission of West Virginia regulates rates, services, and charges of public utilities operating within the state. 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.
lower income residents
Electric utility generation and distribution rates are frozen at current levels, limiting price growth on household utility expenses.
elderly residents living on monthly social security checks
Fixed-income seniors experience a temporary halt in electric bill increases, which often constitute a major household expense.
electric utilities
Utilities are prohibited from raising baseline generation and distribution rates until July 1, 2027, except for fuel and purchased power costs.
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
When do the electric rate caps expire?
Can utility companies still change their rates while the cap is active?
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- Jan 14, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Energy and Public Works
- Jan 14, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Jan 14, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Energy and Public Works then Finance
- Jan 14, 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.
Two-Year Rate Freeze on Electrical Utilities
HB 4195 mandates a temporary shift by freezing electric generation and distribution rates at current levels until July 1, 2027, superseding standard utility rate adjustment processes.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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