House 4891

2026 Regular Session

Link to Bill History on Legacy Website (Click Here)

Summary: To require all utility companies to absorb the costs of maintenance, upgrades, and repairs for their pipes, cables, utility poles, electrical lines, and other necessities without increasing rates or costs to consumers/customers.
PDF: hb4891 intr.pdf
DOCX: HB4891 INTR.docx


WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4891

By Delegates Bridges, Roop, Dean, Vance, and Pritt

[Introduced January 28, 2026; referred to the Committee on Energy and Public Works]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §24-3-3b, relating to requiring all utility companies to absorb the costs of maintenance, upgrades, and repairs for the infrastructure used in delivering services and prohibiting the cost of said maintenance and upgrades being passed on to the consumer.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 3. Duties and Privileges of Public Utilities Subject to Regulations of Commission.

§24-3-3b. Maintenance and upgrades of utility infrastructure.

(a) Any business entity who provides utility services to West Virginians shall maintain the infrastructure necessary to provide said services in serviceable, working condition and shall absorb the cost of said maintenance or upgrades.

(b) Any business entity performing the maintenance or upgrades described in this section shall not pass the cost burden on to customers and shall maintain records that conclusively show that these costs were not included in any justification for a rate increase or any other increased financial burden upon the customer.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to ensure that utility companies absorb the costs associated with maintenance and upgrades without passing that cost on to customers.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.