Supporting Responsible Competition Between West Virginia Electrical Utilities

HB 3021 requires West Virginia's Department of Commerce to develop a "competition plan" allowing electricity consumers to choose among multiple utility providers within the same geographic area. The bill mandates that any approved deregulation plan must include specific disclosures for consumers: energy sources used, federal/state subsidies received, environmental management practices, and detailed rate options. It also sets technical requirements for utility operators, including a 75% average daily utilization rate and 10% reserve capacity beyond peak demand to ensure grid reliability. Additionally, the bill separates grid maintenance responsibilities from utility operators, requiring utilities to contract with independent maintenance providers and include those costs in consumer rates.