Plain English Breakdown
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HB4195 • 2026
Placing a two year a cap on electrical utility rates
Placing a two year a cap on electrical utility rates
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-01-14
H
To House Energy and Public Works
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2026-01-14
H
Introduced in House
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2026-01-14
H
To Energy and Public Works then Finance
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2026-01-14
H
Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
Placing a two year a cap on electrical utility rates
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB 4195 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Introduced Version House Bill 4195 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION FISCAL NOTE Introduced House Bill 4195 By Delegate Hansen [Introduced January 14, 2026; referred to the Committee on Energy and Public Works then Finance] A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §24-2-4i, relating to placing a two year a cap on electrical utility rates. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 2. POWERS AND DUTIES OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. §24-2-4i. Capped electric rates. (a) Legislative findings - West Virginians' electric rates more than doubled between 2005 and 2022, outpacing the increases in every other state in the country. Because West Virginians have the second lowest median income of any state, these electric rate increases have caused great hardship to lower income residents, including elderly residents living on monthly social security checks. In many instances electric bills are the single highest expense, particularly in the winter and summer. Rising electric rates also harm West Virginia's economy and impede the state's ability to attract technology businesses such as data centers and other industries that use large amounts of electricity. (b) Electric utility rates capped - Notwithstanding any provisions of this article to the contrary, upon the effective date of this section, the Commission shall establish capped rates for each electric utility as follows: (1) Capped rates shall be established for customers purchasing generation and distribution services from such an electric utility at the then-current rates; and (2) Such capped rates shall be the rates in effect for each such electric utility until July 1, 2027. The Commission may only adjust such capped rates in connection with such electric utility's recovery of fuel and purchased power costs. Until the expiration or termination of capped rates as provided in this section, the incumbent electric utility shall make electric service available at capped rates established under this subsection to any customer in the incumbent electric utility's service territory. Rates after the expiration of capped rates shall equal capped rates until such rates are changed pursuant to the other provisions of this article. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide relief to West Virginia residents and businesses from the rocket ride of rapidly rising utility rates by placing a temporary cap on electrical utility rates. Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added. Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: