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HB4891 • 2026

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.

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.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Bridges, Roop , Dean , Vance , Pritt
Last action
2026-01-28
Official status
H To House Energy and Public Works 01/28/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

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.

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.

What This Bill Does

  • 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.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-28 H

    To House Energy and Public Works

  2. 2026-01-28 H

    Introduced in House

  3. 2026-01-28 H

    To Energy and Public Works

  4. 2026-01-28 H

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 4891 Text

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Introduced Version

House Bill 4891 History

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Green
= existing Code.
Red
= new code to be enacted

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.

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