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HB5041 • 2026
Electric Utility Meter choice
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Electric Utility Meter choice
To House Energy and Public Works
Introduced in House
To Energy and Public Works
Filed for introduction
Electric Utility Meter choice
HB 5041 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 5041 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION Introduced House Bill 5041 By Delegates Dillon, Masters, Ridenour, and Anders [Introduced February 02, 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 article, designated §24-2J-1 and §24-2J-2, relating to requiring that all electricity providers give their customers a choice in the style of meter installed on their homes, businesses, or rental units. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: article 2j. electrical Meter choice. §24-2J-1. Legislative findings. (a) The Legislature finds that consumer choice is a fundamental aspect of the free enterprise economic system upon which our system functions. (b) The Legislature finds that many citizens have voiced concern and displeasure regarding their lack of choice regarding the type of electrical meter installed on their property by the servicing utility. (c) The Legislature finds that citizens' concerns regarding certain types of electrical meters, commonly referred to as "Smart Meters", include radiation emissions, fire risks, data security, and other concerns which have not been adequately addressed, and that these concerns bolster citizens' assertions that more choice is necessary regarding such meters. §24-2J-2. Meter choice requirements. (a) Electrical utilities must provide customers with the option to deny installation of a "smart meter" in favor of an electrical meter which is read manually, does not contain a battery, and does not emit an electromagnetic signal. (b) Incidental electromagnetic radiation emitted by the natural process of electricity flowing through the meter as part of the electricity supplied to the customer shall not constitute an electromagnetic signal under this section. (c) Electrical utilities utilizing AMR, digital, or "smart meter" technology are authorized to transmit only the total kilowatt-hour usage for each month, using the fewest total transmissions necessary to collect essential usage information for billing purposes. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require that all electricity providers give their customers a choice between the smart meters and manually read meters that are installed on their homes, businesses, or rental units. 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: