Rising utility costs have become a familiar burden for West Virginia residents, prompting lawmakers to consider new ways to provide relief.
In August, the Public Service Commission of West Virginia approved a $76.1 million rate increase for American Electric Power, adding to mounting concerns about affordability across the state.
Ohio County Senator Laura Chapman says those rising costs are putting families in difficult positions.
“You shouldn’t have to worry about putting food on the table, buying medicine, or choosing between life-saving prescriptions and paying your electric bill,” Chapman said. “Water rates are through the roof, utilities are out of control, and we need to figure out why.”
Chapman has introduced Senate Bill 461, legislation that would allow the West Virginia Legislature to veto certain utility rate increases approved by the Public Service Commission.
Under the proposal, lawmakers would not be required to approve every rate hike, but they would have the authority to intervene when they believe an increase is unreasonable.
“To provide the Legislature the ability to veto a rate increase that is proposed by a utility company and approved by the Public Service Commission,” Chapman explained. “If it’s too high, or if there have already been rate increases the year before, the Legislature could step in and veto it.”
Chapman emphasized that the bill is designed as a safeguard rather than a complete transfer of authority from regulators to lawmakers.
“I purposely did not put in there an approval requirement by the Legislature,” she said. “This is simply if we believe a particular rate increase is not a good idea, based on whatever factors are present.”
According to Move.Org, West Virginia currently has the highest average monthly utility costs in the nation, estimated at $734 per household.
Senate Bill 461 would need approval from both the Senate and the House of Delegates before it could become law.