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HB 3263

Relating to providing notification of utility service disruption to its' customers

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Pushkin and 1 co-sponsor

Requires WV PSC-regulated utilities to adopt and submit an outage communication plan, ensuring customers receive notice for planned and unplanned outages with timing estimates.

Chapter 238, Acts, Regular Session, 2025
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Bill Summary · HB 3263

Summary — HB 3263 (2025), West Virginia

Status: Enacted — Chapter 238, Acts, Regular Session, 2025
Introduced: March 7, 2025
Sponsors: Del. Allison Pushkin (primary) and Del. Young (cosponsor)
Subject: Public Service Commission / Utility customer notification

Purpose

The bill requires utilities regulated by the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) to adopt and provide the PSC with an "outage communication plan" so customers receive timely notice and information about both planned and unplanned service disruptions.

Key provisions

  • Adds new §24-2-22 to the Code of West Virginia (Article 2 — Powers and Duties of the Public Service Commission).
  • Requires each utility to have an outage communication plan to notify customers of planned and unexpected disruptions to utility services.
  • The plan must include a methodology for prior notice to all affected customers for planned service interruptions.
  • The plan must include a method for notifying customers about outages and provide estimates about the expected length of the disruption.
  • Each utility is required to provide its outage communication plan to the Public Service Commission.

Who is affected

  • Utilities regulated by the West Virginia Public Service Commission — typically electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and other investor‑owned or regulated utilities that provide retail services in the state.
  • Utility customers statewide, who would receive standardized advance notice for planned outages and better information during unplanned outages.
  • The PSC, which will receive (and likely maintain) the outage plans submitted by utilities.

Implementation, enforcement, and timeline

  • The bill requires utilities to prepare and submit plans to the PSC but does not specify an approval process, review timeline, minimum notice intervals, required communication channels, or explicit penalties for noncompliance in the statutory text.
  • Because the statute directs plan submission to the PSC, subsequent PSC rules, orders, or utility tariff filings may establish more detailed standards, timelines, or enforcement mechanisms.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Benefits: improved customer awareness and expectations during outages; potential for more consistent communication across utilities; enhanced public safety and customer satisfaction.
  • Costs/administrative burden: utilities may incur costs to develop, implement, or upgrade communication systems, and to train staff for outage communications.
  • Ambiguities: the statute leaves many operational details to implementing action (e.g., what constitutes adequate prior notice, acceptable notification methods, or plan review/approval), so further PSC guidance or rulemaking will be important to define compliance standards.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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