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Bill

SR 50

Requesting Joint Committee on Government and Finance study PSC

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Vince Deeds and 5 co-sponsors

The resolution directs a formal study of the Public Service Commission’s effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability to inform potential reforms.

Completed legislative action
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Bill Summary · SR 50

Overview

  • Bill: Senate Resolution 50 (SR 50)
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: West Virginia
  • Introduced by: Senators Roberts, Deeds, Fuller, Hamilton, Tarr, Thorne, and Weld
  • Origin: Committee on the Workforce; reported February 24, 2026
  • Type: Resolution requesting a study by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance (JCGF)
  • Purpose: To study the effectiveness and efficiency of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) in carrying out its statutory duties and exercising its legal authority

Purpose and Intent

SR 50 seeks a comprehensive evaluation of the PSC to determine whether it properly fulfills its regulatory mission:
- Regulating public utilities to ensure safe, reliable, and fairly priced services for West Virginia residents and businesses
- Exercising broad statutory authority over practices, services, and rates of public utilities
- Protecting ratepayer interests while maintaining adequate, economical, and reliable utility services

The resolution frames concerns about rising utility costs and service reliability and directs a formal study to assess whether the PSC operates in a manner consistent with legislative intent and public interest.

Key Provisions and Areas of Study

The Joint Committee on Government and Finance is asked to examine, at minimum, the following:

  1. Regulatory Adequacy

    • Do the PSC’s regulatory actions adequately serve the interests of all West Virginia ratepayers?

  2. Rate Increase and Cost-Recovery Review Processes

    • Effectiveness of procedures for reviewing and approving rate increases
    • Evaluation of infrastructure improvements and other utility cost-recovery requests

  3. Deliberative Process Quality

    • Timeliness, transparency, and overall consistency of the PSC’s decision-making process

  4. Accountability and Compliance

    • How well the PSC ensures utilities maintain service quality, reliability, and compliance with applicable state and federal laws

  5. Resources and Structure

    • Adequacy of the PSC’s organizational structure, staffing levels, and other resources to fulfill regulatory responsibilities

  6. Governance Model Consideration

    • Whether PSC members would be more accountable and effective if elected by voters rather than appointed by the Governor

  7. Additional Reforms

    • Any other statutory or administrative changes necessary to improve performance, efficiency, and public accountability

Scope and Outputs

  • The study is to be conducted by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
  • Deliverables: Findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including proposed legislation if warranted.
  • Timeline: Report due to the Senate no later than January 1, 2027, to enable consideration during the 2027 regular session.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) and its staffing and procedures
  • Public utilities regulated by the PSC (residential, commercial, governmental, and industrial customers)
  • West Virginia ratepayers (households and businesses)
  • State government and policymakers, who would use the study findings to consider potential legislative or administrative changes

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • SR 50 originated in the Senate Workforce Committee and was reported adopted with immediate effect on February 24–25, 2026
  • The resolution authorizes a formal joint study by the JCGF
  • Final report due date: January 1, 2027
  • Any resulting legislation would be considered in the 2027 regular session

Potential Impacts

  • The study could inform potential reforms to PSC governance, operations, budgeting, and regulatory processes
  • If concerns about efficiency or accountability are substantiated, lawmakers may pursue changes to improve ratepayer protections and service reliability
  • The question of electing PSC members versus gubernatorial appointment could lead to constitutional or statutory changes if pursued

Summary

SR 50 is a Senate-backed resolution directing the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct a thorough, multi-faceted assessment of the Public Service Commission’s effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability. It addresses regulatory performance, process transparency, resource adequacy, and governance considerations, with a final report due by January 1, 2027 to inform potential legislative actions in the 2027 session.

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

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