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SB 230

Requiring electric utility meter choice

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Amy Grady and 1 co-sponsor

WV would require electric utilities to offer customers meter-choice options and clear data/billing implications.

To Energy, Industry, and Mining
#utilities
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Bill Summary · SB 230

Summary of SB 230 (Session 2026) – West Virginia

Overview

  • Title: Requiring electric utility meter choice
  • Jurisdiction: West Virginia
  • Session: 2026
  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee on January 14, 2026
  • Sponsors: Co-sponsors Amy Grady and Craig Hart

Note: The bill text provided appears in an unreadable format, but the title and section history indicate the bill’s central aim is to require some form of electric utility meter choice. The summary below reflects the stated purpose and typical policy implications associated with such a title.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The bill seeks to address consumer choice in metering for electric service. Specifically, it appears to require or mandate some degree of meter choice or alternatives to the conventional metering approach used by electric utilities.
  • The intent is to empower customers with options relating to how their electricity usage is measured, billed, or both.

2) Key Provisions and Changes (as implied by the title)

While the exact statutory language is not accessible in the provided text, a bill with the title “Requiring electric utility meter choice” typically includes provisions such as:
- Metering Options: Requirements for utilities to offer customers multiple metering options (e.g., standard meters, digital/advanced meters, or other measurement technologies).
- Customer Enrollment and Access: Procedures for customers to select their preferred meter type or mode of metering, including any opt-in/opt-out processes.
- Billing and Rate Impacts: Clarification of how different meter choices affect rates, billing schedules, and data access (e.g., interval data or usage information).
- Data Access and Privacy: Standards for customer access to usage data collected by meters, and protections for privacy.
- Implementation Timeline: Deadlines or phased timelines for utilities to implement or offer meter-choice options.
- Public Utility Oversight: Potential involvement of state utility regulators to approve or oversee meter-choice programs and ensure compliance.
- Cost Allocation: Provisions governing who bears the cost of new meters or technologies and how those costs are recovered (ratepayer impact, capital investments, etc.).

If additional details become available (e.g., committee amendments, fiscal notes, or the exact text), the summary can be updated to reflect specific sections and requirements.

3) Who/What is Affected

  • Electric Utilities in West Virginia: Utilities would be required to offer or implement meter-choice options for customers.
  • Residential and Commercial/Industrial Customers: broad applicability to end users who receive electric service, potentially allowing individuals and businesses to choose preferred metering options.
  • Regulatory Agencies (State): The Public Service Commission or equivalent state regulator would oversee and implement the meter-choice framework, ensuring compliance and handling complaints or disputes.
  • Metering Vendors/Providers: Providers of metering technology and related data services may be impacted by new requirements to support multiple meter types and data access.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction: Filed for introduction on January 14, 2026.
  • Referral: Referred to the Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee for review.
  • Legislative Process: As a bill, it would follow standard WV Senate procedure, including committee hearings, potential amendments, floor debates, and votes in the Senate, followed by passage to the House of Delegates (and vice versa) if applicable, before potential gubernatorial action.
  • Implementation Timeline: Specific timelines (effective dates, phasing) are not visible in the provided text; typically such bills include effective dates upon enactment and staggered implementation for utilities.

Notes

  • The provided bill text is not readable, so this summary relies on the stated title and typical policy content associated with “meter choice” in electricity regulation.
  • For a precise, section-by-section explanation, the exact bill language (sections, definitions, and amendments) would be needed. If available, I can update with detailed provisions, fiscal impact, and regulatory language.

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

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