Lawmakers Join Advocates At Capitol To Call For Energy Affordability

West Virginians gathered at the capitol Thursday for Affordability Day, to urge lawmakers to take action on rising electric bills. They were promoting legislation called the Ratepayers Bill of Rights. 

Del. Jeff Eldridge, R-Lincoln, the bill’s sponsor, joined West Virginians for Energy Freedom at a press conference to discuss House Bill 5648 that outlines the rights ratepayers have when it comes to their utility bills. 

“We’ll call it the MAMAW act,” he said. “It’s the Managing energy Affordability by Maintaining Assistance and Weatherization Act.”

The legislation spells out the Ratepayer Bill of Rights and says every West Virginian has the right to: 

• fair and reasonable rates
• reliable and fair service
• transparent and accurate billing
• fair disconnection protections
• energy assistance and efficiency
• access to renewable energy
• dispute resolution
• public participation 

“I feel the struggles of every West Virginia out there, and I hear about it, and hopefully they will see that I am over here trying to help them,” Eldridge said.

Electricity rates have doubled in the last 15 years in West Virginia according to Emmett Pepper from the West Virginians for Energy Freedom. 

“This is a top concern, as we’ve seen from folks around West Virginia, particularly Republican voters in this state,” he said. “It’s a top issue tied with the economy, and so there is no issue that is more important. But unfortunately, there is no issue that has had less action in this legislative session. There have been no bills that have passed, at least, that would do much at all for anyone’s electric bills.”

House Bill 5648 is currently in the House Energy and Public Works committee. It has to leave the committee by Sunday to get three full days of hearing in the House of Delegates prior to Crossover Day on March 4.