More than 1,000 residents back Ratepayer Bill of Rights as public support grows for stronger consumer protections
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With West Virginians continuing to feel the strain of rising utility costs, residents are calling for state leaders to make energy affordability and stronger ratepayer protections a priority in the upcoming legislative session.
That call is gaining momentum. More than 1,000 West Virginians have now signed the West Virginia Ratepayer Bill of Rights, supporting a framework designed to protect consumers, increase accountability and give ratepayers a stronger voice in decisions that affect their monthly bills.
The growing support echoes statewide polling showing that West Virginians want action to lower energy costs and give consumers more options. In a survey of 500 registered voters, 84% supported policies that could reduce utility bills through renewable energy and energy efficiency, while 66% said they would switch to community solar if doing so saved them money.
“West Virginians are telling us again and again that affordability has to come first,” said Caity Coyne, program manager at West Virginians for Energy Freedom. “The strong and growing support for the Ratepayer Bill of Rights reinforces what we hear from families across the state. They want reliable electricity, but they also want reasonable bills, greater accountability and the ability to choose options that can save them money.”
The Ratepayer Bill of Rights provides lawmakers with a framework for responding to those concerns. Its eight principles address fair and reasonable rates, reliable service, transparent billing, fair disconnection policies, access to energy assistance and efficiency programs, renewable energy choices, fair representation and dispute resolution, and meaningful public participation in decisions affecting utility customers.
The framework does not require lawmakers to adopt all eight recommendations in a single piece of legislation. Each principle offers opportunities for lawmakers to advance policies that could benefit ratepayers, while together they provide a guide for evaluating energy and utility legislation.
As lawmakers prepare for the upcoming session, West Virginians for Energy Freedom says that framework is especially important. Despite years of rising utility costs and growing concern among ratepayers, the Legislature has yet to enact comprehensive protections addressing many of these issues.
“This gives lawmakers a place to start,” said Emmett Pepper, policy director at Energy Efficient West Virginia, a coalition partner of West Virginians for Energy Freedom. “Every proposal doesn't have to solve every problem. If legislation makes bills more affordable, gives customers more information, expands opportunities to save energy, protects people from unfair practices or gives ratepayers a stronger voice, that's progress. The Ratepayer Bill of Rights provides options for getting there.”
Taken together, the polling and growing number of Ratepayer Bill of Rights supporters point to a consistent message: West Virginians want their elected leaders and regulators to put the people paying utility bills at the center of energy decisions.
The upcoming legislative session provides lawmakers an opportunity to respond.
“West Virginians shouldn't have to accept continually rising utility bills as something they can do nothing about,” said Coyne. “The Ratepayer Bill of Rights offers policies that can help. More than 1,000 West Virginians have already said they want action, and thousands more agree. Now we need lawmakers to listen to their constituents and begin moving those solutions forward.”
West Virginians for Energy Freedom is a coalition of West Virginia organizations and residents working to ensure affordable and reliable energy, greater consumer choice and a stronger voice for ratepayers in decisions affecting their utility service.
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