Rising utility costs and the growth of data centers are intensifying concerns about energy affordability in West Virginia. Emmett Pepper of Energy Efficient West Virginia calls for stronger consumer protections, including a Ratepayers’ Bill of Rights, to help families understand and manage rising energy costs. The conversation underscores the urgent need for policy solutions focused on ratepayer fairness and energy affordability. Emmett Pepper Joins Metro News Midday to discuss:

The discussion highlights growing concerns about rising energy costs in West Virginia, intensified by the potential expansion of data centers and their impact on electricity rates. Emmett Pepper of Energy Efficient West Virginia emphasizes that utility rates have been increasing for years, long before data centers became a major issue, and that many residents are struggling to afford basic energy needs. He notes a lack of concrete solutions from state leadership and calls for a stronger focus on consumer protections.

Pepper argues that a “Ratepayers’ Bill of Rights” could unite stakeholders by improving transparency at the Public Service Commission, strengthening protections for vulnerable populations such as seniors and low-income households, and making energy costs easier to understand. The conversation also underscores the real-world consequences of high energy bills, including unsafe coping strategies like using ovens for heat, illustrating the urgent need for policy action focused on affordability and consumer safety.