WEST virginia legislature

2023 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 263

By Senators Phillips and Smith

[Introduced January 17, 2023; referred

to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §24-2-22, relating to requiring the Public Service Commission to be involved in all construction contracts between utility companies under the auspice of the commission and vendors.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. powers and duties of public service commission.

§24-2-22. Mandatory commission involvement in construction contracts.

(a) Any and all utility companies that are under the auspices of the Public Service Commission are required to have the Commission involved in the contract process for construction contracts between that utility company and vendors.

(b) Contracts shall be approved as to form by the Commission. A contract that requires more than six months for its fulfillment shall be filed with the State Auditor.

(c) When the director of the Commission has reasonable cause to believe that a contract provision violates terms set by the Commission, the director shall request the Commission to commence an action under this section against the contractor for the violation. Any action under this section is a civil action.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide that the Public Service Commission be involved in construction contracts between utility companies under the auspice of the Commission.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.