WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 800

By Senators Romano, Facemire, and Smith

[Introduced February 17, 2020; referred
to the Committee on Economic Development]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §31G-4-5a, relating to authorizing electric utilities to construct and operate a project within the electric utility distribution system.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

article 4. make-ready pole access.

§31G-4-5a. Electric power utilities providing broadband services.

An electric utility may construct and operate a broadband infrastructure expansion project utilizing the electric utility distribution system and rights-of-way. This service is added to the list of an electric utility’s statutory “powers”.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize electric utilities to construct and operate a project within the electric utility distribution system.

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