FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: February 18, 2026
Time Requested: 01:41 PM |
| Agency: |
Public Service Commission |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 3770 |
Revised |
HB5642 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Utilities |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
SPECIAL
Sources of Revenue:
Special Fund
Legislation creates:
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
Summarize in a clear and concise manner what impact this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The bill proposes to create a team within the Water Development Authority composed of
an experienced engineer, an experienced accountant and an experienced water and sewer
operations manager, with a combined level of experience totaling 25 years. Their
salaries, benefits, travel expenses, etc. could reach $400,000 in the first fiscal year
with further increases in future year to cover inflation. These expenses would be
incurred by the Water Development Authority not the Public Service Commission.
The team is also permitted to hire consultants and experts to assist them in their
duties. Experts hired by the Public Service Commission cost between $150,000 to
$250,000. These expenses would be incurred by the Water Development Authority not the
Public Service Commission.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2026
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2027
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
200,000 |
400,000 |
400,000 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Please explain increases and decreases in personal services, current expenses, repairs and alterations, assets, other costs and revenues, including assumptions and data sources and delineation between start-up and ongoing costs. Please also include a long-range schedule of costs and revenues if fiscal impact is expected to vary in future years.
The bill proposes to create a team within the Water Development Authority composed of
an experienced engineer, an experienced accountant and an experienced water and sewer
operations manager, with a combined level of experience totaling 25 years. Their
salaries, benefits, travel expenses, etc. could reach $400,000 in the first fiscal year
with further increases in future year to cover inflation. These expenses would be
incurred by the Water Development Authority not the Public Service Commission.
The team is also permitted to hire consultants and experts to assist them in their
duties. Experts hired by the Public Service Commission cost between $150,000 to
$250,000. These expenses would be incurred by the Water Development Authority not the
Public Service Commission.
Memorandum
Please identify any areas of vagueness, technical defects, reasons a bill would not have a fiscal impact, and/or any special issues not captured elsewhere on this form.
The bill proposes to create a team within the Water Development Authority composed of
an experienced engineer, an experienced accountant and an experienced water and sewer
operations manager, with a combined level of experience totaling 25 years. Their
salaries, benefits, travel expenses, etc. could reach $400,000 in the first fiscal year
with further increases in future year to cover inflation. These expenses would be
incurred by the Water Development Authority not the Public Service Commission.
The team is also permitted to hire consultants and experts to assist them in their
duties. Experts hired by the Public Service Commission cost between $150,000 to
$250,000. These expenses would be incurred by the Water Development Authority not the
Public Service Commission.
In addition, the procedures provide for emergency Commission proceedings pursuant to
24-2J-7. The Commission is to enter a show cause order 7 days after the filing of the
complaint and hold an evidentiary hearing 21 days after the show cause order is
entered. However, the statute provides 30 days for discovery with the option of
extending that an additional 14 days. Finally a final order must be entered 30 days
after the hearing, with the total time from filing the complaint to final order not
exceeding 58 days. Discovery will not be complete at the time of the hearing and if
the extra 14 days are granted, the discovery will be complete the same day that the
final order must be entered.
The Commission also has concerns regarding confidentiality of information - in some
parts, information is protected but in others - information is to be provided to the
public. Additional work on bill is needed to ensure that certain information remains
protected from disclosure.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Robert Adkins, General Counsel
Email Address: radkins@psc.state.wv.us