Relating to expanding the requirements for integrated resource plans utility companies must file with the Public Service Commission

West Virginia utilities face broader planning rules

The law expands long-term planning rules for West Virginia electric utilities. Plans must compare power supply and ways to manage demand, weighing cost, risk, reliability, and recovery from disruptions. After July 1, 2026, every filed, amended, supplemented, or revised plan must analyze current and possible future grid technologies. These include advanced power lines, changing line-capacity ratings, power-flow controls, and tools to improve grid connections. Analyses must cover technical and economic feasibility, possible rollout dates, total costs, and costs and benefits for West Virginia customers. The law does not itself require technology installation or change customer rates. By July 1, 2025, utilities must also supplement plans with generating-unit upgrades, maintenance, schedules, and costs through planned retirement. They must analyze steps needed to keep each unit running beyond its planned retirement date. Utilities generally must update plans at least every five years. The initial filing deadline was January 1, 2016, following a commission directive due by March 31, 2015. Utilities with an existing approved resource-review requirement were exempt initially but must file within five years after satisfying it, then every five years. The Public Service Commission can request more information and approve plant plans with changes after notice and public comment. Required rules must let utilities submit independent reviews of commission-required changes or challenge those changes. Other required commission approvals remain necessary.