West Virginia § 24-2C-1 Legislative findings; utilities subject to Public Service Commission to file new rates

West Virginia Statutes

§ 24-2C-1 — Legislative findings; utilities subject to Public Service Commission to file new rates

West Virginia § 24-2C-1

Ch. 24PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Art. 2CREDUCED RATES FOR CERTAIN LOW-INCOME RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF TELEPHONE SERVICE

This text of West Virginia § 24-2C-1 (Legislative findings; utilities subject to Public Service Commission to file new rates) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

W. Va. Code § 24-2C-1 (2026).

Text

(a)The Legislature finds that universal telephone service contributes to the state's economic, social and political integration and development. The preservation of universal telephone service is therefore of utmost importance to the state and its citizens.

(b)Recent changes in the telecommunications industry, however, both in its structure and in the national policy which governs it, have begun to exert a general, upward pressure on the rates for basic telephone service. Although neither the extent to which basic telephone rates may rise in the future, nor the effect of any such future increases on the general affordability of telephone service can be ascertained at this time, the Legislature finds that anticipatory action should nonetheless be taken to preserve the universal telephone

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(a) The Legislature finds that universal telephone service contributes to the state's economic, social and political integration and development. The preservation of universal telephone service is therefore of utmost importance to the state and its citizens.

(b) Recent changes in the telecommunications industry, however, both in its structure and in the national policy which governs it, have begun to exert a general, upward pressure on the rates for basic telephone service. Although neither the extent to which basic telephone rates may rise in the future, nor the effect of any such future increases on the general affordability of telephone service can be ascertained at this time, the Legislature finds that anticipatory action should nonetheless be taken to preserve the universal telephone service which has been substantially achieved in this state.

(c) All eligible telecommunications carriers providing local exchange dial access line service subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission shall file with the commission tariffs providing for the offering of a new class of basic residential service, at a special reduced rate, to certain low-income households. Such tariffs shall be filed after the adoption of the rules mandated by subsections (b) and (c), section four of this article.