WV HB4508

Allows publicly owned water and sewer utilities in West Virginia to implement annual rate increases without prior approval from the Public Service Commission, municipal ordinance, or county commission starting July 1, 2026

Rate increases must not exceed the percentage increase in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Urban Consumer Water and Sewerage Maintenance Index from the prior year to qualify as automatically "just and reasonable"

Utilities may implement up to four consecutive annual indexed rate increases before being required to file for formal rate approval through traditional regulatory channels

Smaller utilities (fewer than 4,500 customers and under $3 million in annual gross revenues) remain subject to commission challenge if the rate increase exceeds the inflation index

County commissions and city councils may request commission review of rate increases implemented by larger utilities or municipally owned utilities to verify compliance with the index limits