WV HB4894

Imposes a three-year moratorium on increases to base rates, riders, surcharges, or other charges for electric and water utilities in West Virginia, with exceptions only for reliability threats, federal mandates, or catastrophic infrastructure failure requiring legislative approval

Establishes goals that by January 1, 2030, West Virginia's comprehensive electricity costs must be lower than all contiguous states, residential water costs must fall below the 75th percentile nationally, and combined household utility expenditures must decline by at least 25 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars

Requires the Department of Commerce to complete a comprehensive utility cost and competitiveness assessment within 12 months and serve as the coordinating authority for statewide utility affordability efforts

Prohibits use of critical materials sourced from, processed by, or manufactured in foreign adversary nations for utility infrastructure, and requires utilities to prioritize fuel sources primarily produced within West Virginia

Mandates that utilities seeking cost recovery must demonstrate their energy sources meet affordability, reliability, and clean energy standards, with "clean" defined to include coal and natural gas that meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards