To create the West Virginia Water and Wastewater Utility Sustainabilty Act

The purpose of this bill is to create the State Utility Accountability and Improvement Program to proactively identify and assist struggling water and wastewater utilities; establish the State Utility Management Corps within the Water Development Authority; provide for expedited Public Service Commission proceedings through a Priority Utility Docket; establish a rate case appeal mechanism for conservator utilities; create a clear tier reclassification and de-escalation pathway; provide for phased program implementation; expand the Distressed Utilities Account from $5 million to $15 million; coordinate annual utility assessments between the team and the commission; clarify the relationship between conservatorship and existing receivership authority; protect existing bond covenants during conservatorship; require training for public service district board members; authorize the Water Development Authority to house and support the team; establish transparency and accountability requirements; and declare an emergency.