Charleston, WV – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading energy and environmental advocate for families and businesses, applauds West Virginia Governor Jim Justice for signing HB 2842, bipartisan legislation to protect the rights of consumers by prohibiting municipalities from adopting energy service bans.
“We applaud West Virginia Delegate Higginbotham for introducing, and Gov. Justice for signing, this important legislation which protects consumer choice in West Virginia. As certain elected officials across the country seek to placate special interests through mandates that disrupt the lives and livelihoods of families and businesses, strong bipartisan majorities in the legislature have made it known that families and businesses across our state will have access to the energy they choose to heat their homes, cook their food and power their lives,” said CEA Midwest Director Chris Ventura.
“With two in every five West Virginia households using natural gas for home heating, misguided energy service bans could lead to serious and significant service interruptions and surprisingly large increases in West Virginians’ energy bills. An energy ban could also require the replacement of major appliances, which could cost thousands of dollars for families and businesses – an unnecessary burden that would be ruinous for those living at or below the poverty level.”
“CEA commends Gov. Justice and the legislature for protecting consumers, families and businesses’ right to keep the energy services they want and for helping to get West Virginia and the country to a cleaner future.”
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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, we are committed to leading the nation’s dialogue around energy, its critical role in the economy, and how it supports the vital supply chains for the families and businesses that depend on them. CEA works daily to encourage communities across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our nation’s energy needs.
Bryson Hull
(202) 657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org