PUBLIC NOTICE:
Proposed Amendments to the WV Constitution to be on the November 8, 2022, General Election
Ballot are as follows:
Title of Amendment: “Amendment No. 1: Clarification of the Judiciary’s Role in Impeachment
Proceedings Amendment”
Summary of Purpose: Clarifying that courts have no authority or jurisdiction to intercede or in-
tervene in or interfere with impeachment pro- ceedings of the House of Delegates or the Senate; and
specifying that a judgment rendered by the Senate following an impeachment trial is not reviewable
by any court of this state.
Full Text of the Amendment:
ARTICLE IV.
§9. Impeachment of officials.
Any officer of the state may be impeached for maladministration, corruption, incompetency, gross im
morality, neglect of duty, or any high crime or misdemeanor. The House of Delegates has the sole
power of impeachment. The Senate has the sole power to try impeachments and no person shall be
convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members elected thereto. When sitting as a
court of impeach- ment, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals, or, if from any cause it
be improper for him or her to act, then any other judge of that court, to be designated by it, shall
preside; and the senators shall be on oath or affirmation, to do justice according to law and evidence.
Judgment in cases of impeachment does not extend further than removal from office, and disqualifi
cation to hold any office of honor, trust or profit, under the state; but the party convicted remains liable
to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law. The Senate may sit during the recess
of the Legislature for the trial of impeachments. No court of this state has any authority or jurisdiction,
by writ or otherwise, to intercede or intervene in, or interfere with, any impeachment proceedings of
the House of Delegates or the Senate conducted hereunder; nor is any judgment rendered by the Sen
ate following a trial of impeachment reviewable by any court of this state.
Title of Amendment: “Amendment No. 2: Property Tax Modernization Amendment”
Summary of Purpose: To amend the State Constitution by providing the Legislature with authority
to exempt tangible machinery and equipment personal property directly used in business activity and
tangible inventory personal property directly used in business activity and personal property tax on
motor vehicles from ad valorem property taxation by general law.
Full Text of the Amendment:
ARTICLE X.
§1. Taxation and finance.
Subject to the exceptions in this section contained, taxation shall be equal and uniform throughout the
state, and all property, both real and personal, shall be taxed in proportion to its value to be ascertained
as directed by law. No one species of property from which a tax may be collected shall be taxed higher
than any other species of property of equal value; except that the aggregate of taxes assessed in any
one year upon personal property employed exclusively in agriculture, including horticulture and graz
ing, products of agriculture as above defined, including livestock, while owned by the producer, and
money, notes, bonds, bills and accounts receivable, stocks and other similar intangible personal prop
erty shall not exceed fifty cents on each one hundred dollars of value thereon and upon all property
owned, used and occupied by the owner thereof exclusively for residential purposes and upon farms
occupied and cultivated by their owners or bona fide tenants, one dollar; and upon all other property
situated outside of municipalities, one dollar and fifty cents; and upon all other property situated
within municipalities, two dollars; and the Legislature shall further provide by general law for in
creasing the maximum rates, authorized to be fixed, by the different levying bodies upon all classes
of property, by submitting the question to the voters of the taxing units affected, but no increase shall
be effective unless at least sixty percent of the qualified voters shall favor such increase, and such
increase shall not continue for a longer period than three years at any one time, and shall never exceed
by more than fifty percent the maximum rate herein provided and prescribed by law; and the revenue
derived from this source shall be apportioned by the Legislature among the levying units of the state in
proportion to the levy laid in said units upon real and other personal property; but property used for ed
ucational, literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes, all cemeteries, public property, tangible
machinery and equipment personal property directly used in business activ-ity, tangible inventory
personal property directly used in business activity, personal property tax on motor vehicles, the per
sonal property, including livestock, employed exclusively in agriculture as above defined and the
products of agriculture as so defined while owned by the producers may by law be exempted from
taxation; household goods to the value of two hundred dollars shall be exempted from taxation. The
Legislature shall have authority to tax privileges, franchises, and incomes of persons and corporations
and to classify and graduate the tax on all incomes according to the amount thereof and to exempt from
taxation incomes below a minimum to be fixed from time to time, and such revenues as may be de
rived from such tax may be appropriated as the Legislature may provide. After the year nineteen hun
dred thirty-three, the rate of the state tax upon property shall not exceed one cent upon the hundred
dollars valuation, except to pay the principal and interest of bonded indebtedness of the state now
existing.
Title of Amendment: “Amendment No. 3: Incorporation of Churches or Religious Denomina
tions Amendment”
Summary of Purpose: To authorize the incorporation of churches or religious denominations.
Full Text of Amendment:
Article VI. The Legislature.
§47. Incorporation of religious denominations permitted.
Provisions may be made by general laws for securing the title to church property, and for the sale and
transfer thereof, so that it shall be held, used, or transferred for the purposes of such church or reli
gious denomination. Provisions may also be made by general laws for the incorpo- ration of churches
or religious denominations.
Title of Amendment: “Amendment No. 4: Education Accountability Amendment”
Summary of Purpose: The purpose of this amendment is to clarify that the rules and policies pro
mulgated by the State Board of Education, are subject to legislative review, approval, amendment,
or rejection.
Full Text of Amendment:
ARTICLE XII. EDUCATION.
§2. Supervision of free schools.
Subject to the provisions of this section, the general supervision of the free schools of the State is
vested in the West Virginia Board of Educa- tion which shall perform the duties prescribed by law. Un
der its supervisory duties, the West Virginia Board of Education may promulgate rules or policies
which shall be submitted to the Legislature for its review and approval, amendment, or rejection, in
whole or in part, in the manner prescribed by general law. The board shall consist of nine members to
be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for overlapping terms
of nine years. No more than five members of the board shall belong to the same political party, and in
addition to the general qualifications otherwise required by the Constitution, the Legislature may
require other specific qualifications for mem- bership on the board. No member of the board may be
removed from office by the Governor except for official misconduct, incompetence, neglect of duty, or
gross immorality, and then only in the manner prescribed by law for the removal by the Governor of
state elective officers. The West Virginia Board of Education shall, in the manner prescribed by law,
select the State Superintendent of Free Schools who shall serve at its will and pleasure. He or she shall
be the chief school officer of the state and shall perform the duties prescribed by law.
The State Superintendent of Free Schools shall be a member of the Board of Public Works as provided
by subsection B, section fifty-one, article VI of this Constitution.
Tariff Form No. 8-C
(Tariff Rule 14.2 et seq. (Historical Rule 30-C))
PUBLIC NOTICE OF CHANGE IN RATES UPON APPLICATION
NOTICE is hereby given that MOUNTAINEER GAS COMPANY, a public utility, has filed with the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WEST VIRGINIA, an application containing increased rates, tolls and charges for furnishing natural gas service to approximately 220,000 customers at various locations in the Counties of Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mineral, Mingo, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood, and Wyoming.
The proposed increased rates and charges will become effective November 1, 2022, unless otherwise ordered by the Public Service Commission, and will increase revenue approximately $90,914,544 annually, an increase of approximately 73.8%.
The average monthly bill for the various classes of customers of Mountaineer Gas COMPANY will be changed as follows:INCREASE INCREASE Residential $ 25.08 34.67 % Commercial $ 125.40 42.35 % Industrial $ 28,212.95 117.09 % Resale $ 2,404.00 55.78 %
Resale customers of MOUNTAINEER GAS COMPANY include Canaan Valley Gas Co., Cardinal Natural Gas Company Northern Division (formerly known as Lumberport-Shinnston Gas Company and Blacksville Oil & Gas Company, Inc.,) Consumers Gas Utility Co., Dominion Energy WV, Megan Oil and Gas, City of Philippi, and Southern Public Service.
The increases shown are based on averages of all customers in the indicated class. Each class may receive an increase greater or less than stated here. Individual customers may receive increases that are greater or less than average. Furthermore, the requested increased rates and charges are only a proposal and are subject to change (increases or decreases) by the Public Service Commission in its review of this filing. Any increase in rates and charges will not become effective until authorized and approved by the Public Service Commission. If a hearing is conducted, notice will be given of the time and place of hearing.
A complete copy of the proposed rates, as well as a representative of the Company to provide any information requested concerning it, is available to all customers, prospective customers, or their agents at the following offices of the Company:
Mountaineer Gas Company Office
• 501 56th Street SE, Charleston, West Virginia 25304.
A copy of the proposed rates is available for public inspection at the office of the Executive Secretary of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION at 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia.
The Rule 30-C procedure is designed to provide a procedure for changing rates charged to customers by natural gas distribution utilities based exclusively on the cost of purchased gas. Consequently, protest should be limited to the reasonableness of such costs and the method by which they are calculated. Anyone desiring to protest or intervene should file a written protest or notice of intervention within twenty-five (25) days following the date of this publication unless otherwise modified by Commission order. Failure to timely intervene can affect your rights to protest any rate increases and to participate in future proceedings. Requests to intervene must comply with the Commission’s rules on intervention set forth in the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. All interventions must be mailed or hand-delivered and be addressed to Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, WV 25323. Protests may be filed online through the Commission website using the “Submit a Comment” link or may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, WV 25323.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO CHANGE PURCHASED GAS RATES
Notice is hereby given that Peoples Gas WV LLC, a public utility, has filed with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, an application containing increased purchased gas rates for furnishing natural gas service to 12,838 customers in the Counties of Northwestern Barbour, Braxton, Clay, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ritchie, Taylor, Tyler, Upshur, and Wetzel.
The proposed increased rates will become effective November 1, 2022 unless otherwise ordered by the Public Service Commission and will produce approximately $6,563,226 annually in increased revenue, an increase of 48.8%. The average monthly bill for the various classes of customers will be changed as follows:
($) Increase (%) Increase
Residential $32.26 47.51%
Commercial $153.03 52.00%
Industrial $538.55 54.34%
The increases shown are based on averages of all customers in the indicated class. Each class may receive an increase or decrease greater or less than stated here. Individual customers may receive increases that are greater or less than average. Furthermore, the requested increased rates and charges are only a proposal and are subject to change (increases or decreases) by the Public Service Commission in its review of this filing. Any increase in rates and charges will not become effective until authorized and approved by the Public Service Commission. (If a hearing is conducted, notice will be given of the time and place of hearing.)
A complete copy of the proposed rates, as well as a representative of the Company to provide any information requested concerning it, is available to all customers, prospective customers, or their agents at any of the following offices of the Company: 1200 Bottle Works Ave, Fairmont, WV 26554.
A copy of the proposed rates is available for public inspection at the office of the Executive Secretary of the Public Service Commission at 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia.
The 30-C procedure is designed to provide a procedure for changing rates charged to customers by natural gas distribution utilities based exclusively on the cost of purchased gas. Consequently, protest should be limited to the reasonableness of such costs and the method by which they are calculated. Anyone desiring to protest or intervene should file a written protest or notice of intervention within twenty-five (25) days following the date of this publication unless otherwise modified by Commission order. Failure to timely intervene can affect your rights to protest any rate increases and to participate in future proceedings. Requests to intervene must comply with the Commission’s rules on intervention set forth in the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. All protests and interventions should be addressed to Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, PO Box 812, Charleston, WV 25323.
BID FOR CREEK AND STREAM TREE REMOVAL SERVICES
Doddridge County, West Virginia, in conjunction with the WV Department of Land Conservation, is soliciting proposals from experienced and qualified licensed contractors to provide Stream Debris and Tree Removal Services in Doddridge County. The county invites you to bid on an anticipated contract for creek and stream tree removal when needed.
The project consists of maintenance activities that provide for tree removal as directed by the county floodplain manager or his/her representative as needed. The scope of the work shall include all equipment, materials, labor, necessary to complete the removal of trees and debris. The county understands that some projects will require special equipment at times, therefore bids need to include a fee estimate for the equipment needed to perform such work.
Contracts will be for a period of one year and renewable with a bid process each year thereafter. Bid proposals must be received prior to September 5, 2022 and mailed to 101 Church Street, Suite 102, West Union, WV 26456 and marked “Attention: FLOODPLAIN MANAGER” at that time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the NEXT Doddridge County Commission meeting. Each proposal should be placed in a sealed envelope marked “CREEK and STREAM TREE REMOVAL BID”. Only sealed bids will be accepted. The Commission reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
Tariff Form No. 8-C
(Tariff Rule 14.2 et seq. (Historical Rule 30-C))
PUBLIC NOTICE OF CHANGE IN RATES UPON APPLICATION
NOTICE is hereby given that Hope Gas, Inc., dba Dominion Energy West Virginia (the “Company”), a public utility, has filed with the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WEST VIRGINIA, an application containing increased rates, tolls and charges for furnishing natural gas service to all of its customers at various locations in the Counties of Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mingo, Monongalia, Nicholas, Pleasants, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood and Wyoming.
The proposed increased rates and charges will become effective November 1, 2022, unless otherwise ordered by the Public Service Commission and will increase revenues approximately $72.8 million annually, an increase of 63.19%. The average monthly bill for the various classes of customers will be changed as follows:
TYPE OF CUSTOMER ($) INCREASE (%) INCREASE
Residential $37.80 51.13%
Small Commercial Sales $159.23 66.15%
Small Commercial Transport 1/ $153.65 11.49%
Large Commercial Sales $8,972.57 99.58%
Large Commercial Transport 1/ $1,433.01 19.65%
Industrial Sales $15,020.22 117.39%
Resale Sales $24,132.92 94.51%
Daily Balancing for Transport $180.20 39.84%
1/ To account for increase in standby rate.
Resale customers of the Company include Standard Gas Co., Consumers Gas Utility Co., Cardinal Natural Gas Company – Northern Division (Lumberport), Mountaineer Gas Co., Southern Public Service Co., Cardinal Natural Gas Company – Northern Division (Blacksville), and Peoples Gas WV LLC.
The increases shown are based on averages of all customers in the indicated classes. Each class may receive an increase greater or less than stated here. Individual customers may receive increases that are greater or less than average. Furthermore, the requested increased rates and charges are only a proposal and are subject to change (increase or decrease) by the Public Service Commission in its review of this filing. Any increase or decrease in rates and charges will not become effective until authorized and approved by the Public Service Commission. (If a hearing is conducted, notice will be given of the time and place of hearing.)
A complete copy of the proposed rates, as well as a representative of the Company to provide any information requested concerning it, is available to all customers, prospective customers, or their agents at the Bridgeport office of the Company, 102 Cambridge Place, Bridgeport, West Virginia.
A copy of the proposed rates is available for public inspection at the office of the Executive Secretary of the Public Service Commission at 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia.
The 30-C procedure is designed to provide a procedure for changing rates charged to customers by natural gas distribution utilities based exclusively on the cost of purchased gas. Consequently, protest should be limited to the reasonableness of such costs and the method by which they are calculated. Anyone desiring to protest or intervene should file a written protest or notice of intervention within twenty-five (25) days following the date of this publication unless otherwise modified by Commission order. Failure to timely intervene can affect your rights to protest any rate increases or to participate in future proceedings. Requests to intervene must comply with the Commission’s rules on intervention set forth in the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. All interventions must be mailed or hand-delivered and be addressed to the Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, Post Office Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323, with copies to Brien J. Fricke, Dominion Energy West Virginia, 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA 23219 and Kurt Krieger, Post Office Box 1588, Charleston, WV 25326-1588. Protests may be filed online through the Commission website using the “Submit a Comment” link or may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, Post Office Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323.