CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A majority of West Virginia voters say they are more likely to support state legislative candidates who prioritize improving electric reliability through grid upgrades after learning about the issue, according to a new statewide poll conducted in February.
The survey found that 65% of voters are more likely to support a candidate focused on strengthening the electric grid. In addition, 95% of respondents said modernizing the grid should be a priority for policymakers, including 68% who said it should be a “very important” priority.
“These findings show that electric reliability is a widely shared concern among West Virginia voters,” said Mark Blankenship, CEO of MBE Research, which conducted the poll. “Voters across the state recognize the importance of maintaining and improving the infrastructure that keeps power reliable.”
In addition, more than 7,100 West Virginia voters signed a West Virginians for Reliable and Affordable Energy (WVRAE) petition calling on state officials to “support new, modern transmission lines that support an America First economy, unleash America’s energy dominance, make our communities safe and secure, while leading to affordable energy prices.” Most petition signers reside in areas of the state where new transmission is being proposed.
“West Virginians are speaking with a clear voice telling their elected officials to fix the grid,” said Craig Blair, executive director of WVRAE.
Key findings from the survey include:
• 65% are more likely to support candidates who prioritize grid reliability
• 95% say modernizing the electric grid should be a priority
• 68% say it should be a “very important” priority
• 76% of President Trump’s strongest supporters prefer candidates who support grid modernization
The results indicate that support for grid improvements extends across different voter groups and reflects broad agreement on the importance of maintaining reliable electric service.
Federal data consistently shows West Virginia among the worst states for outage frequency and duration. Residents experience nearly three outages a year lasting more than 15 hours total, compared to about 1.4 outages and 5.6 hours nationally.
That aligns with voter experience: 21% of West Virginians report four or more outages in the past year.
“West Virginians want solutions to our state’s aging and unreliable grid,” said Blair. “Voters understand a modern grid is vital infrastructure, crucial for our economy, our farms, our national strength, and our modern, rechargeable society. And they are ready to support policymakers who agree with that view.”
The poll was conducted by MBE Research from February 6–13, 2026, among 604 registered West Virginia voters using mixed-mode data collection. The margin of error is ±4 percentage points.
