The Boone County Commission, the McDowell County Commission and the Kanawha County Commission are critical of a $297 million rate increase request by Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power.
Boone and McDowell commissioners each have filed statements with the Public Service Commission in opposition to the rate increase request. Kanawha commissioners earlier had released public statements opposing the rate increase.
Boone County commissioners asked the Public Service Commission to meticulously consider an alternative to rate increases before making a decision.
“Electricity plays a key vital role in people’s lives and is truly a necessity, unlike a service for cable television. The rate increases can create more of a hardship for people living on a fixed income,” Boone commissioners wrote in a letter to the Public Service Commission.
“Our citizens are struggling with the impact of the depressed economy due to declining production of coal, lost jobs, and the pandemic. Boone County is home to a higher percentage of budget stressed seniors for whom the proposed increase would create a greater hardship and may be devastating.”
The companies made their request April 19 to the West Virginia Public Service Commission. The proposed adjustment follows approved increases amounting to about $100 million late last year and earlier this spring.
One of the reasons in the 141-page filing is to recoup ongoing costs of dealing with the covid-19 pandemic. Another is the rising cost of energy, particularly coal, brought on by worldwide demand.
The power companies say they have been running behind by millions of dollars on recouping costs while also facing the likelihood of additional costs.
Currently the monthly bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours is $155.66, according to Appalachian Power. If approved as filed the adjustment would add $18.41 to that amount beginning Sept. 1, 2022.
McDowell County commissioners submitted a proclamation to weigh against the rate increase proposal, saying the commission “fully opposes and objects to American Electric Power’s rate increase request.”
“The McDowell County Commission feels such an increase is unreasonable and would have detrimental effect on our citizens,” commissioners wrote.
Kanawha County leaders publicly objected to the proposed rate increase through statements earlier in the month.
“These increases need to end,” stated Commissioner Lance Wheeler. “The people of West Virginia cannot continue to pay these outrageous costs for their public utilities. We must stop Appalachian Power from being able to request increases year after year, and this time two increases in one year.”
Kanawha Commissioner Ben Salango agreed.
“This state has been hit hard with rate increases from the power company and the water company, and it must stop. The customers are paying for corporate pay raises and not for better service,” Salango stated. ” I am opposed to any additional rate increases by our public utilities and especially a second request this year by Appalachian Power,”