CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – On Friday, the West Virginia Public Service Commission denied a request made by Appalachian Power that would have increased rates to recover $297 million.
Officials with Appalachian Power said that the reason for the proposed rate increase was that coal supplies were not as abundant in 2021 and early 2022 and could not keep enough coal to meet the demands of their John Amos, Mountaineer, and Mitchell power plants.
Rising coal and natural gas costs forcing the company to purchase power from elsewhere also played a factor in the company’s decision.
If approved, the rate increase would have added about an extra $18 to a customer’s monthly bill.
The Public Service Commission states that the Staff is still conducting a prudence review of the Companies’ fuel costs and that the Commission should not grant additional rate increases for fuel costs until the Staff completes its prudence review.