Appalachian Power Plan Would Raise Industry Costs, Group Says

Large industrial users of electricity say an Appalachian Power proposal would leave the state at a competitive disadvantage.

Five years ago, West Virginia industrial customers paid about 6 cents a kilowatt hour. 

If the West Virginia Public Service Commission approves the latest Appalachian Power proposal, they will pay nearly 9 cents a kilowatt hour, a 46 percent increase. Residential rates would also increase. 

The PSC heard testimony this week in an evidentiary hearing on the plan to recover fuel costs from electricity customers.

The PSC approved cost increases for Appalachian Power in January and again last month that will raise rates starting in September.

If the PSC approves the newest request, the West Virginia Energy Users Group says the state will have higher electricity costs than every surrounding state except Maryland.

The state would then rank at 38 out of 50 states and the District of Columbia, the group says, putting the state closer to the most expensive places for electricity. 

Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia would all be less expensive.

The statewide average includes Mon Power’s industrial customer rates.