Curtis Tate Published

Google Makes PSC Request. Is A Data Center The Reason?

A grey, marble sign with a building in the background.
The West Virginia Public Service Commission headquarters in Charleston.
Curtis Tate/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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Google has asked to participate in an Appalachian Power case before state regulators.

Google’s attorneys in Huntington filed a petition to intervene with the West Virginia Public Service Commission on Tuesday.

Appalachian Power wants to modify two of its rate classes to accommodate large new electricity customers.

That would include data centers, which Google operates in Ohio and Indiana that are served by other American Electric Power subsidiaries.

There is a group that already represents large electricity consumers in the state, called the West Virginia Energy Users Group.

In its filing, Google says that group does not adequately represent its interests and includes no data centers, cryptocurrency or other digital technology companies in its membership.

An evidentiary hearing in the case is scheduled for Jan. 22.