Groups Protest Appalachian Power Rate Increases At Capitol

Appalachian Power electricity customers protested a proposed rate increase on the Capitol steps Thursday.

Groups have urged the legislature to do something about the rising cost of electricity in West Virginia. 

If approved by the West Virginia Public Service Commission, the company’s proposal would raise the average customer’s bill by $23.74 a month.

Bills have been introduced to freeze rates and suspend disconnections, but they’ve not advanced out of committee.

Gary Zuckett is co- director of the West Virginia Citizen Action Group. 

“We’re hoping to get more,” he said. “We’d really like to see community solar pass in West Virginia. We’ve been working on that for three years now.” 

Citizen Action Group and others have submitted testimony to the PSC opposing Appalachian Power’s rate proposal.

The PSC will consider the case this summer.