The West Virginia Public Service commission has approved Mon Power’s request for a $94 million rate increase, effective immediately.
The average residential user will pay about $9 more a month, or about 9 percent. For 1,000 kilowatt hours, that means a total of $115 a month.
Mon Power has about 400,000 customers in West Virginia.
Mon Power and Appalachian Power both asked the PSC for rate increases last month. Appalachian Power’s request is $297 million. If approved, that would add $18 a month to the average user’s bill starting Sept. 1. The average bill is currently about $155 a month.
Numerous city and county governments have expressed their opposition to Appalachian Power’s request.
Both companies cite the higher cost of coal and natural gas for the rate increases.