PSC Suspends Appalachian Power Rate Increase Until May 2025

The West Virginia Public Service Commission has delayed a proposed Appalachian Power rate increase into next year.

Appalachian Power last month asked the PSC for a 17 percent increase in base rates, an approximately $28 a month increase for the average residential electricity customer.

On Thursday, the PSC suspended any change in rates until May 2025 to further examine the company’s application.

The PSC has not granted Appalachian Power a base rate increase since 2019. It has, however, approved smaller increases since then, for environmental compliance surcharges and fuel costs, among other expenses. Those have driven up the price of power for both residential and industrial users.

The PSC case docket has been filled with public comments opposing the new rate increase, and community groups planned a protest Thursday in Charleston at Appalachian Power’s office.

The commission just this week heard testimony in a separate case that could raise monthly bills by $2. Other increases set to take effect on Sept. 1 will add about $5 to monthly bills.

Karen Wissing, an Appalachian Power spokeswoman, said the company anticipated the PSC’s suspension of the proposed rate increase.

In the fuel cost case the PSC heard this week, an Appalachian Power witness testified that the company operated its three coal plants at a loss sometimes to manage its coal inventories.

An energy analyst had previously filed written testimony that the plants lost $87 million over a recent 12-month period. The company witness said the decision was driven by worker safety.