Public Comment Sought On Appalachian, Wheeling Power Rate Increase Requests

Two electric companies want to raise their rates in West Virginia, and state utility regulators will soon accept feedback from the public on their proposals.

In April, Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power Company filed for expanded net energy cost rate increases with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) to the tune of $71.6 million. The rate bump seeks to recover fuel costs from electricity customers, according to Appalachian Power.

If the commission approves the rate increase, the average electricity rate for residential customers in the state would increase by $5.31, or more than 3%, according to a Tuesday press release from the PSC.

Soon, the commission will accept comments from members of the public on the rate proposal both virtually and in person.

On Aug. 11 at 5:30 p.m., the commission will host a public comment hearing at its headquarters in Charleston, located at 201 Brooks St.

Then on Aug. 12 at 9:30 a.m., the commission will host an evidentiary hearing at the same location. The evidentiary hearing may continue through Aug. 13 if necessary, according to the commission.

Members of the public who wish to provide input are invited to do so during the public comment hearing. They can arrive before the meeting begins and sign up, but must do so before 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 11, the day of the hearing.

To submit written comments, residents can visit the PSC website or submit mail to the PSC executive secretary at P.O. Box 812, Charleston, WV 25323.

To provide a comment virtually, residents must first register with the commission by Aug. 8 at 4 p.m.

Residents can register to comment online through Microsoft Teams. They can also register by contacting Alexis Weimer with the PSC at 304-340-0822 or aweimer@psc.state.wv.us. Alternatively, they can contact Andrew Gallagher with the PSC at 304-340-0820 or agallagher@psc.state.wv.us.

For more information on the rate increase proposal, visit the PSC website.

In a separate filing, Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power asked the PSC to approve a $250 million rate increase last November, which would raise the average residential electricity customer’s bill by roughly $23.74.

Comments during the hearing should pertain specifically to the $71.6 million fuel recovery rate increase, the PSC noted in its Tuesday press release.