W.Va. Regulators OK Power Company's Vegetation Trimming Plan

West Virginia regulators have approved American Electric Power’s plan to trim vegetation along distribution and transmission lines in the state.
 
The Public Service Commission had ordered electric companies in January 2013 to submit vegetation management plans. The order was in response to Superstorm Sandy and other severe weather in recent years that left thousands of customers without power.
 
The commission approved AEP’s plan for subsidiaries Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power on Tuesday.
 
According to the order, the commission will implement a cost recovery mechanism in the companies’ upcoming base rate case. The commission will review these costs annually.
 
A vegetation management plan submitted by FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison is pending before the commission.
 
Plans submitted by four smaller electric companies were approved earlier.