Associated Press Published

W.Va. Regulators Won't Revisit Felman Power Rate

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  State regulators aren’t going to revisit a special electricity rate for an idled manufacturer in Mason County.

The Public Service Commission on Wednesday denied two petitions asking it to reconsider the special rate. The PSC’s order says its April 3 decision will remain in effect.

The special rate plan would enable Felman Production to buy electricity from Appalachian Power at as much as $9 million per year off its full rate. The discounted rate would be calculated each month, based on commodity prices and the costs of raw materials used in production.

Felman has said the plan would allow its silicomanganese plant in New Haven to operate when commodity markets are weak.

The PSC’s Commission Advocate Division and the West Virginia Energy Users Group filed the reconsideration petitions.