Renner Barsella, renner.barsella@sierraclub.org
Wheeling, WV - West Virginians’ electric bills will rise, making them the fastest-rising rates in the nation, if the rate hike proposed by American Electric Power (AEP) is approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The proposal would affect customers of AEP’s subsidiaries, Wheeling Power (serving Ohio and Marshall Counties), and Appalachian Power (serving much of the southern part of the state).
AEP has more than doubled electric rates for West Virginians over the past 15 years, and now seeks approval to raise rates by up to $23.74 per month, about a 13.5% increase for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh (kilowatt hour) per month.
“Given inflation, rising prices, and other everyday financial worries, a 13.5% increase would hit customers hard. People shouldn’t be forced to choose between electricity and groceries or medications,” said Lisa Di Bartolomeo, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Organizer for WV. “At last night’s hearing, testimony after testimony told the PSC enough is enough.”
In addition, by slashing the solar “net metering” credit by about two-thirds for excess energy produced, AEP’s proposal would also severely impact the affordability and accessibility of owning solar panels, infringing on the individual freedom of households to cut costs by generating their own electricity. This also compromises the resilience of the electric grid as a whole by reducing the number of sources.
“AEP is trying to say that any power we produce ourselves is far less valuable than what they provide to us. It’s unfair and untrue, because solar energy offsets the expensive peaking power. Diversifying our energy supplies makes electricity supplies more secure than when all the proverbial eggs are in one basket of coal,” said Jim Kotcon, Chair of the West Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club.
The public may submit comments to the PSC at: https://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/onlinecomments/default.cfm
The formal case number: 24-0854
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.