Sunday, November 07, 2010
AEP Seeking Rate Hike
WEST VIRGINIA...
Customers of American Electric Power's West Virginia subsidiaries told regulators that they already are struggling to make ends meet and would like the company to give them a bre
The state Public Service Commission held a hearing Thursday in Wheeling on proposed rate increases. Nine residents spoke, saying stagnant Social Security payments combined with the rising costs of food and fuel are already stretching their meager budgets. And many people, they noted, still are jobless.
Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power are seeking a 17 percent rate increase for residential customers and hikes of 12 percent to 15 percent for commercial and industrial customers.
The utilities say the increases are necessary to recoup maintenance and improvement costs, along with costs stemming from a winter storm in 2009.
Hearings are also scheduled for Monday in Huntington, Tuesday in Beckley and Nov. 16 in Charleston. A decision is expected in March.
Customers of American Electric Power's West Virginia subsidiaries told regulators that they already are struggling to make ends meet and would like the company to give them a bre
The state Public Service Commission held a hearing Thursday in Wheeling on proposed rate increases. Nine residents spoke, saying stagnant Social Security payments combined with the rising costs of food and fuel are already stretching their meager budgets. And many people, they noted, still are jobless.
Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power are seeking a 17 percent rate increase for residential customers and hikes of 12 percent to 15 percent for commercial and industrial customers.
The utilities say the increases are necessary to recoup maintenance and improvement costs, along with costs stemming from a winter storm in 2009.
Hearings are also scheduled for Monday in Huntington, Tuesday in Beckley and Nov. 16 in Charleston. A decision is expected in March.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:15 AM 
