By Mike Tony, Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As coal piles up at coal plants, cost liabilities mount for electric ratepayers.
Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power have announced a $71.6 million fuel cost rate increase effective Sept. 1 following what the American Electric Power subsidiaries reported were losses of $40.5 million they incurred as they burned coal to address coal oversupply at their plants.
The utilities have asked the West Virginia Public Service Commission to approve a 3.79% climb in total revenues to cover their rate hike request. They have proposed average monthly increases of $5.31 (3.03%) for residential customers, $15.05 (3.31%) for commercial customers and $13,400 (4.77%) for industrial customers.
