By Mike Tony, Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Public Service Commission has suspended through May 29 a rate hike proposal that has drawn the ire of Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power customers.
In an order Thursday, the PSC suspended for 270 days the American Electric Power-controlled utilities’ proposal for a $265.1 million, 15.4% revenue increase, a move allowed by state code for the commission to review the proposal further.
The companies had requested a Sept. 1 effective date.
The case has prompted ratepayers and their advocates to renew objections to what has been a long string of rate hikes in recent years approved by the PSC for Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power. The utilities have roughly 460,000 West Virginia customers.
If the PSC adopts new rates and charges, they would take effect on May 30, 2025, the agency said in its Thursday order.
Under the base rate proposal for the utilities, customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month would see their bill increase:
- $28.72 (17.6% jump), residential
- $60.41 (14.5%), commercial
- $34,321 (13.1%), industrial
