CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — FirstEnergy has requested a $96 million rate increase from the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
The rate increase would include all West Virginia territories served by FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison.
According to a release from FirstEnergy, residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would see their bill increase from $92.62 to $106.79 should the proposed increase take effect.
The requested increase is part of a base rate case FirstEnergy filed Wednesday with the Public Service Commission. FirstEnergy spokesman Todd Meyers explained that the base rate case accounts for changes to the company’s costs of operating not related to fuel prices.
“Base rates are costs that are associated with power plants, they’re costs associated with the lines … all the different things that it takes to bring reliable service to our customers,” Meyers said.
The requested rate increase stems from several factors, according to Meyers: Storm-related costs from the derecho and Hurricane Sandy in 2012; the costs of implementing a more extensive tree-trimming program; costs related to Mon Power acquiring the remaining 80 percent of the Harrison Power Station it didn’t already own; costs related to environmental control equipment for meeting stricter mercury emissions standards from the EPA; and the hiring of an additional 50 employees.
Meyers pointed out that any potential rate increase is still subject to review by the Public Service Commission, which will likely involve multiple hearings and reports over hundreds of days…
