The West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) has scheduled hearings to review a significant rate increase request from Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power. Both companies, subsidiaries of Columbus-based American Electric Power, are seeking to raise rates by $250.5 million.
The hearings will take place on Tuesday, June 17, at the PSC headquarters in Charleston, located at 201 Brooks Street. The evidentiary hearing, where company representatives will present their case and answer questions, starts at 9 a.m. and is expected to last three days.
Later that day, at 5:30 p.m., a public hearing will be held to give residents a chance to share their thoughts and concerns. Those who can’t attend in person can participate virtually by contacting the PSC.
The proposed rate hike amounts to a 14.6% increase over current revenues. For an average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month, this would mean an increase of $23.74—or about 13.5% more on their electric bill. The companies originally planned to implement the new rates on December 1, but the PSC has paused the process while investigating the request.
In an effort to ease the impact on customers, Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power filed an application in March to securitize certain assets. This move could reduce the monthly increase for residential customers from $23.74 down to $6.72—a nearly 73% cut.
“When we filed our case in 2024, we committed to finding solutions to lessen the rate impact on our customers while investing in improving the quality of our service,” said Aaron Walker, Appalachian Power’s president and COO. “Today, we’re taking a big step toward reducing the costs our customers face.”
John Scalzo, vice president of regulatory and finance, echoed that commitment, saying, “We know affordability matters to our customers, and we’re working hard to find creative ways to improve reliability while keeping costs as low as possible.”
This isn’t the first time the companies have pushed for a rate increase. In September, the PSC rejected a multi-million-dollar hike request, citing incomplete information in the filings.
Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power then submitted revised tariff sheets in August 2024, proposing a $265.1 million increase—about 15.4% more than current rates—affecting more than 460,000 customers across 24 West Virginia counties.
That request was set for a September 1 effective date but was dismissed by the PSC for being incomplete. The commission has left the door open for a re-filing and is willing to reconsider the request.
As the hearings approach, residents and stakeholders will have a chance to weigh in on how these changes could affect their electricity bills and the future of power service in the state.
