Commission Discusses Electric Rate Increase
By Gary Mallonee, Staff WriterFact Box
"I believe this is going to hurt our older people on a fixed income."
Commissioner Eugene Suder
The Upshur County Commission on Thursday reviewed a proposed rate increase by Allegheny Power that would take effect Jan. 1, 2009, if approved by the Public Service Commission.
Allegheny Power filed papers on Aug. 29 with the PSC for a rate hike to cover the increased cost of fuel necessary for the production of electricity. The impact on customer rates by class are: residential, 18 percent; commercial, 20.2 percent; and industrial, 24.7 percent. The last fuel adjustment was in 2007 and since that time the prices for coal have increased 236 percent, according to a news release from Allegheny Power.
The request is for a $173 million increase in rates related to fuel and purchased power costs. Of that $173 million, $85 million will be for fuel costs, $60 million is due to the increased cost of purchased power and $5.5 million represents under-recovery of fuel and purchased power costs from May 23, 2007, to June 30, 2008.
"I believe this is going to hurt our older people on a fixed income," Commissioner Eugene Suder said. "To some, a $7 increase don't hurt, but to them on a fixed budget it will."
In other business, the commission:
- Signed a proclamation declaring the week of Sept. 7-13 as CEOS Week in Upshur County.
- Reviewed correspondence from the West Virginia Civics Literacy Council on Commemorating "Constitution Day" on Sept. 17.
- Reviewed correspondence from the Harrison County Commission on a meeting of regional representatives on the possibility of the establishment of a "Port of Entry" at the North Central West Virginia Regional Airport.
The commission meets every Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Upshur County Courthouse Annex.
