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Mon Power's solar credit cut proposal rejected by dozens in PSC public hearing – WV MetroNews

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Mon Power's solar credit cut proposal rejected by dozens in PSC public hearing – WV MetroNews


Story by David Beard, The Dominion Post

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A few dozen people aired their views to the Public Service Commission Monday evening regarding the Mon Power/Potomac Edison proposal to cut in half the net- credit for customers who use home solar energy.

The hearing ran nearly two hours, and not a single person supported the proposal. A few common themes emerged and we offer a sampling of the comments. (Not all the speakers spelled their names.)

Richard Rafus, who has 100 panels on his land, said, “This is just a ploy to discourage solar expansion in West Virginia.” Net metering helps fight climate change while creating jobs and fostering clean energy production.

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Elizabeth Opyoke Cruikshank lives in Marion County and helps people hook up to solar and produce power “with the energy that God gave us right here in West Virginia.” Many people can’t afford their power bills, which are sometimes higher than their mortgages, and net metering helps them put money in their bank accounts. “Why should I not be compensate fairly for providing FirstEnergy with power?”

As background, the net-metering proposal is part of an overall base rate case for the FirstEnergy sisters. They are requesting $207.5 million, including for infrastructure and their energy assistance program. The hike would cost the average residential customer $18.07 per month, a 15% hike. The overall proposed increase across all customer types – residential, commercial, industrial and street lighting – is 13%.

Net-metering customers generate all or a portion of their own power, typically through solar, and receive credits on their bill for any power they generate in excess of what they use.

Currently, the companies provide a full 1-to-1 credit, meaning energy given to the utility is worth the same as energy bought from the utility. The current residential base rate is about 11.4 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), and could go up to about 13 cents as the companies’ several rate cases reach their respective conclusions.

The companies propose to change that to base credits on the wholesale rate for electricity, which the filings calculate at 6.6 cents per kWh – roughly half of the 13 cents per kWh. This would take effect for new net-metering customers joining after March 27, 2024.

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PSC staff have agreed that the credit needs to be reduced but proposed a middle ground: 8.8 cents per kWh.

PSC chair Charlotte Lane opened the hearing by noting that all the parties in the case have reached settlement on all the aspects except net metering. While the settlement is not yet filed, she said they have agreed to a $108 million hike – a 7.9% increase, raising the monthly average residential bill by $9.94, from $123.50 to $133.44. The net-metering issue will be discussed at a Thursday evidentiary hearing.

Returning to comments, Aaron Millner, a solar installer said the encouragement of solar power under the Inflation Reduction Act provided the best way for him to stay in state with his family. The net-metering credit reduction “won’t push me away, but it will make it a lot harder for me to stay. … It’s just not the right thing to do.”

Heather Ranson, of Cass, said she hopes to be a solar owner and be compensated fairly and equitably. She works in the solar industry and appreciates her career that lets her stay in West Virginia and help fellow West Virginians.

Electricity costs have more than doubled while solar costs have fallen 50%, she said, and walking back the path to affordable energy flies in face of the PSC mission of ensuring affordable energy. “A diversified grid is a more resilient grid.”

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Casey J. Robinson is an investment counselor who has done four solar projects. But cutting the credit would mean he’d have to work hard to find a way to justify the investment for others going forward.

Nancy Bruns, a Kanawha County business owner, said she put solar panels on her business buildings. Keeping the 1-1 credit will allow other businesses and residents to go solar. Solar is already a large economic diver and is growing. “We don’t want to move backward.”

Beth Rota, of Monongalia County, said she installed solar four years ago. She believes in energy Independence, sustainability and cost-effective energy. The companies’ proposal is an effort to discourage further solar development and undermine a robust energy grid.

Chris Tincher is with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Charleston and presented a petition with 121 signatures opposing the proposal. Net-metering has a positive impact on communities and has fostered remarkable growth in the energy sector.

And Anastasia Riley, of Morgantown, has 41 panels on her home. Last year she produced 16.4 megawatts and consumed 16.3 MW. As a single mom, the credits help her make ends meet during the winter months.

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The companies have said they propose to reduce the credit in order to avoid cross-subsidization, in which regular customers would foot part of the cost of powering home solar customers.



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West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted

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West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted


A West Virginia man accused of threatening to attack President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement workers was federally indicted this week.

Cody Lee Smith, 20, of Clarksburg was indicted on two counts of threats to murder the president, one count of influencing and retaliating against federal officials by threat of murder and one count of influencing a federal official by threat of murder, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Smith is accused of making a series of public posts on Instagram encouraging and threatening the murder of Trump, those who support him, Israelis and “all government officials,” the news release said.

The indictment also alleges that Smith sent a direct message via Instagram to Donald J. Trump, Jr., stating he would kill his father by cutting his “jugular.”

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In a phone call with the ICE tip line, Smith also threatened to kill ICE agents in Clarksburg and employees staffing the tip line.

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Smith faces up to 5 years for each of the presidential threat charges and faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts.



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West Virginia falls flat in 65-63 loss to Kansas State – WV MetroNews

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West Virginia falls flat in 65-63 loss to Kansas State – WV MetroNews


West Virginia has said the right things about the need to capitalize on opportunities.

The Mountaineers aren’t following through when they come about.

The latest example came Tuesday night at Kansas State, which scored 21 unanswered points in the second half before holding off a furious West Virginia charge for a 65-53 victory at Bramlage Coliseum.

“The level of urgency and desire to win a game with so much on it wasn’t where it needed to be,” West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge said on postgame radio.

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The Wildcats (12-18, 3-14) played without leading scorer PJ Haggerty, a surprise scratch with an undisclosed injury.

Although WVU (17-13, 8-9) defeated Kansas State 59-54 with Haggerty in the lineup during a January matchup in Morgantown, the Mountaineers were unable to capitalize on his absence in the rematch and fell to 1-4 in their last five games.

Both teams were dismal offensively in the opening half, which ended with West Virginia leading, 26-23.

The Mountaineers got 10 points apiece from reserve forwards Chance Moore and DJ Thomas, helping the visitors to at least somewhat overcome a starting lineup that scored six points on 3-for-15 shooting over the first 20 minutes.

“When you’re playing a team that is a little down and out, you can’t give them life and can’t give them hope,” Hodge said. “We had so many opportunities in the first half and at the beginning of the game to make some plays and entice a team that’s been struggling to maybe keep struggling.”

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After a scoreless first half, WVU guard Honor Huff made his 100th three-pointer this season with 18:33 to play, allowing the Mountaineers to lead 31-27.

West Virginia went the next 8-plus minutes without a point, and Wildcats took control during that stretch.

Khamari McGriff scored the Wildcats’ first four points of the extended 21-0 spurt and accounted for four buckets and eight of the first 15 points during that time.

A jumper from CJ Jones with 10:53 remaining left the home team with a 48-31 advantage, before Thomas scored from close range to end his team’s extended drought at the 10:27 mark.

“I’m aware of our shortcomings and I understand when you’re deficient in some areas, your margin for error to win is razor thin,” Hodge said. “I’m disappointed with what was at stake, we got beat to loose balls. Would it have been nice to make more layups and threes? Of course. But when those things aren’t happening, you better do those other things.”

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KSU had separate 19-point leads, the latter of which came at 57-38 when McGriff made two free throws with 7:29 to play.

WVU then increased its aggressiveness offensively and reeled off the next 11 points, while the Wildcats began to play tentative while in possession.

A three-pointer from K-State’s Nate Johnson left the Wildcats with a 60-49 lead with 3:48 left, but the Mountaineers continued to battle and trailed by six when Chance Moore scored in the paint at the 1:24 mark.

Moore’s next basket made it a five-point game, and after a Johnson turnover, Huff made two free throws to bring WVU to within 61-58 with 48 seconds left.

Another KSU turnover gave the visitors the ball back, but after Moore missed a shot that the Mountaineers rebounded, Huff committed a costly turnover. 

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Johnson made two free throws with 17 seconds left, and McGriff added two more with 7 seconds remaining before Huff made a trey at the buzzer.

Moore led WVU with 18 points and made 6-of-7 shots, but again struggled on free throws, finishing 5 for 9. WVU hurts its cause at the charity stripe and made only 9-of-16 attempts.

Brenen Lorient was the Mountaineers’ second-leading scorer with 14 second-half points, while Thomas followed with 12 and Huff added 11 on 3-for-11 shooting.

Treysen Eaglestaff led all players with 11 rebounds in defeat, but made only 3-of-12 shots in a six-point showing.

McGriff led KSU with 18 points and added seven rebounds.

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Johnson finished with 16 points and nine boards.

WVU had nine of its 13 turnovers in the second half. 

“Nine turnovers in the second half creates more busted floors, more cross match opportunities and through that, it makes you vulnerable for paint touch opportunities,” Hodge said. 

K-State played under the guidance of interim head coach Matthew Driscoll. Driscoll replaced Jerome Tang, who was fired in between the team’s first and second matchups with West Virginia this season.

“Sometimes in life you get what you deserve,” Hodge said, “and we deserved to lose tonight.”

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Nitro completes utility deal with West Virginia American Water – WV MetroNews

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Nitro completes utility deal with West Virginia American Water – WV MetroNews


NITRO, W.Va. — It’s a done deal.

Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt signed an agreement Tuesday with West Virginia American Water Company President Scott Wyman completing the sale of the Nitro Regional Wastewater Utility including the sewer plant for $20 million.

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The water utility will now own and operate the city’s water and wastewater systems. The state Public Service Commission recently approved the deal.

Casebolt said it’s good to get the long-talked-about agreement signed. He said the city can’t afford to make the improvements required at the sewer plant.

“We’re looking at needing between 40 and 50 million dollars of upgrades to our system and expecting our four-thousand customer base to try to offset those costs is not even practical,” Casebolt said.

Casebolt said sewer bills are going to go up but he said they were going to go up regardless. He said the city was facing increasing rates by as much as 50 percent.

West Virgina American is planning $42 million in upgrades to the sewer system over the next five years, Casebolt said.

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“It’s a much-need investment and actually allow the system to handle rainwater much better where it’s not backing up into people’s homes,” Casebolt said.



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