West Virginia
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history, compiled by the West Virginia Humanities Council from its online encyclopedia, e-WV.
April 19, 1896: Writer Melville Davisson Post was born in Harrison County. His best-known works are the Randolph Mason series, published in three volumes, and the more successful collection Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries.
April 19, 1902: Author Jean Lee Latham was born in Buckhannon. She wrote a number of children’s books, including Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, which won the 1956 Newbery Award.
April 20, 1823: Gen. Jesse Lee Reno was born in Wheeling. He graduated from West Point in 1846 with another cadet from western Virginia, Thomas J. Jackson, later known as “Stonewall.” Reno was the highest-ranking officer from present West Virginia killed in the Civil War.
April 20, 1863: President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that in 60 days, West Virginia would become a state. The occasion was marked 100 years later during the state’s Centennial celebration with a special ceremonial session of the West Virginia Legislature on April 20, 1963, in Wheeling.
April 20, 1909: Fiddler Melvin Wine was born near Burnsville in Braxton County. A favorite of old-time music enthusiasts nationally, he was chosen as a National Heritage Fellow in 1991 by the National Endowment for the Arts — the highest recognition given to a folk artist in the United States.
April 20, 1939: Poet Irene McKinney was born in Belington, Barbour County. Gov. Gaston Caperton appointed her state poet laureate in 1993, and she served in that capacity until her death in 2012.
April 21, 1908: Musician Phoeba Cottrell Parsons was born in Calhoun County. Parsons’ traditional clawhammer banjo style, unaccompanied ballad singing, riddles and storytelling have influenced countless younger musicians.
April 21, 1936: President Franklin Roosevelt established the Jefferson National Forest. The West Virginia portion of the forest includes about 19,000 acres in Monroe County.
April 22, 1908: Marshall “Little Sleepy” Glenn was born in Elkins. Glenn coached basketball at West Virginia University from 1934 to 1938 and football from 1937 to 1940. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
April 22, 1948: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and musician Larry Groce was born in Dallas, Texas. He is best known as the longtime host and artistic director of the Mountain Stage radio program.
April 22, 2003: Activist Judy Bonds, a Raleigh County native, received the Goldman Environmental Prize for her fight against mountaintop removal mining. Her efforts inspired thousands and turned a local West Virginia issue into a national cause.
April 23, 1857: Andrew S. Rowan was born in Gap Mills, Monroe County. Rowan, a military officer, was chosen as the messenger when President William McKinley wanted to send a message to Cuban Gen. Calixto Garcia during the Spanish-American War. The 1899 pamphlet A Message to Garcia made the incident famous.
April 24, 1865: McNeill’s Rangers surrendered to Union troops at New Creek — now Keyser. The Confederate guerrilla force probably never numbered more than 100 men at any time but managed to inflict regular damage on Union operations.
April 25, 1863: In what became known as the Jones-Imboden Raid, about 1,500 Confederate soldiers under Gen. William “Grumble” Jones advanced through Greenland Gap, a deep pass through New Creek Mountain in present Grant County. The Confederates encountered 87 Union soldiers who held off several assaults before finally surrendering.
April 25, 1923: Union leader Arnold Ray Miller was born at Leewood on Cabin Creek in Kanawha County. In December 1972, he defeated Tony Boyle to become president of the United Mine Workers and served until 1979.
e-WV is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council. For more information, contact the council at 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301, call 304-346-8500 or visit wvencyclopedia.org.
During the Gold-Blue spring game on Saturday, the West Virginia coaching staff named wide receiver Cyrus Traught the recipient of the 2026 Tommy Nikolich Award.
The award, which is always given out at the end of spring ball, recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who passed away from cancer in 1983.
Traugh is a Parkersburg native and graduate of Parkersburg South High School. He began his career at Youngstown State before transferring back home to play for the Mountaineers last season. In his final year with the Penguins, he logged 36 receptions, 409 yards, and a team-leading five touchdowns, two of which came against Pitt.
During the 2025 campaign with the Mountaineers, he saw action against Robert Morris and Kansas, playing 10 snaps against the Jayhawks, but did not record any stats.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has mentioned him twice this spring as someone who has been doing some good things and making progress. Wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett also showed him some love during his press conference last week.
The Mountaineers completely revamped the wide receiver room this offseason, upping the level of talent at both inside and outside receiver spots, but perhaps Traugh can work his way into the mix if he puts together a strong summer and fall camp. If he’s not a regular in the rotation, he’ll serve as a quality depth piece who can play special teams.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025: Clay Ash, RB
2024: Avery Wilcox, S
2023: C.J. Cole, WR
2022: Nick Malone, OL
2021: Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020: Osman Kamara, S
2019: Jake Abbott, LB
2018: Evan Staley, K
2017: Nick Meadows, LS
2016: Jon Lewis, DL
2015: Justin Arndt, LB
2014: Michael Calicchio, OL
2013: Connor Arlia, WR
2012: Tyler Anderson, DE
2011: Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010: Matt Lindamood, FB
2009: Josh Taylor, DL
2008: Adam Hughes, LS
2007: Andy Emery, LB
2006: Tim Lindsey, LS
2005: George Shehl, H/DB
2004: Jeff Noechel, LB
2003: John Pennington, WR
2002: Moe Fofana, RB
2001: Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000: Ben Collins, LB
1999: Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998: Mark Corman, TE
1997: David Lightcap, DB
1996: Matt Ceresa, OL
1995: Rob Keys, DB
1994: Randy Fulmore, DB
1993: Matt McCulty, WR
1992: Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991: Keith Taparausky, RB
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