W.Va. PSC dismisses AEP rate increase

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – More than 460,000 customers in West Virginia rely on Appalachian Power or Wheeling Power for electricity, and this week those customers learned a proposed rate increase is on hold.

The state’s Public Service Commission, for now, dismissing the case ruling the companies did not provide key information.

PSC staff first highlighted the issue this month in two memos, one week apart. The memos allege the companies’ application for a rate increase was incomplete, saying it lacked required records, including those related to long-term debt, certain billing analysis as well as present and proposed rate comparisons.

The companies responded claiming most of that information was provided in its application or weeks later, but that explanation was not good enough for the PSC.

Commissioners dismissed the rate increase this week ruling the companies broke PSC rules writing the companies, “had an unlimited amount of time to prepare,” the proposed rate increases, but due to the manner chosen, other “parties and the commission have been deprived of the time to review a complete filing.”

The PSC added it does not have the authority to extend the review window, leaving it with the decision to dismiss.

Still, yet, PSC left the door open for both companies to resubmit the rate hike in the correct format with the required information.

WSAZ reached out to the company. A spokeswoman wrote, in part, “We are assessing the options presented in the order to determine the best path forward that works for our customers, the state, and the companies. We appreciate the opportunity to revisit the filing.”

On the same day of that dismissal order, the companies’ attorneys responded to PSC staff writing dismissal “is simply not warranted.”

Appalachian Power has given WSAZ no timeline on when they may resubmit the rate hike.

The companies had estimated the increase would generate $265 million annually.

The PSC already receiving pages upon pages of public comment protesting the proposal.

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