FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Kendl Kobbervig, Clean Virginia Advocacy and Communications Director
[email protected], (608) 575-8798
Thousands of APCo customers unified in opposition to proposed bill increase
3,600 Virginians call on regulators to reject utility’s $95 million rate hike
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – More than 3,600 Virginians submitted a letter to the Virginia State Corporation Commission today in opposition to Appalachian Power Company’s (APCo) significant proposed rate increase. The monopoly utility has requested an annual base rate increase of approximately $95 million and a return on equity jump from 9.5% to 10.8%. If granted, this increase would raise the average residential customer’s monthly power bill by $10.22.
“This outpouring of community opposition demonstrates clearly that Virginia families have had enough,” said Brennan Gilmore, Clean Virginia Executive Director. “APCo is prioritizing profits over the well-being of the customers it is supposed to serve. Virginians should not be forced to choose between paying their power bill and meeting basic needs.”
APCo customers’ bills have increased by over $100 per month since 2007, including a $16 per month increase in January of this year.
In April of this year, 16 legislators delivered a public letter to the SCC in opposition to the rate hike, including Senators Todd Pillion (R – Senate District 6), Travis Hackworth (R – SD 5), Bill Stanley (R – SD 7), David Suetterlein (R – SD 4), Chris Head (R – SD 3), Mark Peake (R – SD 8) and Delegates Terry Kilgore (R – House District 45), Jed Arnold (R – HD 46), Will Morefield (R – HD 43), Jason Ballard (R – HD 42), Wren Williams (R – HD 47), Eric Phillips (R – HD 48), Chris Obenshain (R – HD 41), Terry Austin (R – HD 37), Israel O’Quinn (R – HD 44) and Will Davis (R – HD 39).
The deadline to submit written comments or to sign up to speak at the public hearing on Monday, September 9th is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4th.
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Clean Virginia is a 501(c)4 independent advocacy organization with an associated Political Action Committee, Clean Virginia Fund. Clean Virginia works to fight corruption in Virginia politics in order to promote clean and affordable energy. We are motivated by the core belief that our democracy should serve everyday Virginians over special interests.