Y’all may remember (we certainly do) that back in August, AEP brought some pretty nonsensical requests to the Public Service Commission. People made a lot of noise initially, but it’s been eerily quiet ever since. That’s in part because the PSC dismissed the original filing on a technicality. As expected, AEP has since resubmitted their case, and folks are getting pretty hot again. Rightly so.
In the new and not-so-improved filing, AEP wants homeowners to pay 13.5% more for power than they do today (down from the original ask of almost 18%). Gee, thanks, AEP… The reality is that’s still nearly $300 more per year for most of us. Solar net metering? It’s still on the chopping block, too. They want the value of solar to decrease by 75%. SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT!
AEP wants the value of solar to decrease by 75%. SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT!
You know us well enough here at the Holler to know we won’t stand idly by while West Virginians are taken advantage of, so we’ve officially intervened in the case (you can read our statement about that here). Because here’s the thing, we’ve had this conversation already.
Last year when FirstEnergy attacked net metering, we wrote to the PSC; we testified; we met with lawmakers; we heard from homeowners and school superintendents and fire chiefs and farmers. West Virginians made it abundantly clear that we want energy independence and a choice in our energy future. We want to be compensated fairly for the solar we send onto the grid and we negotiated a compromise with FirstEnergy that basically achieves that. All we’re asking for now is for that precedent to be upheld in the name of consistency and fairness across the state.
Solar is one of our only defenses against the jaw dropping rate increases our utilities continue to impose on the people of West Virginia.
How jaw dropping? Well, let’s talk about that…
We’ve known for a minute now that we’re paying more for electricity and other utilities than our friends in other states. In fact, we pay significantly more than everyone else in the lower 48. Significantly more. The irony of that is more than a little troubling, given our storied energy history. But the injustice of it all truly jumps off the page when you see where our rates land as a percentage of median household income. 14%. That’s how much of our paychecks are going to Appalachian Power, to MonPower, to Potomac Edison, to trash services and sewer and water. Despite being one of the poorest states in the country, West Virginians are expected to give a massively larger piece of their pie to the utilities. In fact, it’s a far greater percentage than people of any other state are expected to shell out.
West Virginia ranks number one as the state with the most expensive utilities.
Per usual, we don’t know what will come of this case– all the more reason to stay out of the fray. Give us a holler to see if solar can work for you while there’s still plenty of time.
Sources:
Move.org, Utility Bills 101: Average Monthly Cost of Utilities by State and Nationally.
Public Service Commission Case Details.
