2024-2025 AEP Base Rate Case
What is AEP asking for?
Under the proposal, there would be an overall bill increase of up to $23.74 per month, or approximately 13.5%, for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month. The average West Virginia residential customer uses 1,123 kWh per month.
AEP also has introduced a proposal to spread out the cost over time, which would reduce the monthly impact, but it would last longer. It may be that the overall cost would be reduced under this proposal, as well. Some of our members are hard at work evaluating the details.
In addition, the proposal makes solar far less affordable for aspiring solar panel owners, slashing the “net metering” credit for excess energy produced, by about two-thirds.
TAKE ACTION!
Take 2 minutes to write a letter to the PSC asking them to say NO to these harmful changes and say YES to helping us reduce our energy bills.
Register to Speak at the AEP Public Hearing on June 17th!
Use this link to register to speak at the public hearing in Charleston, WV, at the Public Service Commission (PSC) building at 201 Brooks Street Charleston, WV 25301 on June 17th @ 5:30 PM.
Note: The public has the option to join and speak in person at the PSC or online via Microsoft Teams. If you are planning on speaking virtually, you'll need to register to speak before 4 PM on June 16th. If you'd like to speak in person, you can register using the link above or show up and put your name on the sign up sheet at the event.
Charleston Rally
Come to the rally for energy freedom and speak at the hearing on June 17!
Starting at 5:00 PM, we will be holding a rally outside of the hearing starting. Meet us at the PSC Building (201 Brooks Street Charleston, WV 25301) to join in and raise your voice!
You can receive more information on this rally and officially sign up for it using the button below.
At 5:30 PM, the public hearing will begin. You can make your voice heard! If you want help with ideas of things to say, we are happy to work with you. In-person speakers are not required to register in advance, but are encouraged to do so using this link.
Need a ride? We will be offering free scheduled charter bus transportation from Huntington and Beckley, leaving at 3:15 PM, to the hearing. If these stops don't work for you and you would like to carpool or are willing to drive others, please let us know in the sign up form and we will try to match you with a willing driver or passenger(s).
Note: transportation outside of Beckley and Huntington is not guaranteed.
Wheeling Watch Party
Wheeling-area West Virginians: There will be a streaming and speaking event at the Ohio County Public Library on June 17. You can gather with your neighbors to watch the public hearing and/or if you've registered to speak at the public hearing remotely, we will be providing assistance to join virtually and speak! You can sign up for this event using the button below.
Free Workshops
Rate Case 101 Webinars
Join us on zoom this June for a lunch and learn! We will be covering many different topics including:
Who AEP is and what they are proposing in the ongoing rate case
How the proposal could impact your electric bill and how to break down your bill
Who the Public Service Commission is
What solar net metering is and how the AEP rate case might impact it
How a rate case public hearing works and how to craft your speech
What you can do to push back against the proposed rate hikes and net metering threats
Click here to register for a Rate Case 101 webinar on June 5 @ noon EST.
Click here to register for a Rate Case 101 webinar on June 13 @ noon EST.
Some of our partners are also offering free workshops to craft your public hearing speech. They'll be providing an overview of what the case means for residents as well as tips for speaking at a public hearing. You can sign up here.
What else can I do to make my voice heard in the case?
Comments are already being submitted to the PSC. You can file a written protest by contacting the West Virginia Public Service Commission at P.O. Box 812, Charleston, W.Va. 25323 or visit psc.state.wv.us for more information.
To make your voice heard, you can:
Tell Your Story
Tell your story about how this rate increase will affect you!
Know your Rights
Speak with US
Speak with a WV4EF staff member about becoming active.
Interested in having a training about energy freedom and rate increases to your area?
Want to write a letter to the local newspaper?
Want to host a protest?
Want to put up a billboard about electric rates?
Let’s talk. You can sign up for a time to speak with our coalition staff by emailing info@energyfreedomwv.org. We want to help you accomplish your goals to bring more energy freedom to West Virginia. We need to all work together to fight the powerful interests that cause our bills to keep going up!
Why was the case refiled?
On August 2, 2024, AEP’s West Virginia utilities, Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power, filed the initial documents to increase rates for most, if not all, of their customers. The paperwork filed on that day describes the impact of the proposal to how rates work for the customers. It did not, however, give any reasoning for why AEP believes that the Public Service Commission (PSC) should approve their request. The case number for the old case is 24-0669–E-42T, but the current case number is 24-0854-E-42T.
The PSC rejected this initial filing, citing the lack of information from AEP. AEP refiled on November 1st with a different proposal for rate increases citing inflation, higher material and labor costs, rising capital costs, higher interest rates, and storm cost recovery as well as capital improvements in service and delivery.
Because of the complexity of the case, the PSC moved the hearing date to August 2025. This was designed to give more time for customers and interveners to obtain more information and prepare testimony.