November 2023 Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER

West Virginians for Energy Freedom is delighted to be sharing our first monthly newsletter with a growing coalition of energy rights defenders like you.

This month, we will be launching a texting campaign, attending events across West Virginia to connect with ratepayers, and digging into the Mon Power Company and Potomac Edison Case that threatens net metering rules.

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In the News

New Solar Surcharge to Raise Mon Power and Potomac Edison Bills

FirstEnergy customers in West Virginia will see their bills increase to support company-generated solar energy.

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A Message to Utilities: We Aren’t Made of Money

West Virginians are not made of money. We understand utilities are entitled, by law, to recuperate their costs and make some profit, but that profit cannot come at the expense of harming ratepayers.

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Recent Event Recap

Sustainability in Motion: EcoVibe Symposium

Last month, the warm sun welcomed us in Charleston, as residents from across the state gathered in the name of sustainability. A diverse group of attendees and organizations came to our booth to learn more about proposed changes to net metering rules and why we must stop them.

WVU Sierra Student Coalition

The WVU Sierra Student Coalition recently set up a table on campus to speak with students and professors. They discussed the economic benefits of solar and the proposed MonPower and Potomac Edison rate increase. They also helped 42 people, who were not happy to learn about this threat to solar owners and the industry, to sign a petition.

Morgantown Farmers Market

On November 11th, a group of coalition members went to the Morgantown Farmers Market with our net metering ally and partner, Solar Holler. We spoke with the Morgantown community about the importance of protecting net metering rules and how net metering works. We also met quite a few passionate community members who signed our petition to put a stop to net metering changes.

Mark Your Calendar

November 18: WVU Tailgate–Cincinnati v. WVU (Morgantown, WV)

Hut, hut, hike! Or should we say hut, hut, rate hike? A few members of our coalition will be at the WVU tailgate this Saturday. They are hoping to meet fans that share our concerns about diminishing energy rights, proposed rate hikes, and changes to net metering. Touchdown if they send a letter of protest to the Public Service Commission!

November 17–18: West Virginia Women in Agriculture Conference (Davis, WV)

If you’re in the Davis area this weekend, come to the West Virginian Women in Agriculture Conference and say hi to coalition member Leah Barbor, Solar United Neighbors’ West Virginia program director! She will be there giving out information on net metering benefits, community solar, and more.

December 1–2: Clarksburg WinterFest (Clarksburg, WV)

It's the holiday season and we believe you have the right to decorate your home until it looks like a Las Vegas light show (and puts your neighbor’s house to shame!) without an unnerving electricity bill at the end of the month. Come see us at Clarksburg WinterFest, where we will be talking to attendees about preventing potential rate hikes and saving money on their bills.

Invite us to join your event!

If you're involved with community events or organizations where speakers or information tables are part of the experience, we would love to be part of them! We can either have someone come to represent the coalition, or train you to do the speaking!

Please reach out to info@energyfreedomwv.org to coordinate.

Take Action

The West Side of Charleston is in crisis.

The proposed increases in rates by West Virginia American Water and Mountaineer Gas will only make things worse for the 1,100 customers on Charleston's West Side who have already been affected by the natural gas outage. The massive outage occured due to a water pipe break flooding gas lines on 11/10/23.

Oppose pending West Virginia American Water and Mountaineer Gas rate hikes by writing a letter to the WV Public Service Commission.

TAKE ACTION