By: Mike Tony, Charleston Gazette-Mail
Dozens of Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers and solar advocates from throughout West Virginia spoke out against the utilities’ plan to change how future customers are credited for the electricity they generate from solar power during a public hearing Monday.
Speakers at the West Virginia Public Service Commission’s public comment hearing Monday evening had to comment without seeing the contents of a proposed but not yet filed settlement in the case, PSC Chairman Charlotte Lane reported at the start of the hearing.
Lane said the proposed settlement would resolve all issues in the case — except the controversial solar energy crediting mechanism — and result in an increase of $9.94 per month to the average residential customer bill for 1,000 kilowatt-hours, from $123.50 to $133.44.
Filed Tuesday, the proposed settlement would result in a 6.4% hike over existing rates and an overall increase of $105 million for the FirstEnergy-controlled utilities, which originally proposed a $207 million, 13% rate increase for their 550,000 customers across 40 West Virginia counties.
Agreeing to the proposed settlement with the utilities were:
PSC staff.
The PSC’s Consumer Advocate Division, representing residential ratepayers.
The West Virginia Energy Users Group, representing large industrial users.
Longview Power LLC.
West Virginia Citizen Action Group, Solar United Neighbors and Energy Efficient West Virginia (together as one party).
Most of Monday evening’s speakers blasted the solar energy crediting mechanism, known as net metering, arguing it would discourage customer investment in solar that lowers electricity costs, diversifies the state’s energy mix and benefits the environment.