By Robert Maslowski, The Herald-Dispatch
Electric rates are going up for West Virginians. Our utilities are doing nothing to stop it. Instead, they’re doubling down on the same choices that got us into this. They’re taking away opportunities for West Virginians to avoid these rate increases. And they’re asking for yet another increase out of the pockets of hardworking families.
Out-of-state utility FirstEnergy runs Mon Power and Potomac Edison. FirstEnergy is asking the West Virginia Public Service Commission to increase its rates — again. Statewide, electric rates have more than doubled in the last 18 years. West Virginians have faced higher rate increases than any other state in the country.
That would be bad on its own, but FirstEnergy isn’t stopping there. They have also asked the Public Service Commission to reduce the value of solar energy. Solar is one of the only ways West Virginians can avoid these rate increases and take control of their own power costs. They want to make sure West Virginians can’t go solar anymore.
What’s going on here? FirstEnergy, like AEP, the other out-of-state utility that operates in West Virginia, is investing in a losing strategy. While utilities across the country have invested in multiple sources of energy, FirstEnergy and AEP have put all of their eggs in one basket. West Virginia gets 91% of its electricity from coal-fired power plants. These coal plants are getting older. Many of them are nearing retirement age. That makes them more expensive to maintain and run. But FirstEnergy and AEP don’t care, because they can pass the costs on to their customers — all of us.