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Posted: 8:32 PM Mar 30, 2010
PSC Investigates Power Restoration Delay
Officials from companies like Elk, Allegheny and Appalachian Power were cross-examined Tuesday on their recent testimony to the Public Service Commission. That agency has been trying to figure out why some West Virginians spent weeks in the dark.
Reporter: Brooks Jarosz Email Address: brooks.jarosz@wsaz.com |
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10 Comments 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- With temperatures beginning to heat up, it's hard to think about snow.
But it's that big winter storm from early December that still has electric companies talking. There have been public hearings throughout the state allowing people to sound off about the companies' response.
On Tuesday in Charleston, however, no one spoke out. Instead, officials from companies like Elk, Allegheny and Appalachian Power were cross-examined on their recent testimony to the Public Service Commission.
That agency has been trying to figure out why some West Virginians spent weeks in the dark.
"I think the people that didn't even have electric for more than half the month should not even have a bill for that month," Logan resident Hollie Fox said. "That would be a good apology."
Meanwhile, Philip Wright, vice president of operations with Appalachian Power, says the company responded in a timely manner.
"I still believe our response was adequate, and we did the things we needed to do to restore customers as quickly as possible," he said.
Part of the problem was the large trees that were along the right-of-way, making it hard to repair downed lines.
"It's those trees that cause the most damage because they fall so far and they're so large," Wright said. "That's where the real damage occurs with broken poles and broken wire."
Now that power lines have been restored, some Logan County residents say their bills have skyrocketed.
"My bill went from 80 some dollars to 297 dollars, and I didn't change anything," Dollie Nelson said.
AEP says it's not the storm repairs that caused bills to go up, but a mild November and cold December.
"It really was all about usage," Jeri Matheney with AEP said. "That's why customer bills went up; they just used more power."
Power rates did climb by 11 percent in October, and AEP is asking the Public Service Commission for an 8 percent increase in July because of high energy costs and the price of contractors.
"It means an increase in fuel, an increase in equipment, rate increase for their employees so there is a cost escalation there each year," Wright said.
Some customers, however, feel they are the victims of greed.
"I think that it's unfair," Nelson said. "I think that somebody is being selfish."
With thousands affected by the storm, the PSC is going line by line in the testimony to make sure light is shed on this once-dark situation.
All of the findings from Tuesday's hearing will be reviewed before a final decision or any recommended changes are made.
Latest Comments
APCO nor any other regulated utility can raise rates just because... If you choose to live in the five miles from, across a mountain and over the river from no where what do you expect when a major winter storm with heavy show hits our area?
Cue the victim violins.
no matter what company you fool with here in good old west virgina we good people are done wrong we pay our pays and still getting screwed by the goverment
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