Appalachian Power explains the recent electricity rate increases here - Virginia Rate Increases

The parent company American Electric Power lost in Texas. A Texas state district court judge has reversed a preliminary ruling made Feb. 1 regarding the determination of stranded costs for American Electric Power's Texas Central Company (TCC) unit and has cancelled a March 22 hearing for re-argument. Read more here - Earth Times.

Do your part and bitch here - State Corporation Commission.

Keep the lights on baby!

A letter to the editor of TriCities.com

Protest electricity rate increase

As a customer of Appalachian Power, a division of American Electric Power, I find the recent rate increase of 29 percent (25 percent plus an additional 4 percent added to the fuel factor rate) to be exorbitant. Therefore, I contacted the State Corporation Commission in Richmond to voice my concerns to the manager and to register my opposition to this rate increase. The rate increase took effect in October.

However, I learned that the final approval has not been given to AEP by the Commission for this increase. Commissioners will decide in the near future whether to approve all, some or none of the requested 29 percent increase. If the full 29 percent increase is not approved, customers will receive a refund with interest for any overcharges (so save your monthly statements).

I have tried to inform neighbors, friends and family that customers can call the Commission and register their opposition to this rate increase. Between Jan. 19, when I placed my first call, and Feb. 5, more than 4,000 calls were received as a result. I don’t know how many have been received to date.

Now, it is your turn to be proactive. Call to register your opposition and pass the word along to your friends and family in any part of Virginia served by Appalachian Power.

You can call the State Corporation Commission at (800) 552-7945 between 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You will be directed to leave your name, address, telephone number and a statement of opposition. The call takes only 2 to 3 minutes. Every call is tabulated and will hopefully make a difference in the final decision made by the commissioners.

Judy Smith

Abingdon, Va.