Tell the PSC: Put Ratepayers First

 
 

The West Virginia Public Service Commission has proposed rules that risk increasing electric bills for West Virginians. They encourage our utilities to run their power plants even when the power from that is more expensive than buying from the market. West Virginia's monopoly utilities should use the cheapest power available to serve customers, even if it comes from elsewhere on the grid.

Here's what that means for you:

  • Your electric utility could run its coal-fired power plants almost all of the time, and charge you and your neighbors the extra costs that come from that. 

  • Your electric bills could go up by quite a bit. Already, running coal plants at a loss has cost WV customers millions of dollars annually. If adopted, the rule could require them to double down and run their expensive plants nearly twice as often, at even more of a loss.

The proposal is bad for West Virginians—we don't need to pay higher electric bills than we already do.

Submit a comment to tell the West Virginia Public Service Commission to protect ratepayers.

 First Energy Gas Plant

Tell the PSC we can't afford a $2.5 billion bill!

FirstEnergy wants Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers to pay for a new gas plant in West Virginia to serve data centers. The price tag is at least $2.48 billion and they want you to pay for it.

This plant isn't being built for everyday West Virginians. It's being proposed to serve a single, speculative data center that hasn't even committed to coming here.

Here's what that means for you:

  • You could be forced to start paying for this plant immediately, before it produces any power

  • Projected residential bill increases exceed $500 for the next five years, before the plant produces any power.

  • You could be stuck paying extra, even if the plant is never built or the data center never shows up

Ratepayer Bill of Rights

This Ratepayer Bill of Rights states that all residents and businesses must be treated fairly and transparently by all electric, gas, and water utilities regulated by the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC).

West Virginians deserve fair utility rates, more energy choices, and a voice in the decisions that impact our bills.

Sign below to support the Ratepayer Bill of Rights and help demand a more transparent, affordable, and accountable energy future. 

Solar Ethics Pledge

Solar United Neighbors of West Virginia (SUN) and West Virginians for Energy Freedom (WV4EF) have created a Solar Installer Code of Ethics intended to protect the West Virginia solar industry, promote reputable companies, and help ensure that consumers can have confidence in their installers.



West Virginians for Energy Freedom believes:

West Virginians should have the freedom to invest in and benefit from locally-owned, renewable, and efficient energy technology.

The state government and our utilities should act in the best interest of West Virginians by empowering us to reduce and manage our own energy bills. This will boost the state's economy through good, local energy jobs, and provide greater energy security and safety to our state.

Share your experience with rising electricity costs.

Residential electricity costs in West Virginia have increased over 30% in the last decade. Share your personal experience dealing with these rising electricity costs. If you did anything to take control of these costs (ie. going solar, implementing energy efficiency measures) you can share this experience as well.