Electric rate hearing set for Thursday
A state lawmaker is encouraging participation in two public hearings being held Thursday to determine if West Penn Power should be granted a distribution rate increase.
Hearings before a state Public Utility Commission law judge will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. in Washington, Pa., at the American Legion Post at 168 Park St. and at 6 p.m. in Uniontown at the South Uniontown Fire Department, 1 Fireman Drive, Uniontown.
“If no one comes out and expresses their concerns, then the PUC feels everyone is okay with it,” said state Rep. Pam Snyder, who represents portions of Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.
Snyder does not approve of a rate increase at this time, saying West Penn’s parent company, First Energy, has dealt the area a devastating blow by closing two coal-fired generation plants and refusing to sell them to another company.
“They saved money by getting rid of employees, yet they want a rate increase,” Snyder said. “I would like to know why they feel the need for such a substantial rate increase at this time.”
According to Snyder, West Penn Power is proposing an increase of $115.5 million, or 8.4 percent, in the distribution rate. Snyder said that would increase the average bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh a month from $92.47 to $106.09, or nearly 15 percent per bill.
Snyder said there have been extended power outages in the region, lasting days, not hours, due to the poor line maintenance in the region,
“Maybe if they put people on the ground to maintain the lines they could justify an increase,” Snyder said. “Folks are afraid of their power going out, they have let their infrastructure deteriorate so badly.”
In her testimony to the PUC Snyder said the rate increase would be an additional hardship on families whose budgets are already stretched to the limit.
A request for an increase from four First Energy subsidiaries including West Penn Power was suspended on Oct. 2 for at least seven months, but a final decision on the request must be made by May 3, 2015.