Imagine having to choose between keeping your home warm during the harsh winter months or putting food on the table for your family. This is the stark reality that many West Virginians face daily. Appalachian Power’s proposed 17.6% rate increase will only exacerbate these difficult choices for over 74,000 customers already struggling with financial burdens.
Our community has endured continuous rate hikes over recent years, with increases of 3.5% in 2021, 10% in 2022, and 15.4% in 2023. These cumulative hikes have far outpaced wage growth and cost-of-living adjustments, leaving many families unable to keep up. It’s heartbreaking to think of parents working multiple jobs and still not making enough to cover essential utilities.
Despite these substantial increases, Appalachian Power has failed to provide reliable service. Last winter, many families were left in the cold and dark during one of the coldest periods in years, highlighting the company’s inability to maintain its infrastructure effectively. This lack of reliable service is not just an inconvenience—it’s a matter of safety and well-being.
West Virginia also has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation, with 17.9% of residents living in poverty. The child poverty rate has risen to 25%, the second highest in the United States. Many of our neighbors are already struggling to meet basic needs, and this rate increase will push them further into hardship. It’s unacceptable that while families are making sacrifices, a utility company is prioritizing profit over people’s well-being.
By joining this campaign, you’re standing up for fair and affordable energy rates. You’re supporting families who are doing their best to make ends meet. Together, we can urge the Public Service Commission to reject this unjustifiable rate hike and demand a transparent, fair approach to utility pricing that considers the real-life impacts on our community.
