SCC public hearing on APCO rate hike request tonight in Wytheville

You get your chance to sound off about Appalachian Power's fuel factor rate hike request tonight.

The State Corporation Commission (SCC) will hold a public hearing Wednesday night, July 1st at Wytheville Community College about Appalachian Power's fuel rate hike request.

The hearing is set to begin at 6:00 p.m., in Snyder Auditorium.

Anyone wishing to testify should arrive early, and notify the SCC bailiff. The SCC says public witnesses are sworn in ang are subject to cross-examination.

This hearing is in addition to the SCC hearing from June 30th in Richmond.

SCC case number PUE-2009-00038

Comments below from Del. Don Merricks (16th)

Again I thank you for your service to the Commonwealth and especially for making arrangements to have a public hearing here in APCO's territory. As you have seen by the large number of comments received, this is a major concern of APCO customers in this region.

I don't want to repeat my comments made at yesterday's (June 30) public hearing. You already know how economically depressed this region of the Commonwealth is compared to other regions. Just yesterday (june 30th), new unemployment numbers showed Martinsville City leading the state with Henry County running a close second. This is not a race we want to be winning. People are hurting, businesses are struggling, and while I do feel things will get better, better will not come as fast as we would like to see.

I do want to comment on the process and the regulation that puts us in this position. The re-regulation bill that was passed in 2007 was an attempt to fairly regulate the costs of providing electricity to consumers with the market rate understanding that fuel and material costs change over time and sometimes very rapidly. In reviewing the regulation, it really does attempt to provide a balanced approach to allowing utilities to recoup costs with setting a fair and equitable price for electricity.

One can argue the pros and cons of this legislation till the cows come home and it will not change the economic factors that are in play today. For profit companies are naturally concerned about the bottom line. As I mentioned yesterday, I'm trying to find the bottom line in my company. What I want to mention is really below the bottom line.

Below the bottom line is where decisions are made that may not always follow business principles. In other words, it's where a rate increase may be justified by numbers, but in light of the economic situation, a decision is made to forego until the economy improves. This is a below the bottom line decision and this is what I feel needs to happen in this particular situation.

These are difficult times and your job is very difficult. I urge you to look below the bottom line and show restraint in passing on this increase to our citizens.

Thank you for your time.