Latest news with #WestVirginiaPublicServiceCommission
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hearing set for Appalachian Power's 16 percent rate increase
bluefield — Area residents will have an opportunity next month to sound off on a 16 percent rate increase being sought by Appalachian Power. The West Virginia Public Service Commission has set an evidentiary hearing for June 17 on the $250.5 million rate increase filing by Appalachian Power Company. If approved area residents would see their electric bills increase by approximately $27 a month. The PSC announced Thursday that both a virtual and in person public hearing will be held at the PSC headquarters, which is located at 201 Brooks Street. Residents who can't travel to Charleston, and are not comfortable with participating in a virtual hearing, can also submit their comments by mail. In the past the commission would hold public hearings at different locations across the state, including in Bluefield and Princeton. However, PSC Commissioner Charlotte Lane announced in 2023 that the commission was suspending the process of holding in-person public comment hearings across the state in favor of a virtual online comment format through a Microsoft Teams online application that allows citizens to comment virtually through either their internet service or their telephone. According to the PSC statement released Thursday through Lane, the evidentiary hearing in the Appalachian Power case will begin at 9 a.m. on the morning of June 17, which will be followed by the public comment hearings at 5:30 p.m. The PSC statement said those who wish to participate in the public comment hearing should register with the commission by 4 p.m. on June 16. Registration may be completed through the Microsoft Teams meeting link at Residents can also register by calling Alexis Weimer at 304-340-0822 or Andrew Gallagher at 304-340-0820; or by emailing aweimer@ or agallagher@ Those who wish to attend the hearing in person are being asked to sign up to speak prior to 5:30 p.m. on June 17. The commission said written statements in the case may be submitted by mail or hand delivery to the Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, 25323 or online at by clicking on 'Submit a Comment.' All written comments should be marked as pertaining to Case No. 24-0854-E-42T. A decision will not be made in the Appalachian Power case on June 17. It usually takes six weeks before a decision is rendered, the commission said Thursday in response to questions by the Daily Telegraph as to when the PSC will act on the case. Appalachian Power filed for a rate increase in 2024, but the state Public Service Commission dismissed it in September that year. The new rate increase case was filed by the company with the commission earlier this year. In the new filing, the request from the company to modify its base rates reflects inflation, higher material and labor costs, rising capital costs and higher interest rates, according to earlier reports from Karen E. Wissing, principal communications consultant with Appalachian Power. Wissing said additional contributing factors included the recovery of more than $118 million for major storm costs since 2019 and the cost recovery of over a billion dollars in investments made in power generating plants, the regional transmission system and distribution systems. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MUB to acquire Star City utilities
Mar. 11—MORGANTOWN — Officials with the town of Star City said Tuesday they're ready to turn the town's water and sewer infrastructure — as well as management of its stormwater system — over to the Morgantown Utility Board. MUB General Manager Mike McNulty said the utility is "ready, willing and able " to take it on as soon as the two sides iron out the details. "The town council and the administration has determined that due to the small size of the town of Star City, the town is unable to generate sufficient revenue to finance significant water, sewer, or stormwater capital projects. Surface water entering the town of Star City from an uphill jurisdiction creates significant stormwater management challenges, " Star City Mayor Sharon Doyle said. She later added, "We're just at a point now where we need to start looking to the future. We just can't continue to just go day by day, and then something big happens, and we're left asking 'what do we do now ?'" The town has 945 sewer customers and 17 miles of gravity sewer lines. Its system generates $428, 000 in gross annual revenue. MUB treats all flows out of Star City at its riverside treatment facility, which is located in the town. MUB is the lone treated water provider for Star City's 945 water customers. The water is delivered through 10.5 miles of water main. Water sales generate a gross annual revenue of about $493, 000. There are 877 customers in Star City's MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System). If ultimately finalized, and approved through the West Virginia Public Service Commission, the arrangement would see MUB take complete ownership of all water and sewer lines and facilities. As the state set up stormwater management as a municipal public work, and not a public utility, MUB and Star City will enter into an operations and management agreement that will make MUB the operational agent for the town's stormwater system. Star City's utilities are debt free and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. "It's important to recall that we are interconnected physically. There are 22 interconnection points between MUB and the Star City sewer utility. So physically, this makes sense, " Star City attorney Tim Stranko said. "I visited with you before we talked about harvesting the economies of scope and scale. This is another perfect example of how we can drive costs down for all the customers." Literally one year ago (March 12, 2024), Stranko stood before the utility's board of directors proposing MUB acquire Westover's sanitary sewer system. Stranko also serves as the city attorney for Westover. Westover and MUB currently have an operations and management agreement in place through which MUB is responsible for all customer service, billing and fee collection, system infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, service of all debt, and all other ongoing operations of Westover's system. Once Westover's upcoming Holland Avenue and pump station projects are complete, the two sides will finalize MUB's acquisition of that system. Comparing current rates for the same amount of water, a MUB customer is paying $25.44 and a Star City customer is paying $38.64. On the sewer side, a MUB customer is paying $42.76 and a Star City customer is paying $39.08. MUB's stormwater fees are $7.58 (flat rate) and $3.03 (per 1, 000 square feet). Star City's fees are $5.88 and $2.35, respectively.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MUB to acquire Star City utilities
Mar. 11—MORGANTOWN — Officials with the town of Star City said Tuesday they're ready to turn the town's water and sewer infrastructure — as well as management of its stormwater system — over to the Morgantown Utility Board. MUB General Manager Mike McNulty said the utility is "ready, willing and able " to take it on as soon as the two sides iron out the details. "The town council and the administration has determined that due to the small size of the town of Star City, the town is unable to generate sufficient revenue to finance significant water, sewer, or stormwater capital projects. Surface water entering the town of Star City from an uphill jurisdiction creates significant stormwater management challenges, " Star City Mayor Sharon Doyle said. She later added, "We're just at a point now where we need to start looking to the future. We just can't continue to just go day by day, and then something big happens, and we're left asking 'what do we do now ?'" The town has 945 sewer customers and 17 miles of gravity sewer lines. Its system generates $428, 000 in gross annual revenue. MUB treats all flows out of Star City at its riverside treatment facility, which is located in the town. MUB is the lone treated water provider for Star City's 945 water customers. The water is delivered through 10.5 miles of water main. Water sales generate a gross annual revenue of about $493, 000. There are 877 customers in Star City's MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System). If ultimately finalized, and approved through the West Virginia Public Service Commission, the arrangement would see MUB take complete ownership of all water and sewer lines and facilities. As the state set up stormwater management as a municipal public work, and not a public utility, MUB and Star City will enter into an operations and management agreement that will make MUB the operational agent for the town's stormwater system. Star City's utilities are debt free and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. "It's important to recall that we are interconnected physically. There are 22 interconnection points between MUB and the Star City sewer utility. So physically, this makes sense, " Star City attorney Tim Stranko said. "I visited with you before we talked about harvesting the economies of scope and scale. This is another perfect example of how we can drive costs down for all the customers." Literally one year ago (March 12, 2024), Stranko stood before the utility's board of directors proposing MUB acquire Westover's sanitary sewer system. Stranko also serves as the city attorney for Westover. Westover and MUB currently have an operations and management agreement in place through which MUB is responsible for all customer service, billing and fee collection, system infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, service of all debt, and all other ongoing operations of Westover's system. Once Westover's upcoming Holland Avenue and pump station projects are complete, the two sides will finalize MUB's acquisition of that system. Comparing current rates for the same amount of water, a MUB customer is paying $25.44 and a Star City customer is paying $38.64. On the sewer side, a MUB customer is paying $42.76 and a Star City customer is paying $39.08. MUB's stormwater fees are $7.58 (flat rate) and $3.03 (per 1, 000 square feet). Star City's fees are $5.88 and $2.35, respectively.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
County commission hearing from frustrated trash customers
Jan. 29—MORGANTOWN — Unlike the city of Morgantown, Monongalia County has no real dog in the fight when it comes to trash collection. Whereas the city has an exclusive and enforceable contract with Republic Services, trash collection in the county is the purview of the West Virginia Public Service Commission. Even so, county residents are getting fed up with missed service and asking the county commission for help. "We're receiving numerous complaints about garbage pickup, " Commissioner Tom Bloom said Wednesday. The commissioners shared a couple letters to demonstrate the point. One resident, who lives just outside the city's boundaries, near the Morgantown Municipal Airport, said there hasn't been a trash collector by her home in a month despite area roads being clear. She asked the commission to hold Republic Services accountable, noting her family in Morgantown are receiving service. "The accumulated trash is gross, and if people store these bags in their garages they attract mice and rats, " she wrote. "We need representation to deal with the trash company. We pay our trash bill. Why should trash pile and fall into our streets ?" Another letter, from an Arbogast Lane resident, said garbage in his neck of the woods hasn't been picked up yet in 2025. "Trash is starting to pile up, " he wrote. Bloom later told The Dominion Post that he hears from at least five or six people weekly from different areas of the county — particularly the Cheat Lake area. "Most ask for guidance and help in resolving their problem, " he said, explaining he believes there is a misunderstanding from some that the county works with these businesses. This is a recurring issue this time of year. It was almost exactly one year ago that Monongalia County Litter Control Officer Alex Hall said he was getting inundated with calls about missed trash pickups in the county. Hall suggested reaching out to the trash hauler in question, then making a formal complaint to the WVPSC. The PSC hotline is 800-344-5113. West Virginia Code mandates all individuals have and use trash service or deliver their trash to the transfer station no less than every 30 days. In the meantime, Bloom said he would forward the complaints along to the service provider. In addition to Republic, other haulers operating in Monongalia County include Mountain State Waste and Morgantown Disposal.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Challenges persist for Mingo water system as WV Public Service Commission opens investigation
The Mingo County Public Service District has faced multiple challenges over the last year that have led to dirty water and water outages for hundreds of customers. The West Virginia Public Service Commission has opened a general investigation into the utility. (Getty Images) The West Virginia Public Service Commission is opening a general investigation into operations at the Mingo County Public Service District after multiple challenges at the utility over the last year have led to dirty water and water outages for hundreds of customers. Going into last weekend, more than 2,000 customers on the water system were left without adequate service due to 'complications' with the district's sediment basin, according to a news release sent Friday by the state Department of Health. Sediment basins are used to help clear water of mineral deposits and other potential contaminants. In the general investigation filing by the PSC, staff alleged that the utility's management had neglected to maintain the sediment basins for years. This led to the inadequate filtering of water and, ultimately, service terminations for hundreds of customers due to the system being unable to properly clean the water delivered through it. Representatives for the Mingo County PSD could not be reached for this story by publication time. According to Facebook posts by the Mingo County PSD since the beginning of this year, inclement weather and the 'conditions' of the Tug River, where the system pulls its water from, have led to multiple challenges in recent weeks: water outages, the inability to treat the water, leaks, low pressure, frozen intake valves and more. A boil water advisory has been in place for a majority of the system's customers since at least Jan. 9, according to Facebook. As of Friday that was still the case, per the PSD. Bottled water distributions have been occurring in Mingo County to help the hundreds of residents who have been left with either no water or undrinkable water. Per a news release, both the state Department of Health and the Department of Homeland Security are providing assistance to local leaders in order to get adequate water service returned as soon as possible and ensure residents are safe in the meantime. While the state Bureau for Public Health will offer technical assistance to help with the ongoing challenges at Mingo County PSD, it's likely that some of the circumstances surrounding the most recent water outages are due more to systemic, continuous issues at the aging utility's facilities than an acute, one-time problem. In the PSC's filing to open a general investigation into Mingo County PSD — which was initially filed on Jan. 15 — staff for the state agency listed numerous points of concern regarding the utility's operations, some of which date back nearly a year and are unrelated to each other. In the Gilbert and Justice areas of the county, more than a dozen residents filed formal complaints last April regarding continuous outages, low pressure, leaks, muddy water coming from the pipes and the inadequate operation of fire hydrants. In December, those complaints and the overarching case were reopened by the PSC because residents alleged that remediation efforts promised by the system had not been completed. The problems, they said, persisted and in some cases got worse. Those challenges in Justice and Gilbert, according to the PSC filings, are 'physically separate and distinct' from the more recent situation. The water comes from a different source and is treated through a different part of the utility's system. On a broader scale, the Mingo County PSD is violating the state's water rules by failing to properly maintain the system and provide safe, clean and continuous water to customers. The system, according to the PSC, has failed to comply with public health standards and filing requirements, racking up numerous violations on both the operational and service sides of the utility. Certain reports that are mandated to be completed and released to customers as well as the state — consumer confidence reports, monthly operational reports and more — have gone unfiled. Proper correspondence between the system and customers when issues have occurred remain questionable, according to the PSC. And certain preventative and maintenance plans that should be in place — for contaminant sampling, backflow prevention and more — are not. The Mingo County PSD, like many utilities in the southern coalfields, is largely cash-strapped, making it difficult at times to stay on top of much needed maintenance work. In 2019, Mingo County PSD director J.B. Heflin told the Charleston Gazette-Mail that the system was paying $100,000 a month in bond payments alone for previous and then-upcoming projects. That was separate from the money it spent on payroll, equipment, maintenance and more. According to its most recent annual report, the PSD owes nearly $17.4 million in long-term bond debts. The only income source for the PSD — as is the case with most utilities — are customer bills. In 2023, per the report, the utility brought in about $3.3 million from water sales to about 4,500 customers. That same year, it paid at least $2.3 million for operating expenses and maintenance, as well as nearly $440,000 in interest on prior loans. Other funds went to mandated reserve accounts and other expenses, leaving little money on hand for special projects or improvements. PSD staff have told local media over the past few weeks that they need more money to perform the work necessary to get the system completely back online and improve service in the long term. Local officials have said they were unlikely to support a rate increase without changes to how the utility operates. But it's unclear what changes could happen if there is no more money on hand to implement them. As the general investigation unfolds, the PSC will be responsible for determining what courses of action are possible for the Mingo County PSD to improve. This includes exploring whether the PSD and its operations should be handed over to another, more capable nearby utility under the Distressed and Failing Utilities Improvement Act passed by the state Legislature in 2020. The state PSC has until July 14 to report findings from its investigation, including recommendations for both the engineering and legal operations of the utility. Once those are filed, the Mingo County PSD will have until Aug. 1 to respond to those findings. The full case filing for the investigation can be found by searching case number 25-0027-LRR-PWD-GI on the PSC's website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
