Appalachian Power, Wheeling Power provide $13M in financial assistance to customers

In a plan approved by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC), Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power will provide approximately $13 million in Fresh Start financial assistance funds to customers struggling to pay their bills as of Jan. 15, 2021, with reduced restrictions.

The Fresh Start fund began in 2018 with the $15 million in savings earned from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It was meant to assist low-income West Virginia residential customers struggling to pay bills. However, in light of the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PSC’s Consumer Advocate Division and PSC Staff urged Appalachian Power to eliminate the low-income requirement on those funds. The company agreed.

Until now, only $1.5 million of Fresh Start funds had been distributed to eligible customers. Going forward, the $13 million will be automatically applied to the accounts of residential customers who have had past due amounts for more than 90 days or those residential customers whose accounts are already operating under deferred payment plans.

Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power will still work with customers struggling to pay bills to set up special arrangements and individualize plans that allow them to keep the lights on while staying current on payments.