Mon Power, Potomac Edison settle over tree-trimming and fuel costs in WV rate proceedings
FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison filed settlement agreements with the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) this week to resolve outstanding rate proceedings.
One of the agreements concerned tree trimming work along more than 29,000 miles of power lines and more than 107,000 acres in the past four years, which the companies said reduced tree-related power outages. Now, the companies want to update costs related to their vegetation management program.
A second proposed settlement sought an adjustment to the Expanded Net Energy Cost (ENEC) rate, a reflection of higher fuel and purchased power expenses taken on by the companies. Customer bills for both are adjusted annually to reflect increases or decreases in the cost of fuel used to generate electricity and purchased power.
“We’re pleased to have reached agreements that allow us to continue making the important investments that support our commitment to a smarter energy future while minimizing the impact on customer bills,” Jim Myers, president of FirstEnergy’s West Virginia operations, said. “Continued focus on cost management and careful planning will help us keep our West Virginia rates the lowest among investor-owned utilities in the state and lower than the national average.”
If both settlements are approved by the PSC, the monthly bill for an average residential customer of Mon Power and Potomac Edison using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month could increase by $2.47 for the vegetation management program and another $3.77 for the ENEC adjustment. The vegetation management portion would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, while the ENEC adjustment would occur on March 27, 2024.
Those involved in the ENEC settlement, in particular, included staff of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, the Consumer Advocate Division of the Commission, the West Virginia Energy Users Group, the West Virginia Coal Association, West Virginia Citizen Action Group, Solar United Neighbors and Energy Efficient West Virginia.
