Public Hearing Set For Appalachian Power Rate Increase

  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - State regulators will hold a public hearing Oct. 1 on Appalachian Power’s request to raise its surcharge for recovering the cost of reducing air emissions and improving reliability.
    The State Corporation Commission said Wednesday that written comments will be accepted through Sept. 24. The hearing will be held at the commission’s offices in Richmond.
    Appalachian Power wants to implement the higher surcharge Jan. 1, 2010.
    The commission says the proposed increase would raise the typical residential customer’s monthly bill by about 3.5 percent.
    Appalachian Power also is seeking to increase the portion of the electric bill that pays for the fuel used to generate electricity.
Hearings are scheduled June 30 in Richmond and July 1 in Wytheville on that request.
   
    (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)