Is Your Electric Bill Going Up?

I have corresponded more with the SCC just to see what we are up against in the challenge we face with the AEP increase.  I want to share these emails with you.  So that the complete questions and responses will be in one place I will be including one that I previously put in a comment.

My question:

I am trying to find information about AEP to see if a rate increase to their customers in Abingdon has been approved.  My November electric bill tripled.

State Corporation Commission Answer: (this one I posted previously)
 
The State Corporation Commission issued an order on November 17 that reduced the company’s request by as much as state law would permit.

The company’s original request represented a 23.9 percent increase in annual operating revenue. After a thorough review of the request, APCo, the SCC staff, and several parties in the case reached an agreement to lower the request to an increase of 19.3 percent. The Commission accepted the agreement.

In its final order, the Commission said, “[W]hile we are cutting Appalachian’s rate increase substantially from its request, we understand that the rate increase approved will still represent a hardship on many of Appalachian’s residential and business customers. We find, however, that this rate increase is consistent with the facts and laws that govern this case.”

The SCC noted that a significant portion of the increase related to capital expenditures made to generation and distribution facilities needed to provide service to customers. The Commission wrote, “A large portion of this increase is attributable to environmental improvements made to the generation facilities to comply with federal laws and regulations. Additionally, Appalachian has made improvements to maintain the reliability of its distribution network in Virginia. These expenditures, plus associated operating costs and depreciation, have contributed to an upward pressure on rates.”

The SCC also mentioned in the order that in APCo’s prior base rate case, the company sought to recover in rates much of this investment by projecting capital expenditures, but the Commission denied recovery because the funds had not actually been expended. Since the company has now actually spent these amounts, state law provides for their recovery in rates.

My question: 
   
When The SCC issued the order on November 17 for the lower increase of 19.3 percent, was that retroactive?  If so, to what starting date?

State Corporation Commission Answer:
(I previously posted this)

Actually, by law, the company was able to increase its base rate adjustment (as requested) on an interim basis on October 27, 2008, which it did.

When the SCC issued an order on November 17, the company had to adjust its rates as directed to the date of the order and also refund (with interest) any amount collected from the higher interim rate.  Interim rates only were in effective for a 3 week period, so the refund will not be huge.  The refund will appear as a credit on a coming bill.  Refunds have to be made by February 17.

Keep in mind, there was also a fuel rate increase that took effect on September 1, 2008.

My question:

What you are telling me, bottom line, there is no way the users of AEP services are going to be able to fight this large increase.

State Corporation Commission Answer:

Correct.  During the comment period during which the SCC was considering this request, the Commission received more than 25,000 letters, e-mails and phone calls urging it to deny or reduce the requested increases.

The Commission only approved amounts that were fully consistent with the facts and laws governing each request.  In each case, the SCC approved less than what the company requested. The SCC’s review mitigated the potential effect of the combined increases by more than $46 million.

My final email:

You have answered all my questions and I am satisfied that I have pursued this matter as far as possible.  I feel the Commission has looked out for the people and I thank you for that.

Now that all the facts are available to all of us we know where we stand.  We now know there were 25,000 people fighting this increase.  If those same people will put forth the same effort in contacting their elected Senators and Congressmen it can make a difference.

I feel Two Feathers, in his post January 8, 2009 at 2:39 PM, has given excellent things we   can write or say in a phone call should anyone not feel sure of what to say.

If we don’t all come together and work together on our common problem everything will be lost for all whether you use VA or TN electricity. 

Our voices must be the competition for the monopoly utilities! 

May God give each of us the strength to stand up for what we believe is right.

Can someone out there please explain to me what all of the charges and surcharges and fees are that are on our bills and what the money from them goes to?  The phone co., power co. and water hole can’t or don’t want to explain them to me when I call and question them.  It would be greatly appreciated.

Not being able to get the AEP increase off my mind I sent another email to the SCC.  My inquiry was the effective date of the increase.

This is the reply I received:

Actually, by law, the company was able to increase its base rate adjustment (as requested) on an interim basis on October 27, 2008, which it did.
When the SCC issued an order on November 17, the company had to adjust its rates as directed to the date of the order and also refund (with interest) any amount collected from the higher interim rate.  Interim rates only were in effective for a 3 week period, so the refund will not be huge.  The refund will appear as a credit on a coming bill.  Refunds have to be made by February 17.
Keep in mind, there was also a fuel rate increase that took effect on September 1, 2008.

Folks, I have emailed Alexander, Corker and Roe twice already in these few days, no replies, big suprise. But, I will keep emailing .
We have to light a fire under these guys unless we want to settle for forever more higher utility bills without regard to economic conditions.
I urge anyone to do the same, repeatedly. Ask your friends and neighbors to call, write and email their representatives in Virginia and Tennessee and demand that these utilities tighten their belts like we have all had to do. Our Senators and Congressmen must be swamped with overwhelming demands for action or this effort will be ignored.
Has anyone heard AEP or TVA announcing layoffs or cutbacks, suspension of million dollar plus bonuses? No you have not and these gluttons are not going to change unless we force the change by absolutely driving our elected officials to do their jobs.
Ask your representative if he/she is recieving “contributions” from execs that have interests or jobs at these utilities. Let them know that you are not just another “programmed” citizen who simply accepts being ran over by the system of dirty politics and dirtier corporations.  Tell them that you are mad and rightfully so.
Again, I tell you , if you don’t do this, you deserve to pay an ever higher utility bill.

Go look at “OTHER POWER.COM “ from that page you can go to several pages that include instruction, with measurments and design ideas. You can also buy some of the premade parts. if you want.
But Northern Tool is selling wind generators for about $700.00 too.