Jan. 10—RICHMOND, Va. — A bill filed this week in the Virginia General Assembly would address the high electric utility bills area residents have to pay.
Senator Travis Hackworth, R — Tazewell, filed Senate Bill 1281, which is known as the “AEP Accountability Act,” Hackworth said.
The bill allows residential customers of Appalachian Power whose electric bills are more than 25% of the statewide average, as determined by the State Corporation Commission, to give Appalachian Power a 90-day notice prior to selecting a different electric provider.
The power lines are owned by AEP and any electric provider could transmit electricity across those lines with the State Corporation Commission regulating it, thus providing a choice to AEP customers should this bill go through, Hacksworth said. Electricity is available on a nationwide power grid, so Virginia consumers can get their power from other providers across the country.
“The power we get today may be coming from Ohio,” Hackworth said. “It’s not just the power plant up the road.”
Other power companies have been using less expensive rates, Hackworth said. In one example, Dominion Energy’s average monthly residential bill for 1200 KW of electricity was $133.08 in February 2024. In January 2024, the average Appalachian Power residential customer was paying $171.09 for 1000 KW of electricity.
“For customers of AEP, opening their monthly utility bill gives them feelings of anxiety, fear, and anger,” Hackworth said. “Over the past four years AEP rates have increased over 100%. I have met with top AEP officials to ask them to stop this unconscionable rate increase process that has become what seems to be a runaway train. My arguments, frustrations, and pleas have fallen on deaf ears.”
“AEP customers should have options to purchase their electricity — a basic need — without being held hostage by greedy corporations that put investors and shareholders profits before their customers,” Hackworth added. “I named this the ‘AEP Accountability Act’ because it is time to hold them accountable for their actions and let their customers have a choice in the matter. We demand it as legislators, our people demand it, and our state government should demand it.”
The proposed bill must still pass the Democrat-controlled General Assembly before it can become law.
Hackworth said Appalachian Power provides the most expensive electricity for one of the most vulnerable populations in the Commonwealth — the people of Southwest Virginia.
“And right now, there’s nothing that customers can do about it. We need options and this bill opens up opportunities so that people can feel relief in their wallets,” said Senator Todd Pillion, R-Washington. “AEP needs to realize that their competitors are providing the same service for much less money. And if they want to continue serving our population in Southwest Virginia, they need to find ways to lower their rates to the statewide average.”
Delegate James W. “Will” Morefield, R-Tazewell, is proposing a similar bill in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com