What do you think about Appalachian Power's request for a fuel factor increase?

How significantly might it affect you, if put into place? (And how have you attempted to offset the rising costs of electricity?)

 I believe that people in this area needs to remember exactly how much more we payed for electricity last winter and come out fighting.  In these economic times when everyone is being asked to take pay cuts, losing our jobs, and cutting expenses anywhere that we can and with a company such as Applachain Power that made the net profit that it did last year, this request is a plain slam in our face.  Look on the SCC filings to find out how profitable Appalachain Power was last year and tell me that a rate increase is needed.  Senator Jim Webb led a fight last year against Appalachain Powers request for an increase, although he was not successful.  I urge everyone to come out fighting, contact our senators and representatives and let them know how we feel.  Make Appalachain Power explain with the profit they made last year why they need a rate increase, when we the working people have had to help out in this economy and cut back. Get mad people NOW!!!!! or you will be paying even more than last winter on your heating bill.

 Enough is Enough, AEP will have to just get over it. The people of Southwest and Southside  Virginia  Has Enough Problems with out  AEP Making More for them.  Layoffs, High cost of  food, and other utility Makes it hard to make ends meet (if they meet at all).  The SCC needs to Cut Rates. or Freeze the rates. 

meg martin:

What do you think about Appalachian Power's request for a fuel factor increase?

 I think we should let the federal government take over AEP.  They would set fair rates!  This would be so convenient.  Then when 'cap and trade' goes into effect in a few years,the federal government can pass along the extra cost straight to the consumers without the middle man, AEP! AEP is not going to be allowed to use coal for electric power generation without paying huge amounts to the federal government anyway. The government is so good at running other industries (postal service, Amtrak,etc.) I'm sure they will do a great job in electrical power generation.  This will stick it to AEP.  Who do they think they are, trying to make a profit in these times?

This increase is just a taste of things to come...

 That's right, Karen.  Who does AEP think they are, attempting to make a profit?  They should try to be more like the auto industry and airlines that operate at a loss for years.  Then they could ask for federal bail out money and we would get our electric power for 'free'.  If the government gets involved enough, they could go after 'big coal', after all, they are the ones increasing the cost of the coal that is used to generate electric power.  Then the coal companies could request a bail out; look at all the jobs in Southwest Virginia that would be lost if the coal companies went under because they could not make a profit.

More government intervention is what is needed, for sure.

 Wake up people.  This is a direct result of the Obama agenda.  During the campaign, Obama said he was going to "bankrupt" the coal industry.  Guess how AEP makes a lot of electricity.  If you didn't read the Cap and Trade tax bill that passed in the House like none of the Reps that voted for it, it is a tax on carbon emmissions.  It is marketed as the Clean Energy Act.  But it doesn't do anything to promote or improve the air quality like they claim.  It is a straight up tax on carbon emmissions.  The only way it will reduce emmissions is because companies will have to pay more for the same amount of emissions produced, and in this case, the amount of energy they produce.  They will be forced to financially limit what they produce in order to maintain profitability.  This is an attempt for AEP to stay ahead of the Obama agenda before they completely drop the ax.  If you think that AEP is the only utility or company that is going to be increasing rates or fees, think again.  The cap and trade bill will trickle down and affect nearly all companies and or consumer products.  Remember when price of goods went up the last couple years due to rising fuel costs.  It became difficult for companies to stay profitable without passing along the extra fuel costs to the consumer.    And yes, I know some people think that no company should be profitable, but when that happens, you lose your job.  But that's another topic altogether. 

This is what AEP Pres Dana Waldo had to say to channel 10 yesterday:

WALDO: “I understand the issue that some customers are going to have trouble paying not only their electric bill but also the food bill, the mortgage. We understand the difficult times. That’s why we have made the commitment to the keep the costs as low as possible.” He went on to say, “What we ask our customers to do is be conservative in how you use electricity, use their electricity wisely and contact us early if you need help.”

WARREN: “YOU SAY USE ELECTRICITY WISELY, BUT WHEN YOU KEEP INCREASING THE RATE, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO END UP SAVING MONEY ARE YOU?”

WALDO: “Our rates on an inflation adjusted basis are going to be less today than they were in 1983. So we’re keeping up with the rate of inflation. We’re doing even better.”

WARREN: “OVER THE LONG HAUL YOUR RATES ARE BEHIND INFLATION, BUT OVER THE SHORT HAUL THEY ARE GREATLY ENLARGED COMPARED TO INFLATION. WE DON’T SEE 19% INCREASES IN EVERYTHING ELSE.”

WALDO: “If you take a very short time line.”

WARREN: “WELL WHAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO PAY THEIR BILLS IN A DOWN ECONOMY.”

WALDO: “And that’s why we are saying we are going to try and provide as much assistance to those costumers as we can.”

Why does APCO need the rate hikes? Waldo says it will cover the increased cost to produce electricity and implement environmental improvements that are federally mandated.

He notes they are invested a million dollars in programs to help people pay their bills.

The last meeting AEP had with people expressing their concerns, it was made clear that people would have a hard time paying.  They went to the SCC to express that.  Well you need to go even further.  SInce the impending Federal mandates that are in the works will cause prices to go up even more, the people you need to focus on are the two Senators Warner and Webb especially hard.  As well as all the Representatives that voted to pass the cap and trade in the House, two of which are Tom Periello and Rick Boucher.  Those guys aren't looking out for your best interest.  If you didn't know, the two Senators as well as Governor Kaine are all in Obama's cheering squad.  Both Senators have voted along with the Obama proposal on every issue, regardless of what their constituents have said to them.  Tim Kaine could care less either, he is on the way out of VA and moving on to the national stage.  Tim Kaine said when he was in Roanoke after the last AEP meeting that if people learn to conserve energy better, they won't see a net increase in their bills.  Funny, that is Dana Waldo's justification also. 

The Federal Government is mandating this increase, AEP is trying to get ahead while they can.  The Senate has yet to vote on the cap and tax bill, so you better be calling, emailing, writing the two knuckle head Senators who have no desire to do anything but play along with Obama.  If you voted blindly for Obama without looking into his past character and actions in the state as well as US Senate, this is what you voted for.  He telegraphed these types of moves from the campaign, and you chose to ignore them.  The only way to stop the train wreck that is to voice your concern to the Senators right now before they pass the stupid law without reading it either.   People want to complain the rate increases, but you need to go to the source of what's is causing them, and that is the Federal Government's "clean energy act" or cap and trade tax.

 I think what ApCo needs is a competitor. They rates rates because they can. They charge exorbitant deposits because they can. They give awful customer service because they can. Unless someone under the monopoly's umbrella is willing to live without power, the customer is essentially voiceless.

 In 2008, Forbes stated that Michael Morris - AEP's CEO - had a salary of $1.2 million, with total compensation of $15.8 million.  Check it out - http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/12/lead_bestbosses08_Michael-G-Morris_D3ID.html.

In this day and time when wages are frozen or cut because of the economy, job are being lost because of the economy, and houses are being lost because of the economy -- WHY should Mr. Morris be allowed to have such an outrageous salary?  I don't think we're paying for upgrades at all - I think we are paying for his salary!  If we are suffering, why isn't he?  And if we are suffering, why would the government grant them a rate increase without stipulating that his salary be cut?

My family's electric bill jumped $15 this past month, in a time when we have been conserving energy.  We have not even turn the a/c on this summer, trying to save energy and money.  I can bet you that Mr. Morris' house is nice and cool.  He probably doesn't even have to pay for his own electricity bill!

My family recently visited the Amish country in Pennsylvania.  They survive without electricity - they use propane to power everything.  I'm starting to think they might have the best idea around.

Our power bill has gone up pretty significantly of late.  Last summer, when it was hotter, we had summer bills of around $60-65 a month for our house.  We built an energy efficient manufactured home, with thermal pane windows, beefed up walls and insulation for added efficiency, energy efficient appliances, and the day our power was hooked up, we swapped all of our bulbs for CFL's (most of which we've used for the past nearly 5 years, with only 3 blowing in that time...2 due to a short in the fixture).  Our bill last month, with us barely using the A/C and using a shade less power overall, was $30 higher than a month with nearly identical total usage...almost 50% higher.  I am dreading the winter, since we're total electric for heat (heat pump plus electric furnace back-up).  Our power bills the first winter ran barely over $100 (early 2008), and last winter we had a few months that we were over $150.  I suspect we'll be over $200 this winter, without increasing our usage.  What we may resort to doing is buying more firewood and using it for primary heating from now on.  We have a fireplace that does a darn good job of heating the entire house, though it does chew through wood.  But, given the cost of electricity, if it's going to run us $125+ a month to heat our house with electricity (excluding non heating uses), we can easily use firewood to heat the place (and passive solar), and use less than half that cost in wood per month and just save the difference.  We'll eventually be adding rooftop solar panels, a water heating system, and probably a soapstone wood stove to our house so we can generate all or most of our electricity ourselves, our hot water, and our heat...without padding AEP's pockets.  Just 2 years ago when we started exploring building our house, solar made no sense because our electricity was so cheap.  My how things have changed since then.  Rather than a break-even point nearly 35 years out, we stand to break even on the investment in 10-12 or so, maybe less...and then we'll sell AEP some of our excess power, at their increased rate.  Payback will be sweet when AEP starts sending us a check, rather than the reverse. 

 Although we have lost our jobs, and tried to cut back where we can, we have managed to pay our electric bill to a zero balance still resulting in apco charging us another deposit although we have already paid a $250 deposit already. they just find a way to keep adding to the bill even if its paid, and you have no choice but to pay it , or they threaen to cut off your electricity. I have also seen that apco takes advantage of the low income recieving cooling, heating assistance. you bill is always higher if you recieve any assistance.

 apco you are already sneaking in your rate increase, you dont need another!

Everyone has to know that the State Corporation of Comission also is ALLOWING and or approving these increases by Apco!!!!  I reported Apco to them, and I was told by a representative that what they were doing fell under the law!!!!  I to was charged a $250.00 deposit fee when I moved to Roanoke 3 years ago from Colorado.  Then this year I was charged a $500.00 more deposit in addition to the $250.00 deposit they've already gotten.  Virginia's need to find a way to boycott.  My husband lost his job this year and hasn't been able to find another one.  Does Apco or the SCC even realize what kind of mental and physical stress high bills put on families who are truling trying to make ends meet for their families and trying just to have enough food to eat?  I even called Apco and asked the representative that I talked to, did they know what it was like to not have enough food to eat because of the extreme 2nd deposit and high cost of electricity?  And I was told by the representative that I would need to contact the SCC.  What a CROCK!!!!!!!!!!!  There is truly no help for so many people like my family just trying.

 I don't like the rate increases any more than anyone else, they suck! However, I definately don't think another governement takeover will help ANYONE in the long run. Don't you guys get it that big governement equals less people power? I see your reasoning...let the governement take over and the price will fall. Maybe but I doubt it. And even if the prices fell the control is in the hands of big brother, you think that is a fair trade off? In the former Soviet Union you could get in food lines and such and get free food, toilet paper and such and such but they had no personal liberties or freedoms. It's not a good trade off folks. Start taking personal responsability and turn off the dang lights! We almost stopped using our dryer and now hang all our clothes out on the line. We are also being much more aware of the lights, tvs, stereos, ect. being left on when no one is in the room. We like low light in the evenings when watching tv, so now we use more candle light instead of the lamps. With just these small changes we have cut our light bill by $100 a month! Take more personal responsabilty and stop looking to keep living the same lavish lifestyles without having the extra cost.

Just wait until Cap and TAX passes...these businesses are going to be hit SO freaking hard...WE will be paying out the rear.  Hope and change really sucks.   

Since I am one of a very few who has actually read FERC's Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Smith Mountain Pumped Storage Project, which reads as if AEP wrote it for them (http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/enviro/eis/2009/03-27-09.asp#skipnavsub), you learn that AEP has been 5 decades negligent for any environmental spending and given the data (p. 255, I believe) you see that they have been using the hydroelectric project at SML at 1/3 its energy generating capacity solely to generate profit.  It works like this:  During "peak" energy usage, they run water through the dam and sell it to the grid at "peak" rates (~$100/kWh) and during non-peak they use coal-fired energy (~$45/kWh) to pump the water from the lower reservoir back into the upper reservoir to make a net profit of ~$55/kWh.

The problem is that the Lake's residents are now observant of the environmental negligence and are demanding remediation...so although I've seen a billboard from AEP on 220 marketing them as a "green" company...they are far from it.  These rate increases are quite timely, since I don't believe that AEP shall be able to sustain its past practices at SML, so it runs to the State Corporation Commission for a rate increase due to "environmental spending and fuel costs, etc."

The problem with that is that the State Corporation Commission is just a mechanism to protect these wealthy business interests.  It is "chartered" by the Commonwealth of Virginia, and as such is not forced to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests.  The folk at the State Corporation Commission have their paychecks paid by these bankers and big energy corporations, so its like AEP asking themselves (under the guise of another name) for the rate increases.

As someone else pointed out, AEP's profits are HUGE.  I have tried to FOIA FERC to determine how much revenue has been generated by AEP & FERC by the Smith Mountain Lake project, but the responded with "we don't keep that data"...as if they don't track their costs/profits?  EVERYONE tracks costs and profits.

Given the sensitive nature of our economic conditions, these increases are very much NOT in the common wealth of Virginia...but they are in the best interests of a small group of elite who have far greater influence of our government.  Our saving grace is that Virginia remains a Commonwealth, and as such "We the Consumer" need to make sure we take appropriate action to ensure that the common wealth of Virginia is being protected in these matters.

Through lawsuits, through the formation of energy cooperatives that may leverage the energy technology innovations (wind/solar/hydro/bio-fuels/storage) to out-compete these corporations...to drive the corruption from our midsts, we must act!  Double-check what I say.  Ask the State Corporation Commission if they must respond to FOIA requests, then ask them why, and then who pays their paychecks (I have).  Review the data from FERC's document.

Get involved and do something to protect yourselves as consumers and citizens of this Commonwealth...for the common wealth of all Virginians.  These corruptions are a threat to our economic well-being in times that threaten our economic well-being from far too many other corruptions, and we each have a responsibility to do something about it.