WEST VIRGINIA — Appalachian Power Company (APCo) customers in West Virginia will see a slight rate increase next month following the company’s acquisition of the Top Hat Wind Facility, a 204-megawatt project approved by the Public Service Commission in 2023.
The new charge affects the Environmental and New Generation (ENG) portion of customer bills beginning Dec. 12. For a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, the increase will be 0.62%, or about $1.08.
APCo said the increase is tied to bringing the wind facility online. The Top Hat Wind Facility officially began service on Nov. 7 and is expected to support industrial customers seeking renewable energy options.
“Customers who want to locate or expand in West Virginia seek an energy mix with renewable resources,” said Aaron Walker, APCo president and chief operating officer. “Additionally, the addition of the Top Hat Wind Facility is expected to result in a reduction in West Virginia customer rates over the life of the project.”
According to APCo, as more users commit to renewable energy and additional cost-of-service benefits take effect, the ENG tariff and overall customer bills are expected to decrease over time.
With colder weather approaching, APCo is also urging customers to explore energy efficiency programs at TakeChargeWV.com and review payment assistance options at AppalachianPower.com/Assist.
