Announcements, Kanawha, Marshall, Mason, Putnam

NOTICE OF FILING AND EVIDENTIARY HEARING

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

OF WEST VIRGINIA

CHARLESTON

 

 

CASE NO.  20-1040-E-CN

 

APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY

and WHEELING POWER COMPANY

public utilities.

Application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the internal modifications at coal fired generating plants necessary to comply with federal environmental regulations and surcharge.

 

 

NOTICE OF FILING AND EVIDENTIARY HEARING

 

On December 23, 2020, Appalachian Power Company (APCo) and Wheeling Power Company (WPCo) (collectively Companies) filed a duly verified Application for a Certificate to make internal modifications at coal-fired generating plants in Putnam, Mason, and Marshall Counties.

 

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia approved the application on August 4, 2021.  The modifications will be phased in over an approximate four-year period beginning in 2021.  As originally filed, the estimated annual West Virginia revenue requirements after full phase-in of the planned modifications were $23.5 million, an increase of approximately 1.62%.

 

On September 8, 2021, the Companies filed updated data to reflect changes in estimated costs and the impact of Orders issued by the Kentucky Public Service Commission (KPSC) which also has jurisdiction over the plant in Marshall County and Virginia State Corporation Commission (VSCC) which shares jurisdiction over the plants in Putnam and Mason Counties.  Neither commission approved the construction of certain effluent limitation guidelines (ELG) controls that are necessary to allow the plants to continue to operate after 2028.  The Companies requested that the Commission rule that effluent control costs will be the responsibility of West Virginia customers if the Commission required installation of the ELG controls and operation of the plants after 2028 and KPSC and VSCC continued to prohibit the necessary investments that would allow the plants to operate after 2028.

 

The updated costs and allocation of effluent control costs to West Virginia are projected to increase the annual revenue requirements after full phase-in of the planned modifications to $48.0 million.  Based on the original percentage increases provided by the Companies, the revised $48.0 annual revenue requirement that would go into effect after the full phase-in of all planned upgrades is estimated to impact West Virginia rates by approximately 3.3%.

 

The Companies’ filing is on file with and available for public inspection at the Public Service Commission, 201 Brooks Street, in Charleston, West Virginia.  It is also available on the Commission web docket found at www.psc.state.wv.us.  Select “Case Information” on left side of page, and type the case number above to view the Application and other documents filed in this case.

 

The Public Service Commission will conduct an evidentiary hearing in this case, if requested by a party or parties to the case, on September 24, 2021, beginning at 9:30 a.m. If held, the evidentiary hearing will be held in the Howard M. Cunningham Hearing Room, Public Service Commission, 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia.  The evidentiary hearing may be viewed live by videostream at www.psc.state.wv.us.

 

Anyone desiring to make written comment should file it at any time prior to the start of the evidentiary hearing.  Electronic comment may be made at the above website using the case number for this case.  All comments and requests to intervene should briefly state the reason for the comment or intervention.  All comments, except those submitted electronically, should be addressed to Connie Graley, Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, P. O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323.

 

APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY

and WHEELING POWER COMPANY

 

IO-21093AA0