Kentucky Power seeking 12 percent rate increase

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Power Company is seeking to raise customer electric rates to help it complete the purchase of a West Virginia power plant.

According to The Independent (http://bit.ly/1vZudeG ), Kentucky Power says the 12.5 percent increase would bring in $70 million, and that residential customers would pay about $22 more per month.

Kentucky Power chose to purchase the coal-fired Mitchell Plant in Moundsville, West Virginia, rather than invest in an old generating unit to meet EPA regulations. The utility says retrofitting the Big Sandy unit would require a 31 percent rate hike.

State Rep. Rocky Adkins, who is challenging the request, says the proposal would actually increase residential bills by 16.5 percent. He said the company’s decision to retire a unit and use the West Virginia plant is being challenged in court.

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