We applaud the members of the Virginia General Assembly, and Gov. Bob McDonnell, for taking the first step necessary to address skyrocketing utility bills faced by residents of Southwest Virginia.
Now, it’s time for West Virginia lawmakers to follow their lead. Folks in southern West Virginia are also struggling with out-of-control electric bills. And the situation continues to worsen with each passing rate increase approved by the state Public Service Commission.
Members of the Bluefield Board of Directors took the unique step last Tuesday of passing a resolution appealing to West Virginia lawmakers to intercede on behalf of city residents — and citizens across Mercer County — who are struggling with soaring electric bills.
It’s time for West Virginia lawmakers to answer their call to action. Senate Majority Leader H. Truman Chafin, D-Mingo, fired his first salvo against Appalachian Power last week. Chafin raised more than a few eyebrows last week when he revealed the results of a Freedom of Information Act request he filed against the company, which included the salaries and bonuses paid to American Electric Power executives between 2004 and 2008.
He also told the story of a grandmother in McDowell County who received a $900 electric bill. According to Chafin, the woman doesn’t know whether to pay the bill, or go without food and medicine for the month.
Such horror stories continue to emerge across our region. And it’s not just electric bills. Gas and water rates across our region also remain a challenge for citizens living on fixed incomes.
Perhaps more shockingly is the revelation from Chafin that there is now an opening on the West Virginia Public Service Commission, and the job pays $85,000 a year. What? The same agency that has seemingly granted a rubber stamp of approval for one utility rate increase after another in recent years is paying its commission members $85,000 a year.
Unbelievable.
Chafin is encouraging a lawmaker to assume the post in order to stop what he calls a “monopoly” on rate increases. We agree, but we feel that someone from southern West Virginia — lawmaker or concerned citizen — should be appointed to this vacancy and take a voluntary pay cut in the process.
However, it must be someone who is willing to stand up and fight for the citizens of southern West Virginia. Someone who is courageous and will keep his or her word to fight against this never ending barrage of rate increases folks across our region continue to face.
Enough is enough already. It’s time for lawmakers in West Virginia to follow the lead of the Virginia General Assembly and start drafting legislation to control these out-of-control utility rate increases.
While we realize that it may not be possible to have legislation passed during the current session, lawmakers can and must start working on the problem today.
It is time for legislators to answer the call for help.
Editorials
February 28, 2010
Time for leadership: Lawmakers must address soaring rates
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