A prolonged cold snap has intensified the financial strain many West Virginians face as they try to pay their electric bills.
Heather Santee, sounding apologetic, recently shut down her dream venture — a bakery in Ravenswood.
The former owner of Santee Sweets & Eats said soaring electricity costs ultimately forced her to close her doors.
“I struggled with it the whole time I was open,” she said. “I just constantly stayed behind.”
Santee and several other small business owners say the demand charge made up a significant portion of her monthly power bill and created added pressure.
The demand charge reflects a customer’s highest level of electricity usage during a billing cycle.
Santee said the biggest burden came when the restaurant was closed but she still had to cover costs tied to sudden spikes in system demand.
Appalachian Power said customers who believe their bills are unusually high can request a review of their usage patterns.
For years, West Virginia maintained relatively low and stable residential electricity rates. However, from 2019 to 2024, residential electricity prices in the state appear to have risen between 30% and 37%, compared with a national increase of 20% to 23% during the same period.
Although the state’s rates rank around the middle compared with others, many home and business customers still feel the sting.
Another rate increase is pending for AEP customers in both West Virginia and Kentucky. The proposal addresses repairs to a cooling tower at the Mitchell Plant in Marshall County.
The repairs would allow the plant to continue operating beyond its projected closure date of 2040.
West Virginia residential customers could see their monthly bills rise by about $1.25, while commercial customers may face increases of more than $3.25. Kentucky Power residential customers could experience an increase of more than $4.50 per month.