Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
|
|
 |
|
|
| To oppose APCo's requests |
|
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer
Del. Ward Armstrong is encouraging Appalachian Power customers to ride the “No Rate Hike Express” bus to oppose a base rate hike at a Nov. 19 public hearing in Rocky Mount.
The State Corporation Commission (SCC) will hold the public hearing on the proposed increase at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Franklin County High School auditorium.
The proposed increase of $154 million would raise base rates about 14.5 percent for residential customers who use 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month, said Todd Burns, communications manager for Appalachian. It would be in effect for two years, Burns said.
Armstrong is joining with several local businesses, including Bassett Furniture in Henry County and Vaughan-Bassett Furniture in Hillsville, to sponsor buses for 10th House District residents to ride to the hearing.
Henry County residents may board buses at the Henry County Administration Building that are slated to leave at 4:30 p.m. that day, according to a news release from Armstrong.
Patrick County participants may board a bus at the Patrick Henry Community College site near DeHart Park in Stuart, with plans to leave at 4:15 p.m., according to the release.
A bus in Hillsville will pick up riders at the governmental center there and leave at 3 p.m., the release stated.
Because space is limited, individuals interested in riding a bus to the hearing are asked to call Armstrong’s office at 632-7022 to reserve seats.
Armstrong said callers can reserve seating for a spouse, but the office will not accept group reservations. There is no deadline to register.
“Let your voices be heard and stop these rate increases,” he said.
Riders who want to speak during the hearing are encouraged to do so, Armstrong said. But, he noted, it is not required.
“It is my hope we will pack the room,” he said. “Too many people are struggling, and too many businesses are struggling.”
The buses are being funded by donations, and no taxpayer dollars are being spent on the effort, Armstrong said.
According to his research, Appalachian has increased rates 11 times since 2006, said Armstrong. He is seeking re-election to the 10th District House seat on Nov. 3 and is being challenged by Republican Ed Creed.
“These repeated rate increases are just plain wrong. That’s why I’m joining with local businesses to make sure that residents who would otherwise be unable to attend the hearing are able to make their voices heard,” Armstrong said.
“A double-digit rate increase is a job killer,” said Doug Bassett, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture.
Vaughan-Bassett is working hard to keep manufacturing jobs in the United States and Virginia, but “large electric rate increases risk sending these jobs offshore,” Bassett said.
Eddie White, human resources manager at Bassett Furniture Industries, said the furniture business in the current economic climate is “extremely difficult,” with many companies trying to keep expenses down “to make it to the other side.”
Proposed electric rate hikes make that goal more difficult, he said.
The issue is not new, Armstrong said in a release.
“Ten years ago when Tultex went out of business, I participated in town hall meetings where people said they had to choose between buying food and medicine. In talking with constituents in the past few months I have heard almost the same phrase, only this time they are having to choose between food and medicine or paying their electric bill,” he said.
It’s time to put an end to the increases, he added.
The hike being considered next month is one of four Appalachian has requested this year. Two have been resolved.
In August, the SCC approved a 7.7 percent increase for the company’s fuel factor, or $129.5 million.
About two weeks ago, the commission approved a request designed to recover transmission costs. It will mean about a 2 percent increase that will go into effect in mid-December, Burns said.
The other request, which is related to an environmental reliability surcharge, is being considered by the commission. The $28 million increase would mean a less than 3 percent hike, Burns said. |
| |
|
|
.jpg)
