Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
Editorial: Reynolds fought for consumers
Sunday, May 20, 2007
State Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Ridgeway, was on the consumers’ side of the debate over an electric deregulation bill in last winter’s General Assembly session.
He may have lost that fight but he won — and won big — when the State Corporation Commission ruled on Appalachian Power Co.’s rate increase request last week.
Apco had sought a $198.5 million rate hike, and it wanted the SCC to use the law passed by the legislature earlier this year when considering it. That law put limits on SCC oversight of electric utilities’ rate and Sen. Reynolds warned it would lead to higher rates for Virginia customers, including those served by Apco in Henry and Patrick counties.
His warning was well-founded. The SCC said in its decision to slash the rate increase to $24 million that the hike would have been about $47.65 million if it had been made under the new law.
We expect the SCC not to like the new law that limits its powers. But considering those numbers, we cannot imagine many electric customers would like it either.
Sen. Reynolds was one of only three senators who opposed the bill, which he said could be repealed if the state’s legislators feel the heat from consumers. We suggest area residents make their voices heard if they agree, and we thank Sen. Reynolds for standing up and speaking out on this issue.
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