by Kate Shunney
Public notice has been released by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia that Potomac Edison, the regional electricity company, has proposed a two-step base rate increase on most of the state’s power customers, including households and businesses in Morgan County.
If new rates are approved by the PSC, Potomac Edison would raise their electric rates for residential customers by $4.12 per month, roughly a 3% increase, effective August 1, 2026. Rates would also go up for commercial and industrial customers, who would see a 1.7% and 1.3% increase, respectively. Street lighting rates would also go up by 2% under the proposal. 
In June of 2027, Potomac Edison would raise rates again by $4.11 a month on residential customers, a 2.9% increase. Rates would also rise for commercial, industrial and street lighting customers.
According to the PSC, the aggregate of both increases would raise $75.6 million in revenue through a combined 4.25% rate increase.
Rates would increase in 40 of the state’s 55 counties under the proposal, affecting 558,000 customers.
In their original base rate filing, the power companies said they are seeking the hikes as an Inflation and Plant Investment Rate Adjustment. The filing lists improvements made to their various power plants and transmission equipment to address overloads, voltage drops, aging transmission structures and line deterioration.
Public comments open
Anyone who wants to protest or comment on the proposed rate hike can do so until July 9.
Protests and comments can be filed online through the Public Service Commission website (www.psc.state.wv.us) using the “Submit Comment” link. Comments can also be mailed or hand delivered to the Executive Secretary of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, P.O. Box 812, 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, WV 25323.
Members of the Public Service Commission will hold an evidentiary hearing at 9:30 a.m. on July 9 in the Howard M. Cunningham Hearing Room at the PSC at the above address.
Those who want more information about the case can find information on the PSC website by searching Case No. 26-0508-E-42T.
