With on-site fuel storage and long-term contracts for coal supplies, West Virginia’s nine coal-fired power plants provide some of the most reliable baseload electric power in the country. These plants also provide inexpensive electricity to state residents.
Average West Virginia electric rates are 23% cheaper than the national average. When the global energy crisis sent fuel prices soaring in 2021 and 2022, West Virginia’s coal power plants moderated the impact of high fuel prices on state residents. Since 2021, national electric prices have increased by about 24%. In the 13-state area that makes up the PJM electric grid and includes all our surrounding states, power prices also increased by 24%.
