VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – A bill aimed at reducing Appalachian Power’s rates has cleared key hurdles in the Virginia General Assembly.
The APCo Rate Reduction Act, co-sponsored by Delegates Terry Kilgore (R-Scott), Israel O’Quinn, and Jason Ballard, passed the House energy subcommittee with a unanimous 9-0 vote before advancing to the full House, where it passed on February 4 with a bipartisan 81-17 vote.
House Bill 2621 proposes a major overhaul of the utility’s rate-setting process, which lawmakers say will lower costs for customers.
Key provisions include:
- Banning rate increases during winter months
- Freezing rates until March 2026
- Requiring annual rate reviews instead of every two years
- Mandating a review of “seasonal rates” by the State Corporation Commission
- Simplifying customer bills
- Reducing fuel costs
- Refinancing existing coal plants
“This legislation will provide the most significant rate relief for Appalachian Power customers in years!” said Delegate Kilgore.
Lawmakers estimate the bill could reduce the average customer’s kilowatt-hour cost by 13 percent.
The proposal now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
