MULLENS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Public Service Commission has removed the City of Mullens as a party in an ongoing dispute between the Wyoming County Board of Education and Black Diamond Power Company over costs to extend electrical service to a new school.
In a procedural order issued November 10, 2025, Chief Administrative Law Judge Keith A. George ruled that the City of Mullens “has no interest in this proceeding and should be removed as a party,” modifying the case caption to reflect only the Wyoming County Board of Education as complainant and Black Diamond Power Company as defendant.
The original complaint, filed September 3, 2025, had listed both the City of Mullens and Wyoming County Board of Education as complainants against Black Diamond Power Company. The dispute centered on costs associated with extending power service to a new school, with the complaint also requesting that Appalachian Power Company take over service in Mullens from Black Diamond.
However, the Commission clarified in an October 28 procedural order that the only issue would be the cost for Black Diamond Power Company to extend service to the new school. The Commission noted it had initiated a separate general investigation into Black Diamond Power Company (Case No. 25-0810-E-GI), which would handle any analysis regarding which utility should properly serve the area.
Following the October clarification, the Commission raised questions about whether the City of Mullens was a proper party to the proceedings. All parties were given ten days to file arguments regarding the city’s status, but no party filed a response addressing this issue.
“The Wyoming County Board of Education is the proper party to litigate costs of extending power to one of its new schools,” the Commission stated in its discussion.
The case now proceeds with the Wyoming County Board of Education as the sole complainant challenging Black Diamond Power Company over the costs of providing electrical service to the new educational facility.
The procedural order was served to all parties by the Executive Secretary, with Krystal Wallace, City Manager of Mullens, receiving notification by U.S. First Class Mail. Other parties with electronic service agreements received the order through electronic notification.
The West Virginia Public Service Commission has ongoing oversight responsibilities for utility services in the state, including disputes over service costs and utility territories.
