W.Va. power rates rising for Allegheny Energy customers

Allegheny Energy Inc. said Tuesday the Public Service Commission of West Virginia has approved a rate increase that will raise the average consumer's monthly bill by about $11.

The commission approved a settlement reached earlier this month between the Greensburg-based energy company, the commission's Consumer Advocate Division and the state's Energy Users Group.

Allegheny Energy's Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison utilities, beginning Jan. 1, will be able to recover $142.5 million of a $173 million rate increase it requested in August.

The money will be used largely to recover anticipated increased fuel and purchased power costs, primarily due to a dramatic rise in coal prices, Allegheny Energy said.