Efforts to bring an aluminum plant to Jackson County could mean an increase in YOUR electric bill.
Right now, state leaders are working a deal between Century Aluminum and Appalachian Power, but the arrangement could leave you footing the bill.
"It adds up! so I think it is out of the question," Hazel Lambert of Bluefield said.
For Mercer County resident Hazel Lambert--- an extra 2 to 12 dollars added to her electric bill just isn't in the budget... and that is how much extra you could be spending if a proposal passes to reopen Century Aluminum in Jackson County.
If the proposal passes, counties all over the state would be responsible for paying the electric bill for Century Aluminum. The extra charge would be dependent on the price of aluminum. So when the global price is high Century would pay more for electricity and front the majority of the bill themselves. But when the price is low, AEP customers would be left paying out upwards of $12.
"That's a lot for a monthly electric bill to go up for a residential customer and we believe that is more than a residential customer is able to pay AEP," Communications Director, Jeri Matheney said.
AEP Communications Director, Jeri Matheney said while the company would like to see Century reopen, because it was once AEP's biggest customer but not at the cost of hurting their customers. She says as the proposal is written now it puts all of the responsibility on the West Virginians.
"It protects Century from business risks. It shifts all the risks over to the customers of AEP," Matheney continued.
Matheney said the biggest problem with the proposal is there are no limits set to protect the customer. She said one compromise might be to limit the amount a customer has to pay on their monthly bill.
Right now the decision is in the hands of the Public Service Commission. The PSC is set to make a decision in August and that decision could deny, approve or ask for a revision of the proposal/
The PSC is currently taking comments from the public.
If you'd like to make your voice heard click here.
When you get to the web site click on Formal Case to file your feedback.
59 News also did contact Century Aluminum for comment and our calls went unreturned.
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