Mingo Senator Wants PSC To Investigate AEP Distribution System Collapse in WV

Sen. Truman Chafin got to see the impact of PATH on Mingo County when AEP’s distribution system collapsed a few weeks ago.  Chafin has requested that the WV PSC investigate power companies’ neglect of their WV customers’ power reliability.  The view from Mingo County is much like the view from Calhoun County in Allegheny Energy’s service area.

Here is a link to the article in today’s Charleston Daily Mail.

Glad to have you aboard on this issue Sen. Chafin.  Maybe you should start asking AEP CEO Mike Morris why he wants to cut Appalachian Power’s investment in our distribution system.  Then you can ask Morris to stop PATH and start dealing with reliability problems WV consumers have right now, right here.

Think Appalachian Power will make any changes?  Here’s what AEP CEO Morris told a national conference in Florida less than two months ago:

AEP projects that capital expenditures for utility operations will decrease to $1.993 billion in 2010 from the estimated $2.466 billion in 2009, reflecting AEP’s conservative approach for near-term capital expenditures.

It’s all about money.  If AEP is investing in mega-transmission lines in WV and around the US so they can pull down FERC’s guaranteed profits, why should they give money to their WV utility Appalachian Power to keep the lights on for the people in Mingo County?

There is a direct connection between the goofy TrAIL and PATH power line projects and the collapse of WV’s power distribution system.  Let’s hope Sen. Chafin eventually makes that connection.