Democratic Party of Virginia: Griffith to ApCo Customers -- Take a Hike
- Nearly 6,000 Virginians Sign Petition to Control ApCo Rate Hikes, but Congressional Candidate Backs Status Quo

From the Office of the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus

March 12, 2010

CONTACT: David Mills, 804-644-1966 ext 260

With skyrocketing utility bills in Southwest and Southside Virginia, Congressional candidate and House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) loudly defended Appalachian Power Company on Thursday and led the fight to block efforts to rein in future utility rate hikes.

Griffith led the House of Delegates' effort Thursday to block a vote on House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong's (D-Collinsville) bill, which would have helped control the frequency and size of ApCo rate increases. Nearly 6,000 Virginians have signed a petition to strengthen ApCo regulation and stop excessive rate increases.

The utility company has proposed 13 rate hikes in the last five years, including a December proposal that would raise residential bills by an average of 15 percent. Griffith is running for Congress in the 9th Congressional District, which is made up almost entirely of ApCo customers.

"Everyone knows that Morgan Griffith isn't from the 9th Congressional District, but it's surprising how out of touch he is with the Southwest Virginia," said C. Richard Cranwell, Chairman Democratic Party of Virginia. "Southwest Virginians can't just sit around and wait for another round of devastating rate hikes, but that's exactly what Morgan Griffith told them to do.

"Thanks to Griffith, families are going to experience skyrocketing rates that will continue to force them to choose between food and medicine," Cranwell continued. "In tough times like these, it looks like Morgan Griffith thinks everyone should tighten their belts except for his buddies at Appalachian Power."

In yesterday's debate, Delegate Armstrong cited a woman who earned $1,100 a month working two jobs, and had a $650 power bill. She said she couldn't figure out how to feed her children and pay her power bill. [Martinsville Bulletin, 3/12/10]

Background

" The vast majority of the 9th Congressional District -- where Griffith is running for Congress -- is served by Appalachian Power Company. [Service Areas of Electric Utilities map, http://www.energy.vt.edu/vept/electric/serviceareas.asp]

" According to Republican Governor Bob McDonnell, the Appalachian Power rates in Virginia are "higher than Appalachian's West Virginia rates and those of Duke Energy in North Carolina." [Roanoke Times, 3/11/10]

" Armstrong has said that this bill would eliminate stand-alone rate adjustments. Consolidating rate requests would help the State Corporation Commission (SCC), which rules on rate requests, by enabling it to have the context of several "bundled" requests, rather than individual requests "in a vacuum," he has said. That probably would result in a smaller increase, he said. [Martinsville Bulletin, 3/12/10]

" Appalachian Power had requested thirteen separate rate increases since 2005. In December, ApCo received two rate increases: a 12.2 percent increase in the base rate and a 2.7 percent increase for transmission charges, raising residential electric bills an average of 15.5 percent." [Delegate Armstrong Press Release, 1/11/10]

" Griffith blocked yesterday's effort by Delegate Ward Armstrong to have the house "vote on a bill Armstrong introduced to try and help customers of Appalachian Power Co." [Martinsville Bulletin, 3/12; Lynchburg News and Advance, 3/12]

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