Kentucky Power, which provides electricity to customers in 20 eastern Kentucky counties, wants to raise its rates -- including residential rates by more than 18 percent. The company filed the request with the state Public Service Commission in late June. On its website, Kentucky Power cited a windstorm, ice storm, historic flooding and a “notable” population decline in its service area. State Senator Robin Webb represents Boyd, Carter and Greenup counties – all served by Kentucky Power.
“It's concerning, very concerning for my population, and the demographic of those three counties.”
Kentucky Power has 163-thousand customers in eastern Kentucky. Webb said she knows the utility’s costs are up – but worries about how her constituents will deal with a hefty rate hike.
“I'm not being dramatic when I say that some will die, at some point, when the threshold gets to where they've got to make decisions that affect their lives, whether it's buying medicine or buying power.”
Webb, who has two energy degrees and is a former coal miner, said energy diversification is a long-term solution – and she’s not opposed to the use of nuclear energy as part of that solution.
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