This week, the Virginia State Corporation Commission will make a determination about whether many people in Virginia should pay higher power bills.  Michael Pope has more.

*Editor’s note: this story has been updated with comment from Appalachian Power. Here’s the utility’s full statement:

Appalachian Power serves approximately 545,000 customers across southwest and central Virginia. The company’s biennial rate review application filed in March with the Virginia State Corporation Commission includes the base rates necessary to provide power to residential, commercial and industrial customers in our service territory. Our customers need safe and reliable service, and we work hard to meet those expectations while keeping costs as low as possible.

Background:  Appalachian Power must file every two years for a base rate review under state law enacted last year. The application filed earlier this year is the company’s first application under the new state law. Reviews are an opportunity for the SCC to examine the company’s financial and operational performance, and any request to modify base rates for service.

Please note the following update regarding the impact to customer bills as this number has changed. Since the March filing, Appalachian Power has lowered its revenue requirement from approximately $95 million to $64.2 million. Under the revised revenue figure, the monthly bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours would increase $6.75.