FirstEnergy asking for surcharge to fund improvements

FirstEnergy is asking to place an additional $6.9 million surcharge on MonPower and Potomac Edison customers for emission control upgrades at two power plants, which would raise the average customer’s cost of electricity by $6.60 per year.

The Akron-based electric utility company announced the proposed upgrades for the Harrison and Fort Martin coal-fired power plants in West Virginia on Tuesday. As part of the surcharge, the company said it intended to undertake 18 separate projects at the two plants, including improved emissions monitoring, boiler tuning, mercury toxin controls and flue gas desulfurization.

The total cost of those upgrades will be around $76.7 million in the next two years, according to the company’s application with the state’s Public Service Commission.

FirstEnergy’s request for the multi-million surcharge comes five months after lobbyists for the utility and the West Virginia Coal Association pushed a law — HB 4435 — through the West Virginia Legislature that allows electric utilities to apply for such projects through the PSC.

See more at: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-business/20160825/firstenergy-asking-for-surcharge-to-fund-improvements