ApCO Rate Reduction Act Passed
On February 22, the Virginia General Assembly passed Delegate Jason Ballard’s (R-Giles) HB 2621, known as the “APCo Rate Reduction Act.” HB 2621 passed on a vote of 98-0 in the House of Delegates and 39-0 in the Senate of Virginia.
Said Del. Ballard, “This legislation will provide the most significant electric bill relief to APCo customers in years. For too long, my constituents – and those throughout APCo territory – have suffered through unreasonably high electric bills that put people in the unwinnable position between paying their electric bill or putting food on the table.”
Ballard continued, “I give my sincere thanks to the entire Southwest Delegation of General Assembly members who helped get this bill across the finish line. HB 2621 is the only bill that provides meaningful financial relief for our constituents who are APCo customers.”
The APCo Rate Reduction Act includes several mechanisms that will provide APCo customers support. First, HB 2621 allows for securitization, which will provide relief on each customer’s monthly bill. There is a six-month moratorium on interest and late fees, as well as a nine-month moratorium on disconnect and reconnect fees, which will assist those among us who have the least means to pay. Importantly, there will be no increase in electric rates during the winter months (November through February). Similarly, APCo must propose seasonal rates which are meant to minimize the impact of cold winter months and high electricity usage. APCo must propose alternatives to current billing practices, which are designed to lessen the burden of high monthly bills during peak seasons. And finally, HB 2621 directs the State Corporation Commission to consider public input and comments during all rate cases.
Ballard concluded, “This was a heavy lift during a short legislative session. However, doing nothing was not an option. I appreciate every constituent who shared their story with my office – this is how to get things done in Richmond.”
February 24, 2025 @ 9:35 pm
If Virginia would drop that ridiculous renewal energy mandate the the former Governor and fellow Democrats forced Virginia into, maybe APCO would not have to charge as much???? NAHHH! They would still charge high rates either way! We need competition and not have APCO have a captive customer base! Why is APCO our only choice??
February 24, 2025 @ 4:03 pm
My electric bill for my residence in January alone was $1037!! They’ve been creeping up for the past 5 years. And not from increased usage. We’ve been burning our wood stove for the past three months to try to save on electric. And now comes the news that real estate tax assessments are going up 52% across the board in Floyd County regardless of any improvements. We the people are nothing but debt slaves to the powers that be. One can only hope that the new administration will stop this madness.
February 24, 2025 @ 3:41 pm
AEP will just find another way to screw their customers…
February 24, 2025 @ 1:01 pm
When will this take effect and what is the percentage decrease? The February bill actually took my WHOLE bi-weekly paycheck! Had to use my credit card for a bill because of this!
February 24, 2025 @ 7:02 pm
Thank you for passing this bill. I am on SS Disability n barely make ends meet each month. some months I have had to let my electric bill go unpaid to purchase food n RX’s. This is such an unrealistic burden on people. Fees alone are unreal.
February 24, 2025 @ 11:20 am
The high electric rates along with all of the fees are why people can’t afford their bill. Hopefully this will help people facing cutoffs and past due bills. It would have been more helpful to more people to reign in the rates and the numerous fees.
People are getting $300 per month and higher electric bills. That is a strain.
February 24, 2025 @ 10:57 am
this seems to only help not raise it in winter months but come spring or summer they can still do as they please to make up for it. this bill doesn’t seem to do much other than stop people from having their power cut off for a temporary period
February 24, 2025 @ 9:24 am
No one can afford these high rates with Appalachian Power in Southwest Virginia, our power bill for January was $599.00 and we have a propane Fire place, you may as well say it was $600.00 and this is absolutely ridiculous considering our Fireplace runs all the time. I just want to see something done about this and the poor little people suffering because it means food on their table or to keep warm, my mind wonders about this Company, killing us all.
February 24, 2025 @ 9:22 am
wish they would do something about odc power and property taxes older seniors just cant survive
February 24, 2025 @ 9:00 am
Our power bill has been high for the winter months. Also after my Mother in law passed away my husband and I stayed because we had nowhere to go for a few months back in 2023. Appalachian power company wanted over $3000 because we were late paying but also worried about the passing of my mother in law. They didn’t wanted to hear anything about it. Now telling us that the reading is done automatically but they want to charge you more and more . Especially in Southwest Virginia and everywhere else that they have their contracts. They should be ashamed to charge so much on power Bill’s when we have elderly people that can’t pay or single parents.
February 24, 2025 @ 8:51 am
My son lives in a trailer his power bill had been running around 250 to 300 during winter months. January his bill was almost 700 dollars, he’s a single dad and cant afford that well Feb was over 700. there is No way its this high..
February 24, 2025 @ 8:08 am
AEP rates will always rise and rise …..No representative will ever reduce rates. That’s just talk. Big money runs everything the end of the story. Representatives just try to keep people from rising up.
Virginia is a ridiculous state that taxes you on everything! You buy land and think you own it but your never own it! You pay rent even after the purchase price …… they just call it property tax ….,you will NEVER OWN ANYTHING! If you can’t pay the tax Virginia takes it from you! Money money money
February 24, 2025 @ 7:57 am
Doesn’t look like they are doing anything to address high energy prices. Just pushing bills around from month to month. For many years my power cost was 0.054/kwh. Now it is 0.170/kwh. That explains why your power bill has gone up so much. Thanks for nothing Richmond.
February 24, 2025 @ 7:39 am
Great. Now how about that ridiculous personal property tax. How many times do I have to pay a tax on the same vehicles.
February 24, 2025 @ 7:32 am
I had a $361.00,one month electric bill,in January 2025, I was supposed to be on the budget plan,but the last 4-5 Months of 2024,my average bill was 156.00 with budget plan and without it,$75-80 a month,than the extra I was paying supposed to have went onto a higher bill than my budget,oh ,with budget plan my electric bill was $272.00 for January 2025, I have asked to be removed from budget Roanoke VA
February 24, 2025 @ 7:05 am
THANK YOU JASON.
February 24, 2025 @ 12:15 am
I can only hope that this will benefit me. I’ve been hassling with APCO for well over a year over Xtra fees, late charges, due dates&mail delivery to the point of feeling harassed & used as an example for complaining. I had to cancel my internet & phone & cable svc in order to pay for a $400. additional fee for being late on pmts due in part to posting $ on another account we have. I’ve tried to contact anyone who would hear me & grateful for this notice. I have high hopes & my over charges paid back too.
February 23, 2025 @ 11:38 am
you’re the man Jason. !!!. we appreciate you.