CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The state’s major electric utilities have been directed by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia to explain on how they interact with the nation’s largest electric power grid.
The order issued Friday to Appalachian Power Co. (APCo), Wheeling Power Co. (WPCo) and Monongahela Power Co. (Mon Power) comes as a result of legislation signed into law on April 30 by Gov. Patrick Morrisey. The legislation is part of the microgrid program promoted by the governor.
West Virginia sits in the center of a 13-state electric power interchange network known as PJM. The companies in the order interact in various ways in the network’s program of buying and selling of power on the PJM capacity market.
PJM’s capacity market system is known as the Reliability Pricing Model. RPM is designed to ensure the reliability of the electric grid. Capacity resources are obtained through an auction process for capacity in PJM.
The Commission’s order directed the three to explain to the PSC how they interact with PJM and its wholesale power capacity market. The new law told the Commission “to evaluate each PJM capacity auction and to encourage voluntary participation of electric generating units in the state.”
Mon Power and the Potomac Edison Co. participate in the capacity auctions, while APCo and WPCo have a different status and do not bid directly their share into the auction, the Commission said. APCo and WPCo should explain how ratepayers would be harmed or would benefit if they transitioned to RPM status, the order said.
The information should be filed with the Commission by October 1.
More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access Case No. 25-0540-E-GI
