Public comment hearing held on Kentucky Power rate increase request

• • By Justin Begley News Editor

• • Dec 21, 2025

Local residents shared concerns about rising electric bills while addressing the Kentucky Public Service Commission during a public comment session at the Perry County Fiscal Court on Dec. 18. Shown are, seated from left, PSC Commissioner Andrew W. Wood, PSC Chair Angie C. Hatton and PSC Commissioner Mary Pat Regan.

More than 75 Kentucky Power customers packed the Perry County Fiscal Courtroom on Thursday, Dec. 18, as the Kentucky Public Service Commission held a public comment meeting to hear concerns from the region about a proposed rate increase of nearly 15 percent. 

The meeting was part of an ongoing case before the commission that is expected to be resolved by June.

PSC Chairwoman Angie Hatton opened the session by explaining the purpose of the meeting and outlining expectations for public participation.

“We don’t have to come down here,” said Hatton. “We’re here because we want to hear what people have to say. We expect people to be civil, to listen when other people are talking and as long as you do we will sit right here and listen to you. But I’m not going to subject myself to vulgarities or threats. We work too hard, we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t care. We expect to be treated with respect and as long as you do, we will sit right here and listen. We can’t answer questions, we can listen to you and hear your questions. Everyone anyone says is on the record, and it’s basically like testifying.”

Residents who signed up to speak were given five minutes each to address the commission and share their views on the proposed increase and the impact rising utility costs are having across the region.

Perry County Judge-Executive Scott Alexander thanked attendees for turning out and said public participation remains critical in discussions about utility costs.

Alexander said escalating electric bills have become a growing burden for households and businesses alike.

“Did we ever believe that we would be standing here talking about power bills being as much as a house payment?” asked Alexander. “None of us thought we would ever see that day, but we’re there. I want to step back to 2009, when we started having these discussions about the Big Sandy and switching to the Mitchell and retiring a coal fired plant and how that was going to do us really good and save us a lot of money. We all know the results and we have the data now. We know that from 2009 until now, our power rates have gone from some of the best in the country to some of the highest in the country.”

Alexander said past decisions about energy production have had long-term financial consequences for customers.

“We always hear how going from coal to other forms of electricity is going to save us money because of the cost upfront of a coal fired plant,” he said. “But we now have the data to show us that is not true. I argued back then about what it’s going to cost to clean up a coal fired plant and we never could come to a true cost of what was going to be passed back to the customers. But I’m here today to tell you that, after we retrofitted that plant, upgraded that plant, it would have cost more to tear the plant down and do away with it.”

Alexander framed the issue within a broader national energy debate.

“We’re in a war right now,” Alexander said. “We’re in a war with China. Our senators know this, our representatives know this. They call it data centers, I call it artificial intelligence, but there is a race right now, to put these centers up, whether we need it or not, right here in Kentucky and across America. We’re in a war with the rest of the world, as to how we’re going to power these data centers. There’s no better answer, from me, than for us to revisit the revival use of coal.”

In his closing remarks, Alexander urged policymakers to reconsider current energy strategies.

“We’ve got to revisit the way we look at energy and electricity and realize that we can not continue on the path that we’ve been on, because we can’t make it,” Alexander said.

State Rep. Chris Fugate, R-Chaies, addressed the commission both as a lawmaker and a resident.

“I’m here not just as a representative but also of course as a citizen of the county,” said Fugate. “I’ve lived here all my life. This is a hardship for our people. When you talk about fair and just and reasonable — fair to who? Is it fair to a single elderly woman who lives in a single wide trailer who can’t pay her powerbill this month? No. Is it fair to the 74 year old man who lives by himself on a fixed income, that has no way of doing any better? Is it fair to him? No. Is it fair to the everyday working person who has a power bill higher than their mortgage payment, no, that’s not fair to them either. It’s not to our businesses, our commercial businesses. It’s not fair to them.”

Fugate said he submitted multiple utility bills to the commission to illustrate rate disparities across the region.

“I’ve have some bills I’d like to add to the record,” Fugate said. “One business uses 56,000 kilowatts in Corbin and their bill was $5,285. There is a store here in Hazard that used 44,000 kilowatts and their bill was over $8,300. If you do the math, it’s nine cents in Corbin and 18 cents in Hazard. Is that fair? No, that’s not fair. I have other bills I want to turn in for you to look at. Here’s the bill of a resident whose bill was $306.64 divided by 1840 kilowatt hours, that’s 16 cents per kilowatt. You have a commercial building, whose bill is $207.26 divided by 6500 kilowatt hours, that’s 27 cents per kilowatt. There’s another bill that shows the rate is 29 cents a kilowatt. We have a hanger at the airport and their bill was 1466.27 divided by 3734 kilowatt hours, that’s 39 cents per kilowatt — so what is the rate right now? Is the rate 13 cents? Is it 18 cents? Is it 39 cents? Is another 15 percent increase on top of that, is that fair? I don’t think it is.”

Fugate concluded by urging the commission to delay any increase until clearer answers are provided.

“When you look at the people of the mountains who have endured so much, and then you add on an additional 15 percent and you look at the job loss and the industry we have in the mountains — American Electric Power is taking advantage of people in the mountains. They could build another coal fire plant. I’ve asked for the cost — no answer. We burn gas that we get from West Virginia. If you’re going to burn gas, at least burn Kentucky gas. I’ve done this just about every year and I beg you once again, do not give them another increase until you at least make them sit down and show us what the actual rate is. What is the rate now and if you add 15 percent, is that fair?”

Customer Jackie Holbrook emphasized the sacrifices other customers make in order to pay their power bill. 

“We have people who are doing without their medication,” he said. “Their health insurance has skyrocketed. Their car insurance has skyrocketed. Our children and children’s children — grandchildren and great-grandchildren – they’re leaving this area because they can’t afford to live here. So I’m asking you to say no.”

Local resident and customer Jordan Whitaker echoed these concerns. 

“I don’t know much about the politics of this stuff,” said Whitaker. “I don’t care about the politics of it. I care about the humanity of it. This increase is a lot of money when you don’t know how you’re going to make your money from day to day or you’re sick. Eastern Kentucky has some of the highest rates of illness in the nation. Maybe even the world. Eastern Kentucky has the highest rates of poverty in the entire country. And now we have what? The highest energy bills in the country. So sometimes it feels very alienating.”

Public comments may also be submitted on the PSC website at psc.ky.gov/case/SearchPublicComments. The Kentucky Power case is 2025-00257.

.

Contact Information

hazard-herald.com