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W. Va Consumer Advocates: Utilities Must Change Approach To Consumer Savings

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia’s consumer advocate agency says utilities must change their approach so consumers fully benefit from the savings those companies are reaping from federal tax cuts.

Consultant Ralph Smith filed testimony this week with the Public Service Commission on behalf of the Consumer Advocate Division. The testimony is for the PSC’s investigation into how the federal tax cuts will affect utilities and customers.

Smith urged the PSC to utilize the tax cut-related savings for large investor-owned utilities “to the fullest extent possible” to benefit West Virginia customers. He provided recommendations for West Virginia utilities on how to help ratepayers benefit from the tax savings.

Major West Virginia utility companies are calling for rate increases, despite saving millions of dollars through tax cuts.