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January 16, 2025

WVEUG Leadership Share Insights at Prominent Industry Events

The West Virginia Energy Users Group (WVEUG) announced that Russ Lang, Chair of WVEUG, and Derrick Price Williamson, Executive Director, recently shared key insights at multiple high-profile industry events. Both leaders are steadfast advocates of market-driven competitively priced power and an all-of-the-above array of electric service offerings.

Lang participated in the “Meeting West Virginia’s Increased Energy Demand” panel at the 2024 WV Energy Summit. The panel explored strategies to ensure reliable and affordable energy supply amid growing demand from industrial expansion and economic development.

Williamson joined the panel, “Catalyzing West Virginia’s Economy Through Clean Investment,” at the WV Chamber of Commerce’s 88th Annual Business Summit. Discussions included leveraging federal incentives for renewable energy projects, the case for supporting all sources of electric generation production in West Virginia, and balancing economic and environmental goals.

In addition, Williamson moderated the “Energy Cost Outlook” panel at the WV Manufacturing Association’s Winter Convention. This panel focused on the electric power pricing issues that exist now, as well as future challenges for West Virginia employers navigating costs attendant to retaining and growing their businesses in the state.

WVEUG remains dedicated to providing accurate, fact-based information on energy rates and policy issues. By engaging in critical discussions like these, WVEUG aims to position West Virginia as a leader in the energy field while advancing the state’s economic development goals.

April 24, 2023

WVEUG Comments on Ratepayer Protection and Pleasants Power Station

  1. “But we are disappointed that at least by implication the Commission seems to agree that the costs and risks of the ongoing evaluation of Pleasants are too great for First Energy shareholders to bear, but are perfectly acceptable to foist upon ratepayers who have already borne nearly a quarter billion dollars in rate increases in a little over a year, including manufacturing and industry responsible for thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in payroll, tax, and other economic contributions to the state.” — MetroNews, 4/24/23

  2. “’FirstEnergy essentially claims that it cannot undertake further consideration of acquiring Pleasants absent imposing a $36 million ‘temporary’ surcharge on its customers,’ said Derrick Williamson, executive director of the energy users group.

    But Williamson contended that Mon Power and Potomac Edison ratepayers have absorbed more than $233 million in rate increases since May 2022.

    ‘And they can ill afford another $36 million or more on top of that – another rate increase will threaten manufacturing and industry and the jobs they provide, as well as mom-and-pop businesses, and the very livelihoods of senior citizens on fixed incomes and lower income families,’ he said.

    Meanwhile, Williamson characterized their parent company, FirstEnergy, as a $24 billion operation that could absorb and carry the $36 million for a few months, ‘and they could still seek recovery of those costs in the future after they have actually made a decision regarding Pleasants.’

    ‘In that way, Mon Power and PE ratepayers will be spared from absorbing the risk of FirstEnergy’s ongoing and lengthy decision-making process, while those who support Pleasants will get the fulsome consideration that they seek.’ – MetroNews, 4/12/23

  3. “Williamson called it ‘patently unreasonable’ for FirstEnergy subsidiaries to propose captive ratepayers foot the bill to allow the utilities more time to consider acquiring the Pleasants plant.” – WV Gazette-Mail, 4/10/2023

  4. “FE wants the Commission to require its West Virginia ratepayers to fund, ‘temporarily,’ over $36 million annually for a plant that cannot currently operate for a variety of reasons, while at the same time fully insulating itself and its shareholders from any cost or risk. On its face, that is obviously unfair to ratepayers and at a minimum of questionable legality." – E&E News ClimateWire, 4/5/23

March 29, 2023

WVEUG Voices Competitive Concerns in Multiple Articles

In recent weeks, WVEUG leadership has been quoted in articles addressing electric competition issues in West Virginia, as follows:

  1. “But the more we engage the free market to work in the electric power production sector without artificial supports or barriers, the better off consumers and the West Virginia economy will be.” – WV Gazette-Mail, 3/18/23

  2. “Make no mistake, electric cost increases have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on West Virginia manufacturing and industry and a disproportionate adverse impact on senior citizens with fixed incomes and those in poor, rural areas of the state.” – WV Gazette-Mail, 3/18/23

  3. “It’s not about the fuel resource. We don’t think utilities should be investing huge amounts of money in solar if solar is not economic in the market. We think the development of solar should be left to the competitive wholesale market, just as the development or retention of coal facilities should be left to the competitive market. There shouldn’t be artificial barriers or supports created by the Legislature.” – E&E News ClimateWire, 3/8/23

  4. “Those coal-fired power plants sit there as a hedge against the price of power in the market, but they cannot compete economically in the wholesale market 365 days a year.” – E&E News EnergyWire, 3/6/23


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